276 M. Necker on the Birds of Geneva. 



from their usual haunts. The Chatterer ( Bombycivora gar- 

 rula, Tern.) is one of these. Two instances of their ap- 

 pearance occurred at Geneva in January 1807, and January 

 1814. At this last period they were very abundant, and 

 passed the winter in the neighbourhood. They all disappear- 

 ed in March. In 1807, these birds extended over a great part 

 of western Europe, and were seen around Edinburgh in the be- 

 ginning of that year. The Emberiza calcarata, an inhabitant 

 of the northern regions, was taken in a snare with larks in Sep- 

 tember 1816; the Falco lagopus was killed near Copet in Janu- 

 ary 1812 ; the F. riifipes in May 1S16 ; the Strix bubo in 

 October 1818, and 1822; the Roller (Coracias garrula) in 

 September 1805, and 1819; the Bustard in August 1813 ; 

 the Egret and the Avocette in May 1821 ; and the Ibis, 

 (Ibis falcinellus, Tern.) one of the species adored by the 

 Egyptians, and preserved among their mummies, was killed 

 in June 1810 on the border of the lake. Many other rare 

 birds are mentioned as occasionally seen in the neighbour- 

 hood of Geneva ; but our limits prevent us from giving even 

 their names. Referring to the Memoir for the complete list, we 

 conclude by noticing that the Phalaropus hyperboretis and 

 the Sterna Caspia were procured by M. Necker ; and the 

 Flamingo, the Bee-eater, the Spoonbill, the stormy Petrel, 

 and the Ortolan ( Emberiza horhdana) were taken and pre- 

 served by the late Professor Jurine. 



Respecting the causes of the occasional appearance of birds 

 in countries remote from their native abodes, M. Necker sug- 

 gests, that a temporary want of subsistence may have led 

 some to seek their food in places beyond their usual range — 

 that storms may have unwillingly driven others far from their 

 accustomed dwellings — or the pursuit of rapacious birds may 

 have terrified others from their native territories. And, lastly, in 

 some cases, it may be supposed, in accounting for the appear- 

 ance of birds, not otherwise to be accounted for, that they 

 may have escaped from captivity, and been thus thrown on 

 shores very distant from their own. 



An anomalous occurrence of this nature has lately taken 

 place in our own neighbourhood ; for we learn, that a speci- 

 men of the migratory pigeon of North America, (Columbn 



