is 4? Retrospective Criticism ». 



J. B. observes they are of a shy disposition j but I fancy it is only in 

 "winter ; for in the spring, when they build their nests, they evince no 

 instinct in choosing a retired place ; but, on the contrary, I have known 

 'thetn build their nests in orchards, within ten yards of a path side 

 which was much frequented ; and, in fact, I think them either the most 

 foolish or the most impudent birds in existence. They commonly build 

 their large coarse nest in apple trees, generally where the branches first 

 diverge from the stem, and about six feet from the ground, and I have 

 pften seen a piece of bast mat dangling from the nest, a sufficient in- 

 dication to some young urchin of where a prize is. Usually they con- 

 , struct their nest of coarse dry grass, plastered with dirt, and then lined 

 with, softer grass; but, from my own experience, I should say they are 

 jjiot very nice in the choice of materials. They lay from four to five eggs, 

 rather larger than those of a blackbird, of a light bluish green, with spots 

 of two distinct shades of brown ; the spots or patches are most nmnerous 

 at the large end of the egg. 



They are very destructive in cherry orchards ; where, with the black- 

 -bird, the throstle (Tardus musicus), and the starling (/S'turnus vulgaris), 

 they make sad havoc ; they show no shyness then. I have shot many in 

 the fact ,• but, though dispersed by the report of the gun, they in five 

 minutes afterwards return to the attack, and gobble away, apparently to 

 make up for lost time. I once knew an instance of a missel thrush 

 laying its eggs on the place from which its nest had been taken the day 

 ^before. 



If you think these observations of any use, in corroborating the asser- 

 ^^tions of J. B., and refuting the opinion held by the author of The Journal 

 ,ofa Naturalist J th^y are much at your service. 



Since writing the above, I heard one of the missel birds singing, on the 

 i5th of this month, November, 1830. The morning was fine and sunny, 

 ^nd I am positive as to the identity of the bird. Should these remarks 

 meet with your approbation, I may be induced to offer a few strictures 

 in my next on several articles connected with natural history which are 

 contained in the Companion to the Almanack for 1829 ; printed, I sup- 

 pose under the direction of the Society for Diffusing Useful Knowledge. 

 They are/Certainly misrepresented; and, in my humble opinion, whoever 

 was the Author of Observations of a Naturalist contained in the pages of 

 jthat work, must have made his observations out of books in his study, 

 and not copied them from the page of nature. Yours, &c. — Scolopav 

 rusticola, Chil welly Nov. 1830. 



This contribution from <S'. rusticola is so practical, and consequently 

 so valuable, that, from this sample, we must say, to store the fruits of his 

 observation into our Magazine will at all times be a most agreeable task. 

 — J.D.forCond. 



The Cuckoo and the Swift (6'iicU'lus cariorus and Cypselus ^'pus). — I beg, 

 through the medium of your Magazine, to convey my warmest acknow- 

 ledgements to the Rev. W. T. Bree, for his criticism (Vol. III. p. 450.) 

 on my statements relative to the departure of those interesting objects of 

 natural history, the cuckoo and the swift, On reading the remarks of that 

 able naturalist, I instantly referred to my journal, which I am in the habit 

 of keeping daily, and from which I beg leave to extract my entry, on the 

 28th of July : " Heard my favourite, C, canorus, at 5 A.M." NB. " The 

 last time," was added a few days afterwards. As I was that morning seated 

 in my arbour, writing to a friend, who had spent the latter part of June 

 and the beginning of July with me, and who used to take great delight in 

 hearing the cuckoo, as he generally perched on the top of a tall elm on 

 the opposite side of the field adjoining my garden, I communicated the 

 circumstance to him as follows : — " My favourite cuckoo still continues 

 to charm us with his twofold note, from his lofty elm ; but, poor fellow, 



