Mr. S. L. Sotheby on a Talking Canary. 371 



it had reached a certain size, made an irregular growth on one of the 

 sides, forming two rounded lobes which overlap each other, while 

 the whole front retains the concave conical shape. 



The lobe, which is expanded on the under surface of the other, 

 is fringed with a continuous series of very close tufts of silky spicula, 

 I have no doubt, as the bases of these tufts are to be seen on the 

 rest of the margin, that similar tufts occupy the whole edge of the 

 sponge in its perfect state, and have been rubbed off ; they have been 

 retained in this place, because it is better protected from external 

 injury than the other part of the sponge. 



In the larger specimens the grooves are much more irregular, as 

 well as more abundant and luore crowded than in the smaller one ; 

 and in some few instances they appear to arise in the surface inde- 

 pendent of any connexion with the other grooves, which is not the 

 case in the smaller example. 



In the same specimen there are a few groups or rather lines of 

 oscules, situated on the surface of the sponge itself, and not placed 

 in the grooves, where all the other oscules are placed. 



In the diverging grooves the texture of the sponge seems to be 

 across the grooves, that is, parallel to the outer circumference of the 

 sponge, leaving minute square pits in the network. 



In the marginal grooves, on the the contrary, chief fibres of the 

 texture appear to be also across the groove, that is, radiating from 

 the centre towards the margin ; but this appearance may probably 

 arise partly, if not entirely, from the manner in which the sponge 

 has contracted when it dried, and may not be apparent in the fresh 

 state ; but having only a single specimen of the adult and young 

 form of the sponge, I am disinclined to soak it in water and examine 

 it in a moist state, fearing that it may spoil the specimen, which is 

 now very brittle and inclined to crack from the edge to the centre 

 of the frond. 



Note on a Talking Canar\, addressed to Dr. Gray, V.P.Z.S. 

 By S. Leigh Sotheby. 



The Woodlands, Norwood, Surrey, 

 March 20, 1858. 

 Dear Sir, 



Touching that marvellous little specimen of the feathered tribe, a 

 Talking Canary, of which I had the pleasure a few days since of 

 telling you, I now send you all the information I can obtain respect- 

 ing it from the lady by whom it was bi'ought up and educated at 

 this our homestead. 



Its parents had previously and successfully reared many young 

 ones ; but three years ago they hatched only one out of four eggs, 

 which they immediately neglected, commencing the rebuilding 

 of a nest upon the top of it. Upon this discovery, the unfledged 

 and forsaken bird, all but dead, was taken away and placed in 

 flannel by the fire, when after much attention it was restored and 

 then brought up by hand. Thus treated, and away from all other 

 birds, it became familiarized only with those who fed it ; conse^ 



