STJiPLEMENTAET KOTESj BY SIE WM. JARJIXE. 390 



were destroyed within the week in the plantations of Inglismaldie. In 

 East Lothian, an association by the local agricultural society was formed 

 last year for the destruction of wood-pigeons ; funds were subscribed, 

 and premiums offered for the largest number killed. At Dunglass, the 

 first premium was obtained, for the destruction of 1154 birds and 7P>6 

 eggs ; 916 and 804 birds were killed in other two localities ; and, alto- 

 gether, 8,000 head were computed as destroyed, coimting two eggs as equal 

 to one pigeon. 



A curious communication relating to the above subject was inserted in 

 the Lancet, by Dr Heni*y Wilham Fuller, of St. George's Hospital. In 

 certain parts of Hampshire, partridges were found dead in the fields, 

 sitting with their heads erect, and eyes open. Inquiry established that 

 in the district, farmers were in the habit of steeping their wheat in a 

 strong solution of arsenic ; Dr. Fuller found it, by analysis, in the viscera 

 of the birds, and traced it to the seed-com in their crops. 



Twelve tons of game left Kirkcudbright in one day ; and to the value 

 of four himdred pounds weekly from Kirkcudbright and Wigton. 



The Wood-wren, — Letter X.,page 38. 



The "little yellow-bird," so far as we can judge from the habits 

 described, must be the Sylvia sihilatnx, wood-wren of modern British 

 ornithologists. The Stoparola of Ray is the Miiscicapa grisola, or spotted 

 fly-catcher. The habits of feeding are exactly desci'ibed. (See, further, 

 its habits. Letter XL.) White is also quite right in supposing there 

 are more than one " Motacilla trochiliis." The true Motacilla trochilvs 

 of Linnaeus, however, is a continental species, and has not yet been 

 found to visit our islands. 



The Black-cap. — Letter X., page 39. 



The black-cap (Curruca atracapilla) is a regular migratory species 

 here, or bird of passage. 



Mr. Bennet has copied a note from Mr. Rennie, in his edition, in 

 which he states : — " Dr. Heineken informs us that it (the black-cap) is 

 stationary in Madeira, consequently Sir W. Jardine is wrong in thinking 

 our birds retire thither." We have no doubt whatever that Dr. Heineken 

 is right in "black-caps being stationary in Madeira," but it does not 

 follow from that, that some do not migrate there also. The song thrush 

 is stationary in Great Britain, but hundreds migrate to and from every 

 year, so do the gold-crests, also snipes and many other species. " Where 

 it is prohahle they partly retire," are the words of the original note, 

 page 112 of present edition. 



The Water-rat. — Letter X., page 39. 



Mr. Jenyns, in his edition, has given the best explanation of this 

 passage regarding the Mv^ amjihihius, and considered that it refers to 

 the common water rat Arvicola amphibia, and that Linnaeus was in error 

 when he wrote ^^ Pedihm palmatii.'" There is only one species of water 



