172 Retrospective Criticism. 



effectual means for this purpose. If the small end of the egg 

 be punctured, and the egg inverted in a ring attached to a 

 support, by the action of the air-pump, the contents will be 

 completely expelled, from the expansion of the bubble of air 

 at the great end ; and it is obvious a dozen or more introduced 

 under the receiver may be thus effectively treated at the same 

 time. — J. Murray. Jan. 20. 1833. 



Luminous Appearance on the Ears of a Horse. (Vol. V. 

 p. 763.) — This luminous appearance has been long and 

 familiarly known. The phenomenon is entirely electrical, and 

 has nothing to do with the Seolopendra electrica, or the glow- 

 worm, or insect life in any shape or form. — J, Murray. 

 Jan. 20. 1833. 



Structure of the Nest of the Common Brawn Wren. — It is 

 not my fault if your correspondent, T. G. of Clitheroe, trust- 

 ing to his memory, neglecting to refer to the proper docu- 

 ment, chooses to assert (Vol. V. p. 738.) that I say u wrens 

 do not line their nests with any thing but moss." What I do 

 say (Ornithologia, p. 18.) is, that " the wren's nest is very 

 often made of green moss both within and without." Nor is 

 it my fault if your correspondent choose to say that I think 

 " Montagu is in error when he says they are lined with fea- 

 thers." I say no such thing ; but I say, not doubting for a 

 moment that Montagu's own observation justified his state- 

 ment, " although ks usual structure is green moss, yet, if it 

 build against the side of a hayrick, it is composed of hay; 

 if against a tree covered with white moss, it is made of the 

 same material. This is not, however, an invariable habit; for 

 I have known a wren's nest constructed at the edge of the 

 thatch of a house, the colour of which was very different from 

 the nest itself; something doubtless depends upon the ease or 

 difficulty with which materials can be obtained. Montagu 

 says that the lining is invariably feathers: this is not, I think, 

 correct ; I believe, when made with green moss, its lining is 

 generally of the same material." [Ornithologia, p. 243.) 

 Judge, therefore, whether either of the statements attributed 

 to me by T. G. are correct or not. I do not wish to enlarge 

 on these misstatements, although I may be permitted to la- 

 ment their publication, inasmuch as they deter me, and, I 

 doubt not, others, from making known that experience in 

 natural history by which the science may be improved. I am, 

 nevertheless, extremely thankful to be reminded of my errors 

 or mistakes ; but wilful or careless misrepresentation is ex- 

 tremely offensive ; and for this reason chiefly it is that I have 

 avoided for some time past to communicate any thing to your 

 Magazine. 



