76 



appears a priori to be highly improbable, but the progress of research sometimes 

 converts unbelief into credence, and we shall hope to have some light thrown on 

 the subject by ornithologists ! Our own observations on the whole are in favour 

 of the accuracy of the statement. Perhaps, if it be found to have a foundation in 

 fact, it may receive an explanation in some degree from the theory already sug- 

 gested, that the cuckoo transports her egg from place to place in her throat until 

 she finds the most suitable repository, in coloiir as in other respects, and we shall 

 not be compelled to have recourse to the extraordinary idea that the sight of the 

 eggs contained in the nest selected affects the colouring of her own egg before it is 

 laid, after the mysterious analogy of Jacob's Cattle. 



The Kingfisher (Alccdo hpida), we need not say, is still plentiful enough 

 upon the banks of the Wye and its tributary streams, and a great ornament to 

 them. Long may its rather shy habits and arrow-like flight serve to protect it 

 from the clumsy sportsman. "We must admit, however, that we have not personally 

 contributed to its increase, having destroyed a large number of its retreats, partly 

 in order to settle the old question, whether the Kingfisher actually constructs a 

 nest of fish bones, or whether the bones with which the eggs are fovind sur- 

 rounded are merely an accidental accumulation of the indigestible portions of 

 food, which, like the Owl, the lOngfisher disgorges. The fish bones were arranged 

 in a similar manner in aU the holes examined, and in a particularly neat and 

 careful manner in those cases where the parent birds had only commenced laying 

 thus in some holes examined only in the present season, in which only two or three 

 eggs had been deposited, the circle of fish bones was found complete, though in 

 nests examined later there was certainly a greater accumulation. 



In connection with our notice of the Kingfisher we may mention a 

 ciirious incident that occurred illustrative of the intelligent instinct by which 

 birds are led to discover and obtain their food under circumstances unlooked 

 for by ourselves. It happened that in the dry summer of 18C6 we had a pond 

 cleaned out, which for many years had contained no fish in consequence of 

 the water being poisoned by the drainage of a farm-yard. The buildings 

 having been removed the water again became pure, and in the autumn of 

 that year the pond was stocked with a number of small perch. In November 

 of the same year a Kingfisher having discovered its food, ventured within 

 100 yards of the house, and was picked up dead upon the margin of the 

 pond with a perch in its throat, as represented in the drawing exhibited. The 

 fish had stuck up his back fin in the act of being gorged, and had thus revenged 

 itself upon its enemy by choking him. 



The Fern Owl, or Nightjar (Caprimulgus Europa'us), appears to be much 

 more numerous in the northern than in the southern portions of this county, 

 and may be constantly both seen and heard among the low wooded copses in the 

 neighbourhood of Aymestry and Shobdon. The habit of this bird, when in 

 repose, of squatting longitudinally upon the rough bark of trees, of a similar 

 colouring to itself, frequently secures it from the observation of a passer-bye 



