Birds, 517 



were mule beings which had been produced from a union 

 between the common species of duck and the common species 

 of fowl." It will be observed that it is not intimated of what 

 species the supposed male and female parent were conjectured 

 to be. We have ascertained, however, that at the examina- 

 tion, after death, of one of the specimens sent to the Zoological 

 Society, the form and character of the bones, and of all the 

 viscera, were those of a true duck.] 



The Ringdove [Qolumba Valumbus) in a good Degree do- 

 mesticated, (p. 332.) — As it is stated in all the ornithological 

 works that it is impossible to domesticate this bird, I was de- 

 termined to make the experiment myself, in order to ascertain 

 the truth or falsity of the assertion. I accordingly procured 

 a pair of fledged ringdoves from a nest, confined them in an 

 aviary, and fed them on young peas and barley. When I 

 had kept them about a month, the female died, and I turned 

 the survivor out : he immediately flew to a neighbouring 

 wood, and I expected that I was then seeing him for the last 

 time ; but, to my great astonishment, I found him a few hours 

 afterwards, perched upon a box inside an open shed in which 

 my pigeons were kept. This was ever afterwards his favourite 

 station, and he never showed any inclination to repair to his 

 native haunts (as it is said they invariably do, when turned 

 loose), but always remained with the other pigeons, and fol- 

 lowed them in all their windings and circuits. On the 12th 

 of January, 1833, he fell ill, and died a few days afterwards : 

 he was in my possession six months. — W, H. H, Burton on 

 Trent, July 5. 1834. 



Facts on the Quail {Coturnix vulgaris Fleming). — I found, 

 on August 12. 1833, a quail's nest in the middle of a field 

 which had been of barley, but in which clover was then grow- 

 ing. The nest, placed upon the ground, was made of grass 

 and a few straws and clover stalks ; it contained ten eggs, 

 which were pear-shaped, with large and small brown blotches, 

 upon an ash ground. This bird's natural shyness was much 

 diminished during incubation ; so much so, that she would 

 almost allow herself to be caught, without quitting the nest; 

 she was, however, so frequently disturbed that she entirely 

 forsook it after sitting about a week. Pennant says that 

 quails resort to Essex in considerable numbers, and remain 

 during the winter; I think, nevertheless, that the bird is 

 rather an uncommon one in this part of the county. — J. C, 

 Witham, Essex, March 20. 1834. 



^n Instance of the Robin's building its Nest in a Festoon of 

 a Bed, and rearing a Brood of Young there. — I have a friend 

 who resides a few miles from town, and during the late fine 



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