8098 Birds. 



with a hobby is always safer, both at sea and on shore, than a 

 thoroughly idle man." 



My object, therefore, in brin?;ing this subject before this section of 

 the British Association, is to endeavour to point out where the diffi- 

 culty lies, in order that, that point being clearly understood, this 

 influential and important body may by some means be brought to act 

 in conjunction with shipowners and others connected with shipping, 

 of which interest Liverpool and Manchester form the active centre. 

 And T trust that the matter will not end with the reading of this brief 

 paper, but that a committee maybe formed under the auspices of this 

 Association, which shall confer with some body of shipowners as to 

 the best means of carrying out this most important object, and of 

 opening up this wide and fertile field of scientific research. 



I need scarcely dwell upon the manifold advantages which would 

 necessarily accrue were this scheme elaborated and brought with care 

 and judgment into a working condition. Many will at once occur to 

 every thinking mind, and others will unfold themselves in the process 

 of time. Museums, such as those of Liverpool and Manchester, 

 should not lack specimens in any department, with such a staff of 

 industrious and intelligent collectors constantly bringing home con- 

 tributions. 



But by no means the least important result would be the elevation 

 of the mercantile marine service, as a body, and their emancipation 

 from the evils too often looked upon as inseparable from their habits 

 of life, by giving them a rational object on which they may expend 

 their energies, when not called upon by pressing duties on board ship. 

 Having few of the resources which those possess whose life is passed 

 on shore, and herding together as they do for months at a time, with 

 scarce any of the amenities of life, it cannot be otherwise than that 

 their minds should degenerate to a dull blank, or even to a worse 

 condition ; and it too often happens that in this respect the captain is 

 in no degree superior to his crew. 



[I ]nirpose reprintiug the remainder of this iuteresting paper when I can find 

 space.— £. NetvmanJ] 



Notes on Nests. — I have taken five nesls of the missel thrush this spring:, four of 



which 1 pulled to pieces, and they each contained a ihin lining of mud, besides being 



firmly_^cemenled to the forks of the trees on which they rested. In the truly valuable 



: little work on ' Birdsnesting' I tliink a slif^ht mistake is made respecting the number 



of eggs laid by the starling ; it there states " Eggs 4." Now I have never found so 



