Birds. 525 



The Robin has built and hatched early in 1833. — A per- 

 fectly finished robin's nest was accidentally destroyed on 

 January 14th, 1833; and, on the 7th of February, 1833, a 

 nest of young robins was found in some ivy : both nests in 

 this garden. I think these were very early. Were they 

 not ? — Henry Turner. Botanic Garden, Bury St. Edmunds, 

 Feb. 27. 1833. 



Plan proposed for introducing new Breeds of Birds into this 

 Country. — Sir, The difficulty and expense attendant on 

 bringing birds alive to this country from distant places being 

 so great, I think the attempt to introduce the eggs in a state 

 fit for incubation well worthy of trial. Several precautions 

 will be found necessary. 1st, The eggs must be kept fresh, 

 by the total exclusion of air. 2dly, The temperature must be 

 kept uniform. 3dly, The eggs should be submitted to as little 

 motion as possible, and the smaller end of the egg should be 

 placed downwards. In order to succeed, I would recommend 

 that the eggs should first be coated with gum arabic, and, 

 when dry, with spirit varnish. The first would be sufficient* 

 if total absence of moisture could be secured. The varnish 

 can be removed by spirit of turpentine, without affecting 

 the gum arabic, as the latter' is not soluble in the spirit. 

 Water will afterwards remove the gum. The eggs, when 

 prepared, should be packed in a box of pulverised charcoal, 

 taking care that the eggs are placed with the small end down, 

 and not in contact with each other. The box should be kept 

 continually with the same side up. It would, perhaps, be 

 better if the box were suspended in the cabin. All these 

 precautions may appear troublesome; but they are trifling, 

 compared with the constant attention required by live birds. 

 I have suggested this plan to the secretary of the Zoological 

 Society ; and it would afford me much pleasure to learn that 

 a fair trial had been made. A circumstance which some 

 years ago was mentioned gives me sanguine hopes of its 

 success. It was, that some eggs sent to India, simply covered 

 with a coating of gum arabic, had been hatched there with 

 success. Should any of your readers happen to know facts 

 of successful incubation after the eggs had been kept for con- 

 siderable periods, I hope they will communicate them to the 

 public through your Magazine, as they would materially 

 strengthen the opinion I entertain on this subject, and perhaps 

 induce a more extensive trial of the plan. I am, Sir, yours, 

 Sec — Charles M. Willich. London, Oct. 11. 1833. 



A variety of the partridge bantam, which is of a ginger 

 colour, has legs devoid of feathers, and, from these characters, 

 and the beauty of its proportions, is much admired, is kept, 



