278 Retrospective Criticism. 



remarks on Cblumba Turtur, prove nothing at all. I am, 

 it is true, no ornithologist, and my former remarks merely 

 went to show the possibility of birds using something from 

 the rump gland when pluming, by their being able to apply 

 it to their head and neck, as Mr. Waterton had asserted 

 (Vol. V. p. 414.) that their being unable so to do was 

 " proof positive" they did not use anything. 



The article in the Field Naturalist's Magazine for 

 February, p. 75. " On the Rump Gland in Birds," translated 

 from the writings of M. Reaumur, does not quite clear up 

 the point to me; for, although that author was satisfied that 

 birds do not use such gland for any purpose in pluming, I 

 never saw my birds apply to that gland except while pluming, 

 though they often plume without; but in what manner they 

 use it, whether merely for the bill, or on their feathers, I cannot 

 determine. I believe the birds I have mentioned as having 

 seen frequently pinch the nipple on the rump gland when 

 pluming have what are called soft bills, and are very dif- 

 ferent to those Mr. Barker mentions (p. 162.), namely, the 

 kestrel, Washington eagle, and jackdaw, which have hard 

 beaks, and of whose habits I know nothing. — H. Henslow. 

 St. Albans, March 11. 1833. 



Pride of Colour in the Black Swan. (p. 139.) — I should 

 be glad to learn from Sir J. Byerley, how he ascertained that 

 the black swan " considered it would be a mesalliance to 

 consort with a being on whom nature had not lavished the 

 beauty of sable plumes;" and how it was he learned that it 

 *' despised the snowy charms of the white female, and refused 

 her because her colour varied from his own." I would ask 

 him how he ascertained the secret motives which made the 

 one refuse to associate with the other, and by what secret 

 means he discovered what it " considered ?" Does he un- 

 derstand the language of the black swan ? If so, I think if 

 he would only furnish your readers with even the rudiments 

 of it, it would be one of the most entertaining and valuable 

 papers ever communicated to this Magazine. At the con- 

 clusion he appears to admire the swan's " pride," and ex- 

 claims, " what a lesson for man !" The meaning of which 

 exclamation is above my weak comprehension, but I fancy 

 that he hints that it is improper for a black man to marry a 

 white woman. It appears to me that what he has construed 

 into "pride" arose solely from the grief which the swan felt 

 for the loss of its mate ; and had one even of the same 

 colour and species been given to it, it might perhaps, from 

 the same reason, have refused that also. — James Fennell. 

 March, 1833. 



The Great Grey Sea-mews, or Gulls, (p. 27. 111. 171.) — 



