Roology. 145 
to nibble; a leaf of lettuce, a peeling of turnip, the skin of the apricot, give 
a luxury: and the industry is indefatigable with which this animal detects 
and appropriates substances so minute and uninviting, as would be unseen 
and neglected by ordinary sheep : perhaps the dog of the cottager is not so 
completely domesticated as it is. I have been minutely tedious upon their 
acquired habits of feeding, as introductory to the conclusion that there 
exists not a cottager in Britam who might not keep three of these sheep 
with more ease than he now keeps a cur dog; nor a little farmer, who might 
not maintain a flock of fifteen or twenty without appropriating half an acre 
exclusively to their use: they would derive support from that produce which 
now either totally runs to waste, or goes to the dunghill. I have procured 
some of the sheep, and mean to increase the stock to two hundred, leaving 
them under the care of a respectable lama for two years, at the end of 
which period my journey will have been completed. Should I fall, an event 
by no means impossible, government will receive them as a legacy, without 
expense, under the hope that some of the individuals will be sent to Bri- 
tain; and in the sure expectation that the progeny will be distributed to 
cottagers and small farmers in poor and dry countries.” 
I leave you to estimate the national advantages derivable from two or 
three millions of extra animals, supported upon produce now really waste ; 
provided their present frugal habits of feeding be maintained, and their pre- 
sent constitution not injured by delicate treatment. Lam, Sir, yours, Kc. 
— John Robertson. Kilkenny, November, 1829. 
A Stoat pursuing a Water Rat through a Pond. — A singular circumstance 
was observed, a few days since, by a friend of mine. A stoat was in hot 
pursuit of a water rat, which latter took to the water, where he, doubtless, 
expected to be safe: the stoat, however, followed his prey across the nar- 
row pond; but lost it, at last, from the rat getting mto a hole.—J. L. Lis- 
keard Vicarage, Cornwall, Aug. 15. 1829. 
The Songs of Birds innate or acquired? —Some naturalists have not scrupled to declare that 
the song of birds is not innate, but acquired. Mr. Bingley has adopted this theory in his Animal 
Biography; and 1am the more sorry for it, because I conceive that he has made an erroneous 
statement, which can never appear so much misplaced as in an elementary and popular work, I 
am led to this notice,by the recorded attempt of Sir John Sinclair to establish a colony of nightin- 
gales, through the fostering care of-redbreasts. It is evident that the worthy baronet is not an 
advocate for the doctrine of acquirement ; and I must place myself on his side, notwithstanding 
the assurance of Mr. Bingley that it is a doctrine verified by accurate observations, and founded 
on numerous experiments. It is contrary to my limited experience, and I think at variance with 
analogy and reason. Every quadruped, as far as we know, has some call or cry peculiar to its 
species: but I never heard it asserted that that cal! or cry was any thing more or less than a 
particular assignment of nature; and why should it be deemed incredible that the notes of the 
feathered tribe should be a similar endowment? It seems to me that it must be so; it does 
not appear that the opportunity of acquirement is afforded them. The male bird confines his 
song chiefly to the period of incubation. During that period he, like a true lover, cheers his 
patient and sedentary mate, by the greatest exertion of his vocal powers ; but, when the callow 
infants have burst from bondage, he suspends his melody, and, like a good father, assiduously 
unites in nurturing his family. But, admitting that I err, and that young birds have the privi- 
lege of listening to their parents’ voice, how comes it to pass that each species, when the air is 
resounding with the varied melody of Nature’s whole choir, is able to select its own appropriate 
song, and adhere to that and that alone? Here a discriminating power is allotted to the teathered 
race, in my estimation, even more miraculous than a natural impression, and thus in avoiding 
Scylla, we fallinto Charybdis. The language of man, according to some, is not innate. What 
man would be in a detached and solitary condition, Iam not anxious to know; but sure I am, 
that the great Creator, when he made him a social animal, completed his work by providing him 
with a language; and I feel a strong conviction that the song of birds is an appropriation from 
the same beneficent source. Man can vary and enlarge his language as circumstances and situa- 
tion may require. He can even acquire new languages ; and here is nothing unnatural, but only 
what we might expect. Some birds possess an imitative faculty which enables them to adopt new 
calls or notes : but this is altogether unnatural; it occurs only when they are domiciliated and 
taught by man. In the wildness of nature it is never so, According to my observation in that 
state, the most imitative species are “‘ true to their song.’ Were it otherwise, we might hear 
strange anomalies. ‘The chattering stare might entrance us with Philomela’s strains, or the 
hoary-headed daw might, in midwinter, surprise us with ‘* the welcome voice” of the harbinger 
of spring. Ifthese observations are erroneous, perhaps Mr. Sweet, or you, Sir, will give me better 
information, 
** Si quid novisti rectius istis, 
Candidus imperti ; si non, his utere mecum.” 
‘ J. 8. Thurgarton, Norfolk, April 17. 1829. 
Use of the spurious Wing.— Griffith, in his Animal Kingdom, vol. vi. 
p- 104., mentions, that the use of the small stiff feathers, called the spurious 
wing (ala sptria), is not apparent. A young gentleman has suggested to 
Vor. Pile — No. 12. i 
