CHAPTER OF CRITICISM. 367 



sufficient for its use — Swainson, Selby, and Gould. It is then stated, with 

 regard to the same plate, that " the author has judged right in giving three 

 figures. • We never saw one of the dark colour of fig. 2, a shade between figs. 1 

 and 3 being commonest." Now these three eggs happen to be those of two birds, 

 fig. 1 being that of the Chiff Chaff, 2 and 3 those of the Wood Wren ;* and I 

 feel confident that the writer never saw an egg of the Chiff Chaff " a shade 

 between figs. 1 and 3." He might well say he " never saw one of the dark 

 colour of fig. 3." . 



The next error is in reference to plate cxix., in which the reviewer mentions 

 the two figures there drawn as of the Purple Heron, " differing remarkably in 

 size." Now although the eggs do differ remarkably in colour, and sometimes a 

 good deal in size, they do not vary quite so much. The eggs there represented 

 are also those of two species. 



You will, I trust, excuse me for mentioning these errors, which have most 

 likely got into your pages without your having had time to correct them. I 

 ought not to conclude these remarks without expressing my satisfaction at the 

 manner in which the British Oology is spoken of in the critique alluded to. 



I am, dear Sir, 



Yours truly, 



Derby, Aug. 26, 1837- William C. Hewitson. 



£We really are at a loss to imagine how the errors which Mr. Hewitson has 

 taken the trouble to point out, could have crept in, unless indeed — which is an 

 unusual occurrence with us — we were dozing at the time we wrote the critique. 

 We may, however, positively state that we have seen an egg of the Darklegged 

 Warbler spotless white. After the account given of Sylvia hippolais in 

 Gould's Birds of Europe, we thought every naturalist had known that the 

 bird of that name found in Britain is " now universally acknowledged to be the 

 S. rufa" or S. loquax of Herbert. — Ed.] 



" For Many Years Past." 



To the Editor of the Naturalist. 



Sir, — " For many years past" may perhaps mean as many as Bix or seven ; 

 and there are cases where it may be as well to mention the source from which 

 information has been derived. I have instructed several in the rudiments of 

 Natural History, and have taught others the names of the commonest species of 

 British birds. Will Mr. R. H. Sweeting be so good as to inform me, in the first 



* Mr. Salmon has already been kind enough to correct us in this particular, for which see our 

 September number, p. 313. — En. 



8B3 



