102 Notices, Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, &;c. 



to the closet naturalist, but still more so to the field observer, 

 little understood by any. Living on the south coast in spring 

 and autumn, I have good opportunities of marking the arrival 

 and departure of some birds. I have seen the Swallows [Hirundo), 

 over the sea, actually arrive and pass straight inland without a 

 pause or the least show of weariness. Not so the ChiflF-chafFs 

 and Willow- Wrens, which stay about the shingle at first, till 

 they recover their strength — at least, I have seen them at five 

 o'clock of a spring morning within a few yards of the waves. In 

 autumn, on certain days (varying according to the wind), the 

 gardens about Brighton are full of Ring-Ouzels, Chifi'-chaflFs, 

 Willow- Wrens, Redstarts ; on the Downs are Wheatears ; in the 

 air Goldfinches, Swallows, Green Linnets, &c. I have stood 

 and watched these birds early on a fine morning (for birds of the 

 above kinds do not fly in cloudy, dull days), going in continuous 

 streams down to the sea, following one another as surely in the 

 same direction as if going by a mariner's compass. The Roman 

 augurs were not quite so absurd perhaps as one would at first 

 imagine ; a great many indications may be gathered from the 

 flight of birds. Their motions appear to the common observer 

 to be guided by chance ; but the ornithologist knows that each 

 bird he sees is employed on some particular business, and can 

 interpret its actions. Birds always travel by night across the sea, 

 working their way along the coast till a proper wind is blowing, 

 and flying against any light which may appear on the shore. 

 In the days of the old watchmen at Brighton, small birds 

 used frequently to fly against the lanterns which they carried." 



Herr August von Pelzeln, of Vienna, informs us that, among 

 the collections formed during the late exploring expedition of the 

 ' Novara,' which have recently arrived at the capital, are " large 

 numbers of bird- skins. Among these are an interesting and 

 tolerably numerous series from the Nicobar Islands, some rare 

 birds from the smaller Pacific Islands, and many from India and 

 the Suuda Islands. Among the latter is a species of Bona- 

 parte's genus Diardigallus. The collection of skeletons and 

 birds in spirits is of great value; and there are also a consider- 

 able number of nests and eggs." 



