194 EKGLISH BIRDS IS AUSTRALIA. 



in the jx>ssession of Samuel Gurney, Esq., of Carshalton, hatched 

 no less than three broods of cygnets, numbering in all twenty-one 

 young ones, in about ten months. The third brood was produced 

 towards the middle of November, when the weather was in- 

 tensely cold ; and one morning, when the young birds were 

 between three and four days old, they were found actually frozen 

 into the ice, although they did not in any way suffer from it. 



Our Australian colonies have long since sent us their Black 

 Swans and Emeus, and their brilliant Parrots and Cockatoos, 

 and they are now getting back some of our own feathered friends 

 in return. For some time past, great efforts have been made to 

 introduce into Australia not only our ordinary game birds, but 

 many of the little songsters that enliven our woods and fields. 

 A certain yearning after the old home pleasures lies deep in the 

 heart of the emigrant, and it is no doubt with a view to the 

 gratification of this longing that so much spirit and determination 

 is shown in the endeavours to stock the Australian colonies with 

 the common singing birds of this country. Many hundreds of 

 English singing birds, including Larks, Gold6nches, Linnets, 

 Thrushes, and Blackbirds, have been imported for the purpose ; 

 and there is good reason to believe that the Lark, if not one 

 or two other birds as well, is now firmly established in the 

 country. The matter is still being prosecuted with great spirit 

 by the colonists, and large sums of money are subscribed for the 

 purpose. It is by no means improbable, therefore, that before 

 long the Australian " bush " may be vocal with the songs of many 

 of the little choristers which lend such a charm to our own fields 

 and hedgerows. 



The introduction of some of our game birds has already to a 

 certain extent been accomplished. The Pheasant is now bred 

 with ease in several parts of the country ; the Partridge is being 

 attended to with good prospect of speedy success ; and in Tas- 

 mania the Peacock itself already breeds wild in the woods. 

 Before long, therefore, we may expect to hear that the favourite 

 field sports of Old England are being pursued at the antipodes as 

 part and parcel of the ordinary life of the Anglo-Australian 

 people. 



The race of web-footed birds is somewhat remarkable, as com- 

 prising within itself the two extremes of the feathered tribes iu 

 respect to their qualifications for flight. In some of these birds, 



