^ Natural History in the English Counties. 



The healths of Cuvier and Jussieu, and the Naturalists of Europe, Were 

 ^runk with much approbation. 



Dr. Buckland's health, and Prosperity to the University of Oxford, 

 having been most cordially received, the learned Professor addressed the 

 meeting at considerable length, bearing testimony to" the merits of Ray, 

 whom, as an individual, we must ever esteem, love, and venerate, and whose 

 name the annals of philosophy will never cease to record among the first 

 founders and benefactors of natural science. 



On giving " the University of Cambridge," the Chairman took notice of 

 the expulsion of Ray from that University, which harsh act he was disposed 

 to attribute to the persecuting spirit which raged without the walls of that 

 learned seminary. He could say of many of the present members of Tri- 

 nity College, that they regret that the violence of the times had compelled 

 their predecessors to acquiesce in the retirement of Mr. Ray from his Fel- 

 lowship, for refusing to subscribe a declaration altogether unwarrantable. 

 Oxford had as much to answer for in regard to her treatment of Mr. 

 Locke. 



The Rev. Professor Henslow returned thanks. He remarked that the 

 University of Cambridge had, so far as the marble or the canvass could 

 make amends, endeavoured to atone for the little, or, he should rather say, 

 the great, injustice which Mr. Ray had sustained. The bust of that great 

 man was ranged by the side of those of Newton, Boyle, Barrow, Dry den, 

 and Willughby ; and his portrait was considered to confer honour on the 

 place in which it was. But Cambridge might, with justice, boast of pos- 

 sessing a far more powerful proof than those, of the estimation in which it 

 held the genius and conduct of Ray : his spirit still lived there ; and although 

 the study of natural history had not yet been brought to that degree of 

 perfection there which it might be, he hoped the day was not far off when 

 it would command general attention. Such pursuits he considered the best 

 correctives of fanaticism and bigotry. 



" The Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London,'^ and the healths 

 of Baron Humboldt and Dr. Wollaston, having been severally drank, the 

 Chairman retired amidst the applauses of the Company. 



The health of Mr. Children, who suggested the Commemoration, was 

 then given with hearty approbation, and the company separated, after 

 having spent a day which they will long remember with delight. 



A more full account of this Commemoration will be found in the Philoso- 

 phical Magazine and Annals of Philosophy, for February, 1829, from which 

 the above is extracted. 



Art. in. Natural History in the E?iglish Counties. 



Breeding of Woodcocks in Eiigland. — Sir, The fact that woodcocks 

 occasionally breed in this country has long been established on undoubted 

 authority. The occurrence, 1 am inclined to think, may perhaps take place 

 oftener than is generally supposed. It should be remarked, that the woods, 

 which are the usual haunts of the species, are comparatively but little dis- 

 turbed during the breeding season, viz. the end of April, or beginning of 

 May ; so that these birds may, possibly, sometimes retain quiet possession 

 of their sylvan domains without attracting our observation. It is highly 

 probable that the individuals of this species, which are sometimes seen in 

 the beginning of autumn, may not have migrated from the north at that 

 early period, but may be such as have remained in this country through the 

 summer (as is suggested in one of the extracts from the public journals 

 below). I beg to offer you the following instances of woodcocks breeding 



