CHAPTER OF CRITICISM. 427 



circumstance. The name " Tree Redstart " did not originate with us ; and was 

 only adopted for its superiority over " Common." If, however, English names 

 are of any importance in a scientific point of view, both " Tree" and " Common" 

 ought to be discarded. — 3. Had there been two British Nightingales, we should 

 not have been backward in announcing England's good fortune in this respect. 

 The addition of an English specific name is only in accordance with the uniform 

 plan pursued throughout the volume. — 4. This depends very much upon season 

 and latitude. — 5. This of course settles the matter. — 6. The remark accords with 

 the experience of almost every naturalist, and likewise with our own. Two 

 holes have, however, been seen in the nest. — 7. Our observation is supported by 

 that of Charles Watebton, Esq., in his Wanderings, 2nd edit., p. 143. — 8. 

 The observation is valuable. — 9. The season here has a remarkable effect. Pro- 

 tracted winds will silence every chorister of the grove for weeks together. We 

 have heard many birds sing in December and January which, nevertheless, 

 commonly commence and regularly set in for the season in April. The Chaff 

 Finch is, however, an early singer. — 10. Whether Botany or Ornithology has 

 priority in this instance, we are not at present prepared to decide. — 1 1. Had Mr. 

 Bree taken the subsequent paragraph into consideration {Song Birds, p. 380), 

 he would have found that no difference exists between us on this head. While 

 feeding, Cautiousness is absorbed, as it were, by Gustativeness. — 12. In winter 

 we find it shy, in summer not. In the latter season Philoprogenitiveness becomes 

 more powerful than Cautiousness. That this bird sucks eggs, is contrary to our 

 entire experience. — 13. This is a new view of the case. Perhaps the balance 

 is in favour of retaining the old name. — 14. This might have been useful to the 

 student, although we do not chime in with the indiscriminate admirers of the 

 great artist. — 15. Our Preface ought to have explained that our book was written 

 before it was christened ; and that the least objectionable of several titles was 

 then selected. The Swallows, accordingly, did not enter into the original plan ; 

 further, had the Swallow been included on the score of musical ability, the Jay 

 would put in a claim of at least equal force. The casual observer who has 

 merely noticed the harsh scream of the Jay, may probably be inclined to split his 

 sides with laughter at the thought of its being called a " song bird ;" but Mr. Bree 

 must have heard its soft and singular melody. 



We have to thank Mr. Bree for the kind and candid manner in which he has 

 penned the above remarks ; and may perhaps be allowed to congratulate ourselves 

 upon the circumstance that in a volume of upwards of 400 closely-printed pages, 

 containing no trifling mass of observations and opinions, so excellent a practical 

 naturalist as our amiable correspondent has found so little to find fault with. — Ed.] 



