ADVERTISEMENT. Ill 



mon May chaffer, so extremely plentiful throughout the British 

 Islands. 



I have been fortunate, too, in the course of subsequent researches, 

 in having arrived at the true solution of a problem, which has greatly 

 puzzled every natural historian ; and have erroneously stated, at page 

 192, that the extraordinary habit of the cuckoo, in invariably entrust- 

 ing its egg to the charge of other species of birds, " is not to be 

 accounted for upon any structural peculiarity." Let it here suffice, 

 that this depends primarily on a peculiarity of the vascular system 

 (first intimated to me by my esteemed friend Mr. Yarrell), and more 

 particularly on the comparative minuteness of those blood-vessels 

 which supply the generative parts ; in consequence of which of the 

 small portion of blood thereto determinated these organs, as well as 

 the egg, are most disproportionately small for the size of the species ; 

 and, what is more to the present purpose, each successive egg requires 

 a much longer time (I believe full two or three weeks) to attain its de- 

 velopment ; wherefore it is clear that under these circumstances the 

 species could but ill manage to incubate its own. Let it be observed, 

 that all the habits of this interesting bird are in accordance with the 

 foregoing explanation of the structural cause of its peculiarities. 



In submitting the various additional observations on British Natural 

 History, interspersed through this volume, to the wished-for impartial 

 judgment of the world, it is hoped that they will at least find favour 

 for their originality. Should they prove to be of any assistance to 

 those who are engaged in studying the natural productions of our 

 island, my principal object in penning them will be amply recom- 

 pensed. 



For the interesting account of Selborne in its present state, we are 

 indebted to the elegant pen of Mr. Mudie, whose enthusiasm in the 

 cause of natural science led him to visit Selborne in the autumn of 

 the present year. We are also indebted to Mr. Dixon, who visited 

 the village in 1835, for some interesting notes to the Antiquities. 



EDWARD BLYTH. 



Lower Tooting, 

 Nov. 1836. 



