4€6 Retrospective Criticism. 



ttnccUon of its 7iesi, that I consider the matter worthy of investigation. — 

 W. H. White, H.M.C.S, Bedford, May, 1831. 



Departure of the Cuckoo. — The same intelligent naturalist, too (p. 275.), 

 questions the probability of my having stated the departure for the silence of 

 the cuckoo, as early as the 3d of July last ; and indeed he may, with great ap- 

 parent propriety do so, since the song of this interesting bird was protracted 

 in 1829 till the 28th of July. As a fair and open criticism is the most 

 effectual means of producing well-attested facts, and of promoting scientific 

 research, so also it is the most efficacious method of detecting errors, and 

 of exposing falsehoods (the most insuperable barriers to the acquirement of 

 real knowledge), and of holding them up to that ignominious contempt they 

 justly deserve. As I am very particular in stating only what I see and hear 

 myself, unless I have it upon unquestionable authority, I trust I am taking 

 the only sure means of arriving at facts, of which only it becomes natu- 

 ralists to speak. Now, with regard to the very early departure of the 

 cuckoo, I can only account for it from the exceedingly cold and wet sum- 

 mer, it being alike ungenial to the feathered and to the vegetable kingdoms. 

 Again, as the situation of Bedford is low, moist, and cold, and many acres 

 of land on the banks of the Ouse were overflowed from the constant rains 

 in June, this may, perhaps, form an additional reason for his retiring so 

 early, from a watery district, to the light sandy spot, Ampthill, where, I 

 am informed, he continued his song till the 10th of July, and took his final 

 departure about the beginning of August, but the precise day I could not 

 learn. Ampthill is a favourite resort of the cuckoo ; for, on the last day 

 of April (almost the only summer's day in the whole year), I was in the 

 park, in company with a friend, when we saw seven of them together^ 

 sporting and laving on the edge of a fishpond, with all the playfulness of 

 young lambkins. — Id. 



Cuckoo at the " Witching Hour of Night.'** — Sir, This circumstance, 

 your correspondent J. Murray (p. 147.) considers unusual ; but, per- 

 haps, it is not so unusual for the cuckoo to sing at midnight, as for the 

 naturalist to sit up to hear the " unusual sound." But permit me to say 

 that this is not a solitary instance. During the summer of 1830, the days 

 were wet and chilly, and the nights clear and calm ; so that the night was, 

 in fact, more pleasant than the day : so much so, that I frequently walked 

 out after supper, and as frequently heard both the cuckoo and the nightin- 

 gale from ten till eleven o'clock ; but on two succeeding evenings, the 4th 

 and 5th of June, the moon being about full, and shining with " unclouded 

 majesty," I heard, about the " witching hour of night," both the cuckoo 

 and the nightingale ; and on the 9th, as I was returning from a party of 

 friends, with the fair partner of my pleasures and pursuits, a little after mid- 

 night, we were highly gratified in hearing a trio, with all the native melody 

 of the grove, performed by the cuckoo, the nightingale, and the sedge war- 

 bler. I am. Sir, yours, &c. — Id. 



Specific Relations of Anagdllis arvensis and cceritlea. (p. 277.) — I am 

 obliged to two of your correspondents (p. 277, 278.) for their remarks on 

 my communication (Vol. III. p. 537.) respecting the identity of Jnagallis 

 arvensis and caerulea, and would reply to them by a contrary observation, 

 which I have received from a botanical friend, who states his belief that 

 some seeds of A. caerulea sown in his garden, after a few years degenerated 

 to the pink colour. I would farther observe, that, however valuable these 

 notices may be, as serving to direct our attention to particular enquiry, we 

 (ian expect nothing satisfactory until we shall have had recourse to direct 

 experiment. Mere conjecture, and recollections of what happened, are too 

 vague to furnish any conclusions. — J. S. Hensloiv. Cambridge, August 4. 

 1831. 

 -, In reference to the remarks in p. 278., the validity of Professor Henv 



