Migration of Hawks, Glaucous Boat Fly, 553 



tagonist of its own species, for it is seldom that different 

 species quarrel, though a few will drive away all intruders 

 from the vicinity of their abode. There are, however, several 

 nearly allied species which cannot endure each other's presence. 

 Thus, a robin will attack a redtail, and the latter will quarrel 

 in confinement with a whin or stone-chat, though it will be 

 quite peaceably inclined towards other birds less closely allied 

 to it. On the same principle, the different species of petty- 

 chaps are very apt to quarrel in confinement. Other species, 

 on the contrary, will live quite amicably even with their own 

 kind, and such do not quarrel with their congeners. — Edward 

 Blyth. Sept. 4. 1836. 



Migration of Howies. (IX. 462.) — Mr. Jesse says "hawks 

 appear to be migratory and gregarious," and adduces as con- 

 firmation of this, that a large quantity of them settled on the 

 rigging of the Nymph frigate, while stationed in the port of 

 Boston. Sir Humphry Davy observes that " hawks are 

 seen in great quantities in the month of May, coming in to 

 the coast of Europe, after quails and landrails." (See Glean- 

 i?igs in Natural History, third series, p. 149.; and Salmonia, 

 p. 16.) I have remarked that during the winter no kestrels 

 are seen about the northern suburbs of London, and some 

 one (I forget who) told me that at that season they frequent 

 the sea side and prey on fish, mice being then more scarce 

 on land, and one species in a state of torpor. — J. H. FennelL 

 Sept. 8. 1836. 



Canary losing its Voice. (IX. 487.) — Perhaps the circum- 

 stance arose from its having injured its singing organs. 

 Bechstein, indeed, says that some male canaries, "especially 

 in the pairing season, sing with so much strength and ardour 

 that they burst the delicate vessels of the lungs, and die sud- 

 denly." (Cage Birds, p. 233.) — J. H. Fennell. [Received on 

 Sept. 10. 1836.] 



The Glaucous Boat Fly (Notonecta glauca). — In a paragraph in 

 p. 492., Mr. Fennel states that he has often very freely handled 

 these insects, without suffering the least pain from so doing; 

 from which circumstance he discredits Ray's assertion of their 

 being capable to inflict wounds. (See Vol. VII. p. 259.) In 

 reply to which, I take the liberty of stating that they are ca- 

 pable of inflicting severe wounds with their rostrum; severe 

 at the moment when inflicted, but not of very long conti- 

 nuance ; though, from having very frequently handled these 

 insects myself, and only once received a wound, I am in- 

 clined to think that it is somewhat unusual for them to do so. 

 The position in which I was holding the one that punished 



Vol. IX. — No. 66. s s 



