96 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



afire, and as closely filclieth and hidetli little pieces of 

 money." 



Mr Eodd is of opinion that this notion is merely copied 

 from Carew, and not derived from personal observation. 

 Perhaps also the bird's red bill and feet may have given 

 rise to the charge of arson. 



The next work we come to is Borlasse's " Natural History 

 of Cornwall." * Referring to the chough, this author tells us 

 that "among our Cornish birds the coracias of Willughby, 

 or the pyrrhocorax, deserves principal notice. It is found 

 but rarely and at times in other countries, but constantly 

 in this country, and therefore deservedly among the moderns 

 it has obtained the name of the Cornish chough. . . . 

 Its legs, toes, and bill [are] of a strong vermilion, and the 

 bony substances of these parts clear even to transparency : 

 they are always yellow when the bird is young, and in the 

 hen yellower than in the cock, which different colouring 

 probably made Aldrovandus by mistake (as in Willughby is 

 observed) think those with yellow feet, legs, and bill to be 

 a different species from the coracias with red feet ; its feathers 

 are of a much richer velvet black than those of any other 

 crow. . . . Very apprehensive of danger, it builds its 

 nests in the cliffs, but neither in the top, as if all danger was 

 from below, nor near the bottom, as if all fears were from 

 above, but in the middle of the most steep precipice ; very 

 amusing when kept tame; docile, regular, and constant to 

 its hour for meat ; early at roost ; in bad weather fond 

 of shelter and seldom seen, but presaging good weather, 

 it enjoys the air on the tops of the houses if tame, if 

 wild, strutting stately along tlie hills or greens by the sea- 

 side." 



The Eev. E. Polwhele, in his " Civil and Military History 

 of Cornwall," -f published in 1806, mentions that the chough 



* The Natural History of Cornwall ; the Air, Climate, Waters, Rivers, 

 Lakes, Sea, and Tides, etc. By William Borlasse, A.M., F.R.S. Folio, 

 pp. 326. Oxford, 1758. 



t The Civil and Military History of Cornwall, with Illustrations from 

 Devonshire. By the llev. R. Polwhele of Polwhele, and Vicar of Manaceau. 

 4to. London, 1806. 



