CHAPTER OF MISCELLANIES. 221 



the latter case the poison is uniformly obtained from the fruit, while in the 

 Wourali it is always extracted from the bark. 



CHAPTER OF MISCELLANIES. 



ZOOLOGY. 



The Occurrence of the Girl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus) in Yorkshire. — 

 At p. 1C4 you observe that you have met with the Cirl Bunting ; and it may be 

 that the species breeds in your neighbourhood. Dr. Fleming, in his British 

 Animals, mentions one having been killed near Edinburgh. It is a remarkably 

 local bird in this part of the country, common in a few scattered isolated localities, 

 especially on the bordering districts of Surrey and Sussex, and is nowhere more 

 plentiful than in the vicinity of Alton, near Selborne, whence it is strange that 

 Gilbert White should have overlooked it. It occurs, indeed, in most parts of 

 Hampshire, but rather sparingly, at least in comparison to its abundance in the 

 Isle of Wight, where its tiresome repetition may be heard from morn till dusk, 

 becoming irksome from its monotony. Its song resembles that of the Yellow 

 Bunting, but wants the finish in a different key. Montagu compares it to that 

 of the Whitebreasted Fauvet, but it is less energetic. A few days ago I saw a 

 fine pair in a bird-shop, for which the man wanted 7s. — Edward Blyth, North 

 Brixton, Surrey, May 11, 1837. 



The Supposed Backwardness of the Present Season. — I constantly hear com- 

 plaints of the backwardness of the present spring, and yet, on comparing the last 

 year's notes of the arrival of a few of our spring visitants, I find a very singular 

 coincidence between them and those of the current year. I am, however, aware 

 that last spring was also considered backward. This refers to the neighbourhood 

 of Dublin. I send two or three notes as examples : — 



1836. April 22. — Saw several Sand Swallows, Hirundo riparia. 



May 4. — Whin Chat, Saxicola cenanthe. 



May 7. — Common Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus. 

 1837- April 23. — A solitary Sand Swallow. 



May 1. — Sand Swallows in great numbers. 



Same day. — Whin Chat. 



May 6. — Cuckoo. 

 I shall also give the dates of the appearance of a few common flowers [.sea 

 p. 225]. — Beverley R. Morris, Trinity College, Dublin, May 12, 1837. 



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