84 MR SELBY ON THE INSTINCT OF THE WATER-HEN. 



vomer is much weaker. The bones of the rays of the gill-covers are 

 longer and much narrower. The tongue is longer, weaker, and not s 

 broad. The under jaw much weaker, and the distance between its ranii 

 one-third less. The teething much more delicate. 



These are the principal distinctions which appear in the external form 

 and osteology of the head. In the latter every bone differs, and the dif- 

 ferences appear constant in all that I have taken to pieces ; and in this 

 state, therefore, I have no hesitation in considering the parr perfectly 

 distinct from any species or variety of trout we are acquainted with, and 

 entitled to hold a separate rank in our Fauna. From the Migratory 

 Salmon it is separated entirely by its habits ; and I consider that it 

 should therefore stand in our systems as the Salmo Salmulus of Wil- 

 lughby and Ray. The correct distinguishing marks to be seen by a 

 person who has not leisure to make a minute examination, are the great 

 size of the pectoral fins, the shortness of the maxillary bones, and conse- 

 quent small gape, and the narrow breadth between the rami of the lower 

 jaw. 



On the Instinct of the Water-Hen. By P. J. SELBY, Esq. 



As the following anecdote seems to indicate a degree of intellect, or 

 an exercise of the reasoning power, in the feathered race, and apparently 

 acting in conjunction with Instinct, or that blind impulse to perform 

 certain offices or actions, for which the lower orders are remarkable, and 

 which, according to the views of one of our ablest naturalists, is sup- 

 posed, and with great probability, to be the result of physical action 

 upon organizations adapted to receive and respond to it, I think it may 

 not be altogether uninteresting to the Club, and may possibly direct the 

 attention of some of its members more immediately to the various phe- 

 nomena exhibited by the lower animals in regard to their instincts, com- 

 bined, or acting as it were, at times in conjunction with the exercise of 

 their reasoning or intellectual faculties. During the early part of the 

 past summer, a pair of water-hens ( Gallinula chloropus) built their nest 

 by the margin of the ornamental pond at Bell's -Hill, a piece of water of 

 considerable extent, and ordinarily fed by a spring from the height above, 

 but into which the contents of another large pond can occasionally be 

 admitted. This was done while the female was sitting, and as the nest 

 had been built when the water level stood low, the sudden influx of this 

 large body of water from the second pond caused a rise of several inches, 

 so as to threaten the speedy immersion and consequent destruction of 

 the eggs. This the birds seem to have been aware of, and immediately 

 took precautions against so imminent a danger. For when the gardener 

 (upon whose veracity I can safely rely), seeing the sudden rise of the 

 water, went to look after the nest, expecting to find it covered, and the 



