516 Short Communications : — 



derable time before I could persuade myself that it was an 

 imitation. But what amused me most of all was its produc- 

 tion of the neighing of the horse. This was so near the 

 truth, that some companions who were with me were a long 

 time before they would be convinced that the sounds pro- 

 ceeded from the bird. The neighing was very subdued and 

 suppressed, but it bore the most striking resemblance to the 

 neighing of a colt heard at a distance ; indeed, so close was 

 the imitation, that, without a sight of the bird, no person 

 could possibly, I think, be persuaded that the sound proceeded 

 from such an agent. These imitations were accompanied, 

 occasionally, with more subdued and very melodious notes. 

 Before I had parted with my mocking friend, I wished to 

 have farther proof of its skill ; I therefore whistled in different 

 notes, and was immediately answered in exactly the same 

 strain. I was disappointed in the object of my ramble ; but 

 was abundantly satisfied in being so fortunate as to hear the 

 song of the jay. — C Cofiwm/. Fontnewydd Works, near New- 

 port, Monmouthshire, Jan, 20. 1834. 



Ducks with the Toes not connected hy a Weh or Membrane, 

 and the Upper Mandible imperfect : presumed to have proceeded 

 from a Union between the Domestic Duck and Domestic Fowl, 

 — The notice on hybrid birds, in p. 153., recalled to my mind 

 the seeing once some apparently hybrid ducks about the 

 aquarium in the Cambridge Botanic Garden, and led me to 

 apply to Mr. Arthur Biggs, the curator of that establishment, 

 for some information on them. He has obligingly replied (in 

 a communication dated April 19. I834<) to the following 

 amount : — ■" The ducks were three : they were bred at a small 

 farm at Gamlingay, Cambs, and were bought, about seven 

 years ago, by Mr. Bowles, veterinary surgeon, Cambridge, 

 who sent them to the Botanic Garden, and, after they had 

 remained here some time, presented them to the London 

 Zoological Society : they were added to the Society's farm at 

 Kingston, Surrey. I have not heard any thing of them since. 

 All that I can recollect about them is, that they differed from 

 common ducks in the upper part of their beak being twisted 

 and jagged, and so much smaller than the lower part, that it 

 was with some difficulty that they could gather up their food ; 

 and in being not web-footed, but having feet like those of a 

 hen. The colour of one of them was a dark brown, like that 

 of some hens ; the other two were nearly of the usual colour 

 of common ducks. One of them manifested a dislike to go 

 into water ; so much so, that, when driven to the water, it would 

 turn away. The general appearance, and the habits of all 

 were such as to induce many persons to suppose that they 



