i86i] Philosophic " Blarney" 135 



Tree Sparrow. Please say was the nest in a hollow tree, or in a 

 roof ? Was it at nesting time you caught the old hen ? 



Spotted Woodpeckers. How am I to mark these? Is it "reg" 

 for both ? or "reg" for lesser only? you only say "often seen," not 

 " nest taken " ? 



Turtle Dove. Is this rare or local ? Can it be called " reg " ? 



Black Grouse. Where ? 



Heron. Can you name the Heronries for me ? 



Woodcock. " Occ " I suppose. 



Purple Sandpiper. I am so sorry to hear the egg-holder has 

 " vanished." These eggs (if right) would have driven half ouroologists 

 wild with envy. Could you get any details as to the sort of place 

 where the egg was laid ? Above all, does or did no other Sandpiper 

 breed at the place ? 



Spotted Crake. Would you mark it "occ" or "reg"? Absent 

 from you in winter ? 



Teal. Is this to be marked "reg"? Does it nest in several 

 localities ? 



Brunnich's Guillemot. Are you quite sure of this bird ? Were 

 several shot in midst of breeding season ? Egg taken ? Identified ? 

 and by whom ? If you can establish it, this will be a grand addition to 

 the list. The bird is not yet admitted to nest in Britain. 



Arctic Tern. Is there no other ? Does this bird breed on cliffs or 

 on low ground with you, and by the sea ? I suppose you got one of the 

 parents to make quite sure, did you not ? I am very desirous of distin- 

 guishing the range of this bird from that of the Common Tern. I 

 hardly think eggs only could be relied on. What say you ? 



Red-legged Partridge. Would you trust the dealer that the eggs 

 did not come from other parts ? 



Long-eared Owl. Does this never breed ? 



Ring Dotterel. Is not this bird's nest found where you report the 

 Rock Sandpiper ? 



Golden Plover and Curlew. Perhaps you have no sufficiently 

 elevated moors ? 



A sample is here seen of the " sifting " process which 

 he applied to every list whose contents suggested the 

 slightest suspicion of an error. " I am beginning to 

 foresee some of the consequences of a philosophic frame of 

 mind"; he wrote to Mr. Newton (March jth, 1861), and 

 gave three instances of reports, lately to hand, which had 

 "roused his caution." "Am I not on the high road to 

 reputation as a sceptic r But nevertheless I believe too 

 much care cannot be exercised. Of course I shall not 

 venture on any addition to your list until we are both quite 



