Queries and Answers, 205 



cloudy, and 1 5 clear sunshine. Larks began to sing on the loth ; partridge^ 

 were seen in pairs on the 19th; and wood-pigeons were heard cooing on 

 the 2 2d. 



March, — The wind blew from the east and north-east, 20 days ; and 

 from the west and north-west, 1 1 days. The frost was severe from the 

 13th till the 18th; on the 15th the mercury in the thermometer fell 

 to 23^. There were only 4 days on which snow or rain fell ; 12 days were 

 clear, and 19 cloudy. Peas that were sown on the 14th of February 

 gave a braird on the 31st of March, a period of 45 days; mean tempera- 

 ture of that period, 40^. Rooks began to build on the 6th, regardless 

 of the cold, the same day on which they were noticed to begin last year. 

 The ^axifraga oppositifolia opened its beautiful flowers here on the 20th, 

 16 days later than last season. Apricots on walls are not quite so full in 

 blossom on the 31st, as they were last season on the 12th. Daffodils and 

 marsh-marigold remain to be noticed next month. Wild geese have been 

 rising in flocks within the last three days, attempting to wing their way 

 northward to their summer quarters; but, on observing the snow-clad 

 hills, they wheeled about, and have again settled in the Low Carse. — A, G. 

 Annat Gardens, March 31. 



Art. VL Queries and Anstvers. 



Lists of Engravings. — If, in your future Numbers, you would, when 

 reviewing zoological works, exhibit a list of the engravings which they 

 respectively contain, you would, by so doing, render your Magazine addi- 

 tionally useful, and would confer, at the same time, a particular favour on, 

 I am persuaded, a numerous class of your country readers, who must have 

 often felt the same inconvenience, in this respect, with myself. The works 

 to which I more particularly allude are such as the Zoological Journal, 

 Sellfi/'s Ornithology^ Selby and JardirHs General Ornithology, Griffith''s 

 Edition of Cuvier, Sivainson's Zoological Illustrations, &c. &c. — A. C. R. 

 March 31, 1829. 



The Guinea-pig (Cavia Cobaya). — What are the colour and habits of 

 this animal, in its wild state ? It was known to the Romans, and, I believe, 

 it is also a native of South America, but this is all I know, — C. Lamb. 

 March 5. 



Donovan's Eggs of British Birds. — Have any more than four numbers of 

 this work come out, and is it to be continued ? I have heard nothing of it 

 since Feb. 1827. — ^. C. R. [See the answer to J. D. Salmon below.] 



British Birds* Eggs. — Which is the best work, with coloured plates, on 

 British birds' eggs, and, at the same time, the cheapest ? Are the plates 

 of the Ovarium Britdnnicum, by George Graves, Esq. F. L. S., well 

 executed ? — J. D. Salmon. 



I am sorry to be obliged to say there is no English work on birds' eggs 

 that I can venture to recommend. Mr. Lewin's is expensive, somewhat 

 incorrect, and, unless one of his very early and best copies can be procured, 

 but very badly coloured. The Ovarium Britannicum of Mr. Graves, only 

 part i. of which has appeared that I am aware of, and that so long ago 

 as 1816, contains but a small portion only of our British birds' eggs, and 

 but imperfectly executed. Mr. Donovan has published four numbers, at 

 5s. 6d. each, of a work on British birds' eggs, containing about seventeen 

 in the whole, and not on that account only somewhat objectionable. The 

 l?est work on eggs, that I am acquainted with, is Naumann and Buhle's 



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