lietrospective Criticism. 301 



plentifully on ants and their eggs, as well as on other insects, and they are 

 kept on a grass-plot, and removed daily. — Id. 



Gordius aqudticus. — I have now in my possession a Gordiu* aquaticus 

 Linn., which was pumped up a few months ago, from a well, near Knutsford 

 in Cheshire. It is about 7 in. in length, and of the thickness of a pin ; the 

 body is smooth, and of equal dimensions throughout ; the colour is dark 

 brown, with black at the extremities. It lived for three or four weeks sub- 

 sequent to its being in my possession, during which time it was kept in a 

 vessel of water j but I was at a loss how to afford it any nourishment 

 beyond what it might derive from the water ; and, after the time I mention 

 had elapsed, it became weaker, performed none of those surprising twists 

 and convolutions which had distinguished the earlier part of its captivity ; 

 and I at last put it into a bottle containing spirits. There seemed no dif- 

 ference, that I could discover (at least with any magnifying powers I used), 

 between the head and tail of the animal. It manifested no particular 

 inclination or disinclination for clay, when introduced into the vessel, 

 though I find some authors assert that it makes a habitation of it at certain 

 seasons. I should be glad to hear from some of your correspondents, who 

 are acquainted with the habits and mode of living of the Gordius, some 

 more particulars on the subject, through the medium of your valuable jour- 

 nal. — H. 



Art. IX. Retrospective Criticism. 



The least Woodpecker not rare near Coventrt/. — At p. 83. of your Maga- 

 zine an extract is given from the Ti/ne Mercurj/, stating that a fine specimen 

 of the least woodpecker (Picus minor) was shot in the neighbourhood of 

 Newcastle ; and it is added, that this is " perhaps the only specimen known 

 to be British." The bird is by no means of very rare occurrence in this 

 neighbourhood (Warwickshire). Twice, within this last fortnight only, 

 have I gone out of the house to listen to it, having been attracted by its 

 well-known and amusing noise. It is, indeed, a bird more readily heard 

 than seen. Its diminutive size and shy habits are perhaps among the causes 

 of its being supposed by some to be a rarer species than it really is. Its 

 loud, rapid, vibratory noise, most extraordinarily loud to be produced by 

 so small an animal, can hardly fail to arrest the attention of the most 

 unobserving ear. Though I have watched the bird during the operation, 

 and within the distance of a few yards, I am quite at a loss to account for 

 the manner in which the noise is produced. It resembles that made by the 

 boring of a large auger through the hardest wood ; and hence the country 

 people sometimes call the bird the " pump-borer." — W. T. Bree. Allesley 

 Rectory, near Coventry, May 23. 1828. 



The Vignette on the Cove)-. — When I received your Magazine of Natural 

 History, my eyes were first attracted by the picturesque outside of the book, 

 and I found the selection of the individuals of the vignette, which I may call 

 the " coat of arms " of naturalists, well adapted to the work. But I have a 

 great objection to the composition of the subjects, which many of your 

 readers, and you yourself, perhaps, may regard as trifling. That composi- 

 tion, however, by a nearer coiitemplation of the objects, assumes a more 

 serious appearance ; for the picture, I presume, is made on purpose to give 

 at first sight a correct idea of the contents of the book. How offensive, 

 therefore, to the eye of the connoiseur, to see that the composition of the 

 drawing is quite incorrect, and how much must it diminish the real merit 

 of the work, to see that the Conductor of the Magazine of Natural History 

 makes such a blunder against nature, and seems not to combine knowledge 

 of zoology with that of geographical botany ! 



