264 Natural History in London. 



tonian theory, where the progress of geological revokition has been com- 

 pared to the cycles, in the movements of the heavenly bodies, — in which, 

 after a long series of periodical deviations, the same order is certain to re- 

 cur, — seems to acquire new probability from every step of our progress, 

 and to be really no less just, in a philosophic view, than it is captivating to 

 the imagination." 



The part of the Huttonian theory alluded to is as follows : — 



" The geological system of Dr. Hutton resembles, in many respects, that 

 which appears to preside over the heavenly motions. In both, we perceive 

 continual vicissitude and change j but confined within certain limits, and 

 never departing far from a certain mean condition, which is such, that in the 

 lapse of time the deviations from it on the one side must become just equal 

 to the deviations from it on the other. In both, a provision is made for 

 duration of unlimited extent ; and the lapse of time has no effect to wear 

 out or destroy a machine constructed with so much wisdom." {Flay f air'' s 

 Illustrations, § 387. note xx.) 



Ornithology of the Metropolis. — Sir, How little, at the present time, is 

 known of the natural history of many birds, of the cuckoo, for example ; 

 nay, how little of our own perennial warbler, the redbreast! It does not 

 appear to be yet satisfactorily determined whether the male and female 

 both sing, or whether the male only of this species sings. Till I brought 

 the subject before the public, I am not aware that any one had controverted 

 the opinion long since made public by the Hon. Daines Barrington, that 

 female birds do not sing; whereas, we now find that female birds do many 

 of them sing, and that some, perhaps, even sing while sitting upon their 

 eggs. The advantage, therefore, of a periodical work like the Magazine of 

 Natural History, is now manifest j for, if any misstatements be made, the 

 means of their being publicly corrected is at hand. 



I have, in my Ornithologia, mentioned some of the birds to be found at 

 large in London, a singular situation, it must be admitted, for them ; but in 

 addition to those mentioned in my work, I wish now to give the following 

 particulars concerning the ornithology of the metropolis. 



I heard the thrush (Turdus musicus) singing delightfully on a tree, in 

 Berkeley Square, March 22. 1828. I am quite sure of this fact, as I took 

 care to see the bird. 



Jackdaws (Corvus ilibn^dula) frequent some of the church towers of 

 London, particularly St. Michael's, Cornhill ; and it is said (for of the fact 

 I am not myself cognisant) that the hawk (Falco T'innunculus) builds in 

 some of the more elevated parts of St. Paul's Cathedral. 



Mr. Britton informs me that, in the winter, tomtits (Parus caeruleus) 

 frequent his garden in Burton Street, Burton Crescent, to the number of 

 four and six at a time. The redbreast (Sylvia Rub^cula) is also frequently 

 seen in the same garden ; the chaffinch (i^ringilla cce'lebs) has also been 

 observed there; and, last summer, the whitethroat (ilfotacilla Sylvia) 

 poured its pleasing song in the same place. It is scarcely necessary to add, 

 that pheasants and partridges are seen in the Regent's Park ; because these 

 were, I presume, brought there by those having command in that region, 

 and which, therefore, can scarcely be considered as the natural and volun- 

 tary domicile of those birds. 



Another fact, not indeed relative to the birds of London, but to the 

 redwing (Turdus iliacus) may, in concluding these notices, be mentioned; 

 namely, that a friend of mine at Trowbridge, Wilts, on whose accuracy of 

 observation I can rely, assures me this bird occasionally sings in this country 

 before its departure in the spring. — James Jennings. London, April 7. 

 1829. 



Arrival of the Swallow. — I saw yesterday (Sunday), for the first time 

 this year, two swallows flying from the east towards the west, about the 

 height of the houses, over the water in the enclosed part of the Regent's 



