55 o APPENDIX. 



has afforded this year. The herons have bred here for the first 

 time, and I may now calculate on an increasing heronry every year. 

 This season, I have made jackdaws hatch magpies, and magpies 

 jackdaws ; carrion crows have brought up rooks, and rooks carrion 

 crows. It is quite laughable to see a brood of young jackdaws fol- 

 lowing an old magpie, and vice versa. Do tell me in your next if 

 we may expect you here next spring. Why can't you come and see 

 us ? We leave this for London on the ninth of this month, and 

 will be in Bruges a week after. 



To the Same. 



WALTON HALL, January 30, 1835. 



My dear Friend, I have received your letter of December 17, 1834. 

 Our crow is just as wary and shy as yours, on account of the ever 

 lasting persecutions against it. But in my park, where all are free, 

 you may approach him quite close any day in the year. I know he 

 loves young ducks in his heart ; however, as I have always a super- 

 abundance, I never quarrel with him for imitating our own govern- 

 ment in the taxing line. Judge Hall's Western Magazine arrived 

 most opportunely, and you will see that I have made pretty good use 

 of it. Professor Jameson, relying apparently more upon his forty- 

 three honorary titles, than upon his knowledge of ornithology very 

 fortunately for me, but very unfortunately for himself has stood 

 forward the avowed champion of Audubon, and commenced an 

 attack upon me. This is just what I wanted. I shall now have an 

 opportunity of exposing his lamentable ignorance, and of defending 

 myself. As for Audubon, of course, he will catch it to his heart's 

 content ; neither shall I let Sawney, with his forty-three titles, escape 

 till I have flayed- him alive. This affair will cause a great stir 

 amongst us. The Professor's knowledge has hitherto never been 

 questioned, so that he has risen up to an intolerable degree of con- 

 *sequence amongst the great ones of Europe. I send you my first 

 letter to him. I think I shall write him a second without waiting 

 for a reply. In order that I may be perfectly independent of the 

 press, or any proprietors of magazines, I publish at my own expense, 



