THE ARGONAUT. NOTES ON BIRDS. 99 



brick earth of Heme Bay, in Kent. The spot from whence 

 they were taken is not more than 10 feet from the high water 

 mark, and certainly not more than 10 feet above the occa- 

 sional reach of the sea on that coast. They were the bones 

 of a young animal, since their epihpyses were still unconnect- 

 ed with their bodies, and the bony structure not fully deve- 

 loped. Their specific gravity was little above that of water, 

 and their texture frail, although embedded in tenacious clay. 

 No other animal remains were discoverable in the clay. It is 

 only necessary to remark that the remains in question singu- 

 larly correspond with their predecessors in position and cha- 

 racter, and add their corroborative testimony, by way of ac- 

 cumulation, to whatever view may be taken of cetacean reli- 

 quiae. I send this statement under the impression that your 

 Magazine is ever open to the details of facts in Natural His- 

 tory, be the evidence to be drawn from these facts what it 

 may. — Wm. Richardson. 



Note on the Argonaut. — I have talked with Delia Chiaja 

 very much about the argonaut ; he states that he has traced 

 the animal from the ovum to the formation of the shell, and 

 he has published plates of the progress of its developement, 

 which are beautifully executed. I think we may place full 

 confidence in his observations; he is animated with the great- 

 est zeal for science, — almost unsupported, and certainly un- 

 remunerated. 



I am sorry I have not yet been able to get an argonaut ; 

 I have requested the fishermen to bring the first they catch 

 to me. They come off this coast only in summer, and are 

 then more in the Gulf of Genoa, and off Baia and Puzzuoli, 

 rather than in our Bay. — J. C. Cox. — Naples, Dec. 28, 1838. 



Ornithological Notes. — Seeing from time to time lists of birds shot in dif- 

 ferent counties, it has occurred to me that if such lists were procured from 

 all parts of the kingdom, it would be as useful an index to collectors of Brit- 

 ish birds as could be formed. These lists might be much abridged by leav- 

 ing out such species as are common to all parts of the country ; they would 

 greatly aid the British ornithologist, for innumerable are the difficulties 

 which he has to encounter, and after all his exertions but very few are the 

 birds he can procure with his own gun. He will have to contend with the 

 unprincipled conduct and exorbitant demands of those who call themselves 

 "naturalists." For alas for the rare birds of Britain ! whenever a harmless 

 and interesting stranger makes its appearance, some ruthless eye is imme- 

 diately upon it, and it is generally murdered in mere wantonness : for I be- 

 lieve but few of the rarities taken are preserved ; they are just handed about 

 for a day or two, to gratify the stare of stupid wonder, or else nailed against 

 a barn, as a trophy of cruelty. 



But few of these rarities have come under my own observation. A fine 

 male honey-buzzard (Pemis apivorus) was shot here last June ; it was 

 exceedingly tame. The goshawk (Astur palumbarius) has been taken here, 

 and the kite (Milvus ictinus), though formerly plentiful, has now, through 



