280 MISCKHANEOUS, 



united voices within those twelve acres of glass ! Were ever such strains 

 heard before, under similar circumstances ? Never ! The little performers 

 positively sang the visitors in, and out — trotting along the floors to the very 

 last. It was indeed a charming sight ! Their nests were built in those ver> 

 pretty wire flower-baskets, so tastefully suspended round the galleries. I 

 went again this season, to get a peep at my little friends. I listened for 

 them eagerly; I sought for them carefully. I imitated their song. Alas ! no 

 response. All was cruelly silent. My mind misgave me that something was 

 amiss. Addressing myself to a young lady, who I rightly guessed was a 

 season-ticket holder, I explained to her the cause of my solicitude, which 

 had not escaped her observation. " Oh — sir," sighed this fair daughter of 

 Eve, with a seraphic expression of countenance yet visible to my mind's eye 

 — "those dear Eobins, sir, have all been poisoned! " I groaned. On further 

 inquiry, I found it was too true. They had been voted " a nuisance ! " — and 

 poisoned ! Who, after this, shall deny that "Man is a savage?" — KidcHs (W.) 

 Treatise on the Rohin. 



Song of the Autumn Robin. — It is worthy of remark, that few of the old 

 Robins resume their song until the spring. All the music we are treated to 

 from this time to Christmas, is improvised by the young birds of the present 

 year. Its freshness, joyousness, richness, and purity are inexpressibly 

 delightful. Our little friends are honest. All we hear is genuine. They 

 are happy ; and they take care to let us know it and feel it. Just now, it 

 does one good to listen to " the autumn bird in russet coat." The little 

 fellow seems to consider it his " mission " to attend us wherever we go ; and 

 to lighten our cares by joyously singing them away. In the garden, in the 

 field, in the lanes, in the wood, in the farm-yard, in the barn, on the old 

 shed, — there he is, looldng out for us ! And how merrily does Master Bob 

 greet us ! His salutation — hoAV frank ! I wonder what he would say to those 

 formalists and " fashionables " amongst us, who exhibit two flabby fingers as 

 conventional tokens of recognition and affection to visitors and friends. — 

 Eidd!s [W.) Treatise on the Rohin. 



Greater Spotted Woodpecker. (Picus major.) — A finely coloured male speci- 

 men of this bird was shot at Bottisham, near Cambridge, on the 25th of April, 

 and is now in my collection. — W. C. H., Cambridge. 



Crossbill, (Loxia curvirostra.) A pair of these birds were shot on the 14th 

 July, 1855, in the grounds of the Clock House, Beckenham. They were part 

 of a flock of about thirty. — F. C. Adams, the Clock House, Beckenham, Kent, 

 Sept. 17th, 1855. 



During my stay at Southport this summer, I captured a female specimen 

 of Trochilium crabroniformis on a sallow tree ; this occurred on the 26th of 

 June. Is not its occurrence so far north unusual? — Charles Fryer, Man- 

 chester, July 31st, 1855. 



