Quadrupeds— Bird's. 7809 



The King of the Gorillas.— In M. Du Chaillu's book may be found the most 

 incompatible exploits of his royal gorilla. Sometimes it is a tottering cripple ; 

 then the strongest beast of the forest; occasionally the determined foe of man; 

 then, at once, flying before his presence. Never in the trees (its proper habitat), 

 but always on the ground! At one time roaring lustily (apes never roar), and 

 at another time punishing itself by beating its unuflfending bieast so unmercifully 

 that the sound of the strokes might be heard a full mile ofif. This king — this Proteus 

 ape — felled his black servant to the ground by a single blow from its giant fore leg; 

 and then it frightfully lacerated the abdomen — not with its teeth (ihe proper weapons), 

 but with its nails, which are flat, and as impotent as our own for the performance of 

 such a butchery. In fine, let M. Du Chaillu and the learned naturalists who 

 encourage him say and think what they choose of the "king of the gorillas," alias 

 the large black ape of Western Afric.i, its true position on the page of Naiuriil History 

 must certainly come to this, viz. — w^hen on a tree it is a paragon of perfection in the 

 eyes of an omnipotent Creator: but when on the groutid it appears a " bungled com- 

 position of Nature." — Charles Waterlun ; Wulloii Hall, near Wakefield, October 20, 

 1861. — From the ' Athenaum.' 



• Notes on Ihe Food of Birch. By Henry L. Saxby, Esq. 



In skinning and dissecting birds it has always been my habit to 

 examine the contents of the stomach, with the view of acqaiiing sucli 

 knowledge of the nature of their food as could be afforded by this 

 means. The result of such examinations is almost invariably entered 

 in my note-book at the time ; therefore, although the accompanying 

 list may contain but little that is absolutely new, its accuracy may be 

 relied upon, and may perhaps be accepted as a sufficient apology for 

 its length. 



The name of any article of food printed in italics implies that 

 although I have not been able to recognise it within the stomach of 

 the bird, I have both seen and handled it after it has been left by the 

 bird. 



Peregrine Falcon {Falco peregrinus). Flesh, bones of birds, feathers 

 of golden plover, bones and fur of rabbits, ringed plover, kiitiwake, 

 wild duck. 



Hobby (F. suhbuleo). Twite, large beetles. 



Merlin {F. (esalon). Snow bunting, twite, Goeiius olens, blackbird, 

 redwing, fieldfare. 



Kestrel {F. tiniiunculus). Mice, large beetles, remains of small 

 birds, blackbird, yellowhammer, skylark, rock pipit. 



Sparrowhawk {F. nisns). Mice, yellowiiammer. 



VOL. XIX. o U 



