111. IT 



1:1 f!vi:i:i 





in the germinal membrane of the 

 en, and on the capillary blood-vessels of the tail of the larva of a frog. 

 Mr. 1'aget's observation* were made on the tissue* of the fcotal aheep. 

 According to thaM obnrren it a|>pan that theae veaiwlx originate 

 from Bud salmi cell* aimilar to thoae which at fint constitute the 

 different parU of the embryo. The cell-wall or external envelope of 

 UM* cell* ahouU out into slender pointed processes, ouch u U seen 

 in the forou of stellate vegetable tiwue. The projections from neigh- 

 bouriog mils encounter each other, and becoming organically united, 

 the intervening walls between the two projections are absorbed, and 

 thus a continuous tube is produced. In cases where new vessels are 

 produced in the neighbourhood of old ones, the stellate cells are formed 

 in the new part, and projections are formed in the old capillary vessels 

 which unite with the new ones, and thus the circulation in re-esta- 

 blished. The projections when first united are solid and very slender, 

 but eventually the intervening substance disappears and the vessels 

 attain a uniform calibre. In growing parts where the web of vessels 

 is kept up, new ones are constantly being added by the development 

 of stellate cells in the interstices of the previous web. Whilst the 

 capillaries early attain the development at which they remain, those 

 Teasels which are to become arteries or veins on either side of the 

 capillary vessels go on increasing in size till they acquire the special 

 membranes or coats which distinguish theae ports of the circulating 

 system. This explanation seems however only applicable to the smaller 

 veins and arteries, as the observations of Kulliker would seem to show 

 that the larger Blood-Vessels may take their origin in the same mauner 

 as the heart, in which organ there is first an agglomeration of cells, 

 the interior ones of which become soft, and at last disappear, whilst 

 the outside ones become firmer and constitute the outer walls. On 

 this subject further observations are wanting. 



(Sharpey, Quaint Element of Anatomy; Schwann, Microtcopical 

 Rctetirchit into the Accordance t'n the Structure and Grotcth of Animalt 

 and Ptanti, translated by H. Smith; Kolliker. /A/i,.M.'A dtr (,'ewebe- 

 lekre dtr Meatrkcn ; Paget, Supplement to Mitller'i Phyaiuloyy, by 

 Baley and Kirkes.) 



BLUE-BIRD, the American name for the ,Vo<otM ah< of Liumcus, 

 Sylria tialit of Wilson, Saxieola noli* of Bonaparte, Ampdit cialisof 

 Nuttall, and Erythaca (Sialia) Wilxmii of Swainson. 





Illuc-Mrd (Jlolacilta lialit). 



Like our rod-breast this harbinger of spring to the Americans " is 

 known to almost every child, and shows," says Wilson, " as much 

 confidence in man by associating with him iu summer, as the other by 

 his familiarity in winter. 



" So early as the middle of February, if the weather be open, he 

 usually makes his appearance about his old haunts, the barn, orchard, 

 and fence-post*. Storms and deep snows sometimes succeeding, he 

 disappears for a time ; but about the middle of March is again seen 

 accomn*nied by his mate visiting the box in the garden or the hole in 

 the olf apple-tree, the cradle of some generations of his ancestors." 

 . . . . " When he first begins his amours," says a curious and 

 correct observer, " it is pleasing to behold his courtship, his solicitude 

 to please and to secure the favour of his beloved female. He uses the 

 tenderest expressions, site close by her, caresses and sings to her his 

 most endearing warbling*. When seated together if he espies an insect 

 delicious to her taste he takes it up, flies with it to her, spreads his 



wing over her, and puts it in her mouth." 

 The food of the Blue Bird < 



consists principally of insects, particularly 



vtlMand ; , </, frrqm-i, 



of fruits and seeds. 



The nest i built in holes in trees and similar situations. The bird 

 is very prolitir. for though the eggn, which are of a pale-blue colour, 

 seldom exceed six, and are more frequently five in number, two and 

 sometimes three broods are produced in a season. 



Its song is cheerful, continuing with littlu interruption from March 

 to October, but is most frequently heard in the serene days of the 

 spring. 



With regard to its geographical d; < 'atesby says : " These 



birds are common in most part* of North America, for 1 have seen 

 tin-in in Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and the Bermuda Islands." 

 Wilson gives the United States, the Bahamas. Mexico, Brazil, and 

 Guyana, as its localities. About November it takes its dcjiarture 

 from the United States. 



The whole upper port of the bird, which is abovt'i inchen lour 

 a rich sky-blue shot with purple ; the billaud legs are black ; shaft* of t he 

 wing and tail feather* black; throat, neck, breast, sad sides, partially 

 under the wings, reddish chestnut; wings dusky-Wade at the tips; 

 belly and vent white. The female is duller in its osisurs. It is said 

 to be much infested with tape-worms. 



lil.fK IH.TTI.K. [CKNTAfBEA.] 



BLUK IIKKAST, one of the English names for thin pretty bird, 

 which, as Bechstein observe*, may be considered as the link between 

 the Redstart and Common Wagtail, having strong points of resem- 

 blance to both. It is also culled Blue-Throated Robin and Blue-Throated 

 Redstart It is the Qorge-Blcue of the French, the Blaukehlein of the 

 Germans, Petto Tin-rhino of the Italians, the Cyaneeula of Brisson, 

 M<,ta?ill<i ttueeica of Linmcus, Sflria cgaaucula of Meyw, the Blue- 

 Throated Warbler and Sylvia Suede* at Latham, Pliunieeua Suecica 

 of Gould, Ficcdula Sttecica ..: 



Ulue-Krcast (Hotactlla Sutcica). 



According to Temmiuck the Blue-Breast is found in the same coun- 

 tries which are inhabited by the Red-Breast, and particularly on the 

 borders of forests, but is more rare iu Prance unit HoIUuid than the 

 latter bird. Bonaparte notes it as accidental and very rare in the 

 neighbourhood of Rome, and as only appearing in severe inters. In 

 England it is very rarely seen. Yarivll in Li- ' British Birfe' records 

 four instances of its having been shot in England. 



The food of the Blue-Breast, according to Temminck, consists of 

 flies, the lame of insects, and worms. Bechstein says that it also eats 

 elder-berries. It is one of those unfortunate birds which is called by 

 some a Beocafioo. The nest is said to be built in bushes and in the 

 holes of trees. The eggs, of a greenish-blue, are six in uumbi T. 



The following is Beehstein's accurate description of the mole : 

 " Its length is t inches, of whlOB the t:iil occupies 2J inches. The 

 beak is sharp and blackish, yellow at tin- i < iris is brown ; 



the shanks are 14 lines high, of a n ! 1 i-h -brown, and the toes blackish; 

 the head, the back, and the wing-coverts are ashy-brown, mottled with 

 a darker tint ; a reddish-white line passes above the eyes ; the cheeks 

 are dark-brown, spotted with rust-red and edged at the side with deep 

 ash-gray ; a brilliant sky-blue covers the throat and half-way down the 

 breast; this is set off by a spot of the most dazzling white, the size of 

 a pea, placed precisely over the larynx, which enlarging ami diminish- 

 ing successively by the movement of this i>art when the bird sings 

 produces the most beautiful effect. The blue passes into a black band, 

 and the latter into a fine orange; the belly is dusky-white, yellowish 

 towards the vent ; the thighs and sides are reddish ; the quill-feather* 

 dark-brown ; the tail-feathers red at the base, and half the summit 



