Zoology. 285 



ing from various quarters, in numbers that exceed all belief, to 

 pass the night in the reeds; and, lighting in myriads, like the 

 locusts of the East, upon this flexible plant, they crush it to 

 the water ; and one sees large patches lodged and beat down, 

 like grain after a storm. Though the guns of the boatmen 

 sweep them away by hundreds, the survivors are so drowsy 

 that they remain stationary, or move only a few yards from 

 the bodies of their slaughtered companions, and return on the 

 ensuing evening in numbers not apparently diminished, and 

 with a total oblivion of the carnage of the preceding night." 



To the above remarks the author appends, as a note at 

 the foot of his page, these : — " There is reason to think that 

 the starling migrates from other countries into England 

 towards the commencement of winter: this kingdom never 

 breeds the myriads that collect to roost on ^rundo Phrag- 

 mites. The farmers of the districts have assured us that 

 they commonly destroy bushels of a night. Foxes and other 

 vermin assemble in the reeds, to fatten upon the poor starling, 

 which they either find asleep or disabled by the fire of the 

 nightmen." 



See also incidental mention of the habits of the starling by 

 Mr. Waterton, in his remarks on the rook, p. 243. The 

 starling, besides consuming the earth-worm, will pillage cherry 

 trees of their ripe fruit. — J. D. 



The domestic Pigeon eats raw Potatoes. — After the potatoes 

 are peeled, the eyes or buds are, as it were, scooped out with 

 the knife's point, and these parts, not the peelings, are thrown 

 into the street. A neighbour's pigeons instantly eat them, 

 and have acquired the habit of looking out for them at the 

 usual time ; and the other day three of them had the audacity 

 to attack and drive away a dunghill cock that was making 

 rather free with their fragments of potato. — Henry Turner. 

 Bury St. Edmunds, February 28. 1832. 



Note on the House Pigeon [Columba CEi^nas Lin. var.). — I 

 kept a female of the blue rock variety nearly ten years. 

 About twelve months before it died, it ceased to breed, and, 

 I have every reason to believe, died of old age, after a few 

 days' illness. — W.R.Jordan. Lugehay, Teignmouth, 1831. 



Remarks on Swallows. — Sir, I send you some remarks, 

 which I have made during the last summer, on that very 

 interesting class of birds, the swallow ; showing, I think, in- 

 dependently of that animal instinct which enables them to do 

 so many curious things, that they reason and act, according 

 to circumstances into which they are thrown, with as much 

 sagacity and forethought as the most expert of human beings. 

 The following three cases I witnessed myself during the last 

 year : — 



