Retrospective Criticism. 75 



Cape sheep (see Rennie's Architecture of Birds, p. 37.) ; and 

 the gannet is designated the " boolDy." — James FennelL 

 Aug. 1833. 



The late Rev. Lansdown Guilding, in a communication 

 lying by us, made in relation to the admirable remarks of 

 K. in II. 186., on the acquired wariness of birds, has re- 

 marked : — " The booby, and other birds celebrated for their 

 stupidity and contempt of the destroyer man, are cunning 

 enough in places much frequented : it is only when they are 

 met with in desert places, or during the season of incubation, 

 that they exhibit a stupid inattention to danger." — J. D. 



Mr, BlytKs Identification (VI. 516.) of the Species of Thrush 

 'which W. L.^ 'who describes (VI. 218.) its Migration, deems an 

 unrecognised one, with the Redwing {Turdus \llacus). — Sir, If 

 W. L.'s species of thrush (VI. 218.), of which he saw " thou- 

 sands" in the Island of Harris, in the month of June, prove 

 to be not a new species, but merely the redwing (Turdus 

 zliacus), as suggested by Mr. Blyth (VI. 516.), it will go near 

 to establish the fact (hitherto, so far as I am aware, not known 

 to naturalists) of these birds remaining throughout the sum- 

 mer, and breeding in the northern parts of Great Britain. It 

 is much to be wished that W. L. had procured a specimen of 

 his thrush, in order to put the point beyond dispute. Of the 

 musical powers of the redwing I entertain no doubt ; for even 

 in winter, when the weather is very fine, and still more in the 

 spring, they will congregate on the top of a large tree, along 

 with their friends the fieldfares, and begin to tune their pipes, 

 uttering in concert a low, murmuring, half-stifled song, as 

 it were an earnest of what they can do when in full voice. 

 Many birds, as the chaffinch, blackcap, nightingale, &c., when 

 first they commence their song in the spring, sing but imper- 

 fectly, giving only detached fragments of their melody ; as if, 

 from disuse, they had partly forgotten their notes, and were 

 out of practice. Yours, &c. — W. 2\ Bree, Allesley Rectory^ 

 Nov. 6. 1833. 



Dates of the Redwings Appearance. — Among those I have 

 given in VI. 516., for " months," in that for 1832, line 14. 

 from the bottom, read " weeks." — Edward Blyth. Nov, 26. 

 1833. 



The Distinctions and Synonymes of the British Species of 

 Sylvia. (VI. 447. 521.)— Mr. Blyth's words, in VI. 521., repre- 

 sent me as adducing, in VI. 447., Professor Rennie's paper in 

 No. 2. of The Field Naturalist's Magazine " as a correct eluci- 

 dation of the species of the genus" Sylvia. My words in 

 VI. 447,448. are, " Professor Rennie's admirable elucidation 

 of the species Sylvia hippolais and rufa." 



