CONTENTS. 



Page 

 Some Account of the Writer of the following Essays, 



by himself ...... xiii 



Remarks on Professor Rennie's Edition of Montagu's 

 Ornithological Dictionary .... 1 



The Habits of the Barn Owl, and the Benefits it confers 

 on Man ...... 7 



On the Faculty of Scent in the Vulture . .17 



The Means by which the Turkey Buzzard traces its Food 29 

 The Vulture's Nose . . . . .44 



Remarks on the Nudity on the Forehead and at the Base 

 of the Bill of the Rook . . . .48 



On the supposed Pouch under the Bill of the Rook . 54 

 On Birds using Oil from Glands " for the Purpose of 



lubricating the Surface of their Plumage " . .60 



On the Preservation of Egg- Shells for Cabinets of Na- 

 tural History . . . . .65 



Mode of blowing Eggs . . . .68 



The Green Humming-Bird . . .69 



The Vampire . . . . .70 



On preserving Insects selected for Cabinets . . 72 



The Starling ..... .79 



Preserving the Colour of the Legs and Bills of stuffed 

 Birds . . . . . .85 



The Habits of the Carrion Crow . . .86 



Habits of the Pheasant . . . .97 



Habits of the Jackdaw . . . .108 



Defence against Animals of the Feline and Canine Tribes 112 

 Aerial Encounter of the Eagle and the Vulture . 1 22 



The Humming. Bird . . . . .125 



The Virginian Partridge . . . .128 



