RETROSPECTIVE REMARKS. 65 



northern parts ;" and they expect that the Zoological Society will be 

 as successful in naturalising the curassows as completely as our 

 ancestors have done the equally exotic, and, in their wild state, much 

 less familiar breeds of the turkey, the Guinea-fowl, and the peacock*. 

 Now, as to the " modus operandi" in establishing a rookery. The only 

 information I can procure upon this head is in the Magazine of Natural 

 History, vol. 6, p. 334, where, in a note, the Rev. Mr. Bree of 

 Warwickshire states, that he has learnt that " the readiest way to 

 establish a rookery where one did not previously exist, is, to withdraw 

 the eggs from the nest of a magpie that is about to sit, and has built 

 near the place where it is wished the new colony should be raised, and 

 to substitute in their room the eggs of the rook. The young birds, it 

 is said, will return the following spring, and take up their quarters in 

 the same tree in which they were reared." 



The bird objectionably called the Virginian nightingale, it being in 

 fact a species of grosbeak, the Loxia cardinalis of Wilson, I should 

 hardly think it possible to naturalise in this country, the warblers of 

 which are indeed so rich in point of melody, that, for my part, I fain 

 would remain a stranger to the harmony of all foreign songsters, lest 

 I should become less delighted with those of my native land. There 

 are many, no doubt, who would like to see our groves inhabited by a 

 host of screeching parrots ; our gardens graced by the presence of the 

 splendid bird of paradise, and each expanded flower fanned by the 

 humming-bird's resplendent wings ; but feeling well satisfied with the 

 songs of such of the feathered race as inhabit this country, I am happy 

 to be able to declare with Shenstone, that 



" I covet riot the price of foreign looms ; 



In search of foreign modes I scorn to rove ; 

 Nor for the worthless bird of brighter plume- s 

 Would change the meanest songster of my grove." 



The lepidopterous insects mentioned by Mr. Blyth, at page 550, as 

 having " night-shining eyes," are not the only species that exhibit a 

 similar appearance. The eyes of several, when viewed in the dark, are 

 found to be luminous : this is, as is well known, thtt case with Acro- 

 nycla Psi and Cossus ligniperda, and to these I can add, from frequent 

 observation, the names of Plusia Gamma and Plusia Chrysilis, the 

 eyes of both of which species, when viewed in the dark, shine with 

 considerable brilliancy. 



* Zool. Soc. Gardens, vol. ii. p. 9, 

 VOL. II. NO. II. K 



