215 



the theory of the submersion of Swallows. Klein ,^^ who 

 strongly supported the doctrine, gives the following 

 account of their manner of retiring in the autumn"^ 

 received, he states, from some countrymen. These 

 good souls asserted that " a number of Swallows would 

 form a large mass by clinging together with their feet, 

 and so commit themselves to the deep. Others would 

 unite in laying hold of a straw with their bills, and so 

 plunge down in society. Others, again, assembled in 

 numbers on the reeds, till the latter broke under their 

 weight, and sank with them to the bottom." And 

 their immersion, these observers add, in a delightfully 

 artless manner, was always preceded by a dirge of a 

 quarter of an hour's length. 



^be X. & IP, ®. Hutumii Show of 

 ©ctobcr, 1903. 



^ FOREIGN BIRDS. 



'^^^^^ HERE will be three Bird Shows at the Crystal 

 (Q) ^^^^ce this winter, and it is not surprising 

 Vy that some people are getting confused abou't 

 them. First, there is the usual Autumn Show 

 of the London and Provincial Ornithological Society 

 which has now been held at the Crystal Palace for 

 some years past— this is the Show to which the follow- 

 ing notes relate. Then there is the London Cage Bird 

 Associations' Show, which will this year be held for the 

 first time at the Palace (in December)— this is the Show 

 in the management of which the N. B. B. & M. C. and 

 the F. B. C. are taking an active part, and it will 

 certainly be, so far as Foreign birds are concerned, ^/le 

 Show of the season. Lastly, there is the Show held in 

 January or February by the L. & P. O. S., and which is 

 the rather degenerate successor of tlie old " Crystal 

 Palace Show " proper, which used to be held by the 

 Crystal Palace Company. 



,This Klein must not be confounded with Klein the bacteriologist. 



-Ed 



