206 Qtieries afid Afiswers. 



^SS^ of i^^ ^irds of Germany (with Latin names), five numbers of which 

 are already published. I obtain my copy from Mr. Wood, 428. Strand, 

 at about 145. each number. The five 'numbers contain together about 200 

 eggs. I possess parts only of two other German works on eggs. — W. Y. 

 March 10. 1829. 



Habits of the Kingfsher.—Su\ In the remarks of S. T. P. of Leeds, on 

 the habits of the kingfisher, in your first Number (p. 23.), is not a cir- 

 cumstance upon which, I believe, all naturalists do not agree, entirely passed 

 over, namely, the nest of the bird being made offish bones? This, as far 

 as one instance may go, I can confirm, having taken a nest whilst at 

 school. It was situated in the bank of a pool well stocked with fish, in 

 Shropshire, in a burrow about four feet in length, the end of which 

 was considerably enlarged, and contained about as many small fish bones 

 as would fill a quart pot. They were disposed so as to form a nest, in 

 which were seven beautiful eggs just such as described by S. T. P. with 

 respect to figure and colour, and of, I think, a large size for the bird. 

 Whether the burrow was formed by the kingfisher itself, I do no not know, 

 but am inclined to think it was not, as there were several sand martens* 

 burrows in the same bank. Yours, &c. — F. Jvly .30. 1828. 



Feet and Legs of the common Heron. — Sir, Many years ago an opinion 

 was held among the fishermen of this neighbourhood, that the feet and 

 legs of the common heron (^^rdea major) had something in them very 

 attractive to fishes, and particularly to eels, which enabled that bird, when 

 standing in water, to congregate his prey about him, and to take it with 

 greater facility ; it was, therefore, a desirable object, among the fishing 

 amateurs, to procure such feet and legs and to extract the little oily 

 matter they contained, wherewith to anoint the worms forming the bait 

 of, what is here called, a " Reball," with which eels are generally taken. I 

 have heard but little said of this of late years; probably, it has been dis- 

 covered to be an erroneous opinion, and may have been only a conjecture, 

 arising from the observation of the wonderful provision which Nature 

 generally affords to supply the wants of its creatures, a most striking 

 instance of which is recorded in the last Number of your excellent Jour- 

 nal (p. 64.) under the head of " Great American Bittern," where it is said, 

 that " Wilson has omitted to state a most interesting and remarkable cir- 

 cumstance attending that bird, which is, that it has the power of emitting 

 a light from its breast, equal to that of a common torch, which illuminates 

 the water so as to enable it to discover its prey.'* This has brought to my 

 recollection, that most, if not all, birds of the J'rdea genus, but especially 

 the common heron, have on their breasts a considerable space void of 

 feathers, the place of which is supplied by a well-defined dense tuft of 

 down, to which is adherent a peculiar farinaceous substance, clammy, and 

 unctuous to the touch. 



It has always appeared to me very strange, that no ornithological writer 

 which I have consulted has conjectured the use of this appendage, nor 

 do I recollect having seen its existence very particularly mentioned. May 

 it not be given to the bird for a purpose analogous to that of the organ 

 by which its congener, the American Bittern (possibly by some electrical 

 operation), produces the light, which must be so useful to him in taking 

 his prey, and perhaps of enticing it within his reach, agreeably to a method 

 found so successfiil by the fishermen of the Antilles, and of other parts of 

 the globe ; or is it a conveniently placed repository of oily matter, to be 

 used for the purpose of smoothing the waters, when ruffled, to enable him 

 to see how to strike his prey with greater certainty, similar to the well- 

 known practice of the fishermen of the Mediterranean ? 1 hope some of 

 your correspondents will make their observations, and give their opinions 

 on this subject, if you think it worthy of enquiry. I am, Sir, &c. — R. A,' 

 JBridgewaterj March 20. 1829. 



