106 Robin, Grasshopper Warbler, 



Birds. — A Robin has mistaken a dead stuffed Robin for a 

 live one, — To day we observed a robin fly into the drawing- 

 room, and perch upon the branch of a mimosa beside a stuffed 

 specimen of a bird of the same species. We watched its move- 

 ments for some time, and, after flying round the room, show- 

 ing no inclination to depart through the opened windows, we 

 placed the stuffed bird on the edge of a flower-pot, and then 

 the poor robin came and placed itself close to it, and warbled 

 a sweet, low, tender strain; and then, flying again round and 

 round in narrowing circles, it pecked at the lifeless robin, and, 

 again chirping, flew further off. It thus continued, for a 

 quarter of an hour, chirping and singing, flying off, or peck- 

 ing at the other; and, appearing, at last, to despair of arousing 

 the insensible creature, it flew out of the window, chirping as 

 it went. {From the Manuscript Diary of my Cousin Lucilla, 

 dated Valentine's Day, 1835.) — Aliquit [who had proposed 

 humorous associations, on the coincidence of robin's acting 

 as described on Valentine's day. It may be advantageously 

 associated with other facts kindred in their relation to what 

 J. Rennie, Esq. (since Professor Rennie) has denominated, in 

 I. 373., " mistakes of instinct : " several such facts are in 

 I. 68. 332. 373, 374. 496.; III. 50.; IV. 157. 498.; V. 276.; 

 VI. 67. 68. 81. 145. 394—398. 513, 514.]. 



The Grasshopper Warbler {Sylvia locustella Latham) is 

 said to be a very scarce species ; to be remarkably shy and 

 timid ; and to utter its chirping notes, for the most part, dur- 

 ing the dusk of evening. I observed several birds of this 

 species among the furze and bramble bushes on the extensive 

 bed of shingle in the neighbourhood of Eastbourne, on the 

 Sussex coast, in July and August this year (1835). They 

 were then in moult, but uttered their usual sibilant cry. I 

 often heard them in the afternoon. They did not appear 

 peculiarly shy ; on the contrary, when disturbed, they fre- 

 quently rose into the air, hovering above my head, and at the 

 same time repeating their cricket-like note. Mr. Selby ob- 

 serves, that, in order to obtain specimens, he had been obliged 

 to watch for a considerable time before a distinct view of the 

 individual, and an opportunity to fire at it, could be obtained. 

 In the breeding season they may be more timid and wary ; 

 but among these bushes I might have shot a considerable 

 number, as they often perched, several together, on the tops 

 of them. In the last week in August, I observed one cast on 

 shore by the waves : this had probably been overtaken in its 

 attempt at migration by a contrary wind, which accompanied 

 a thunder-storm ; and, unable to withstand the tempest, had 

 yielded to its fury. I did not hear these birds afterwards. 

 Mr. Rennie, in his edition of Montagu's Ornithological Die- 



