APPENDIX. 



Note I. The Duration of Life among Birds. 



There is less exact knowledge upon this subject than we 

 might expect, considering the existing number of ornithologists 

 and ornithological societies with their numerous publications. 

 It has neither been possible nor necessary for my purpose to 

 look up all the widely-scattered references which are to be 

 found upon the subject. Many of these are doubtless unknown 

 to me ; for we are still in want of a compilation of accurately 

 determined observations in this department of zoology. I print 

 the few facts which I have been able to collect, as a slight 

 contribution towards such a compilation. 



Small singing birds live from eight to eighteen j^ears : the 

 nightingale, in captivity, eight years, but longer according to 

 some writers : the blackbird, in captivity, twelve years, but 

 both these birds live longer in the natural state. A 'half-bred 

 nightingale built its nest for nine consecutive years in the same 

 garden ' (Naumann, ' Vogel Deutschlands,' p. 76). 



Canary birds in captivity attain an age of twelve to fifteen 

 years (I.e., p. 76). 



Ravens have lived for almost a hundred years in captivit}' 

 (1. c, Bd. I. p. 125). 



Magpies in captivity live twenty years, and, * without doubt,' 

 much longer in the natural state (I.e., p. 346). 



Parrots * in captivity have reached upwards of a hundred 

 years' (I.e., p. 125). 



A single instance of the cuckoo (alluded to in the text) is 

 mentioned by Naumann as reaching the age of thirty-two years 

 (I.e., p. 76). 



Fowls live ten to twenty j'ears, the golden pheasant fifteen 

 3-ears, the turkey sixteen years, and the pigeon ten 3'ears (Oken, 

 * Naturgeschichte, Vogel,' p. 387). 



