M. SYLVATICUS ON TAME BIRDS. 209 



the neighbouring clouds, and rush into the arch, as did also several of 

 those meteors called " shooting stars ; " and at these times the arch 

 became more vivid. It was visible to us for the space of an hour. 

 On several evenings during December, 1830, the aurora borealis filled 

 the heavens with its glory. On that of the 25th its brilliancy and di- 

 versity of form surpassed every thing of the kind I had ever before wit-, 

 nessed. From seven o'clock till midnight, it occupied more than half 

 the visible hemisphere, with all its magnificence of moving columns, 

 spears, lances, bows, waves, &c. About eight, three bows or arches 

 were formed, stretching from E. to W. ; and between nine and ten, 

 another appeared in the direction of N. E. to S. W. composed of 

 alternate stripes or strata of light and shade, which had a singularly 

 striking effect. The eastern extremity was curved or twisted. The 

 last one that occurred here was on the evening of September 17, 1831. 

 It appeared about eleven o'clock, extending from N. E. to S. W., of 

 a beautiful serpentine form, being remarkably curved or waved from 

 one extremity to the other. 

 Dundee, 5th of April, 1833. 



ON THE HABITS OF TAME BIRDS. 



BY MATTH^EUS SYLVATICUS. 



IT is a common observation, confirmed by those naturalists who have 

 had the greatest experience, that our knowledge of the wonders of 

 creation is still in its infancy. One very interesting point, on which 

 we are much in the dark, is that faculty of the brute creation, called 

 instinct *. Now, Sir, it has always been my opinion, that one clearly 

 substantiated fact tends more to elucidate truth than any number of 

 theories and hypotheses, either wholly unfounded in fact, or built upon 

 some casual exception to the general rule ; and, with this feeling, I 

 submit the following statement as a candidate for a corner in the " Field 

 Naturalist's Magazine." 



I am extremely fond of what I call practical natural history ; but, 

 as I reside in a large town, you will suppose I may find some little 



* See page 54 of this Magazine, for an excellent paper on Instinct, by Dr. Virey, 

 of Paris. 



VOL. I. NO. V. P 



