Bramble Finch, Redstart, Bees. 207 



the most delightful work with which I am acquainted, on the 

 birds of Britain) explains why birds are gifted with the faculty 

 of song : to find out how they are enabled to sing, recourse 

 must be had to the most useful of sciences, phrenology, 

 which teaches us, as is correctly stated in VII. 568., that birds 

 have an innate organ of tune, which enables them to sing, in 

 the same way that the organ of language enables man to speak. 

 However, this interesting subject requires much further elu- 

 cidation, and, among your contributors, perhaps no one would 

 be more competent to the task than Mr. Waterton, who so 

 well deserves the epithets bestowed on him by Mudie (Fea- 

 thered Tribes, vol. i. p. 148.), of" amiable, eloquent, and en- 

 terprising." — S. D. W. Near Derby, Nov. 22. 1834. 



Does the Bramble Finch breed in this Country? (VIII. .512.) — 

 There is, I believe, no authentic instance of the mountain finch, 

 or bramble finch, having brought up young ones in this coun- 

 try. A notice of a pair of this species having begun a nest 

 is given in the Field Naturalist's Magazine, The writer says, 

 " I have little doubt in my own mind that two mountain 

 finches, which, I believe, are not known to breed in this 

 country, are now building in a large patch of furze in Hurst 

 Wood. I watched them so long, and observed them so accu- 

 rately, that I can hardly think I could have been mistaken. 

 I saw the nest also ; but they had not begun to lay, and I was 

 obliged to leave the neighbourhood." In furze is a strange 

 place for a bird to build in, that usually makes its nest in lofty 

 pines and firs. Accounts of this nature should be received 

 with great caution, as common observers are so apt to be 

 deceived. Three or four winters ago, a mountain finch was 

 shot in a field of stubble near Derby, It is now in my pos- 

 session. — S. D. W. Near Derby, Sept. 6. 1835. 



Is the Redstart known to feed upon the Hive-bee ? — H. T. 

 August, 1835. 



Could any one inform me how to preserve Bees, and other 

 Insects covered with Down, from the Attacks of A'cari P — In 

 using Mr. Waterton's receipt, I found it stuck the down so 

 completely together, that no means I have used have been 

 able to make them smooth enough to appear in a cabinet. — 

 C. T. Nov. 24. 1834. [This question has been submitted to 

 Mr. Waterton, who has sent four specimens of humble bees, 

 and has stated that they " have been soaked in a very strong 

 solution of corrosive sublimate, much stronger than what is 

 required to preserve them for ever from the depredations of 

 ^4'cari. Their intestines have been extracted." Mr. Water- 

 ton has sent the specimens, to prove that not any injury has 



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