Birds. 9791 



necessary to separate the actions of the different performers. Mcllle. Van der Meersch 

 is a spU-iLuelle little lady, who performed her part with the greatest naivete and tact; 

 but, after eliminating all that could possibly be done by forcing cards on the audience^ 

 or by indicating those which the birds are required to select, there is sufficient evidence 

 not only of the high intelligence of the birds, but of the unwearied patience and 

 assiduity of the directress in perfecting their education. That a bird should select 

 from amongst several hundred cards, standing closely packed together on edge, any 

 single one at the will of the directress, no matter how it may be indicated, is in itself 

 a great proof of extraordinary docility, and of a degree of reasoning power greater than 

 is usually attributed to any of the lower animals. The motive power used bv Mdlle. 

 Van der Meersch is obviously kindness, and the immediate inducement a series of 

 rewards in the shape of hemp-seed administered to the Java sparrow and brambling, 

 and millet-seed to the coral-beak. That gentleness and love are the influences em- 

 ployed in the training of these feathered bipeds was proved by a little accident that 

 occurred during the performance. Frightened by some movement among the 

 audience, the Java sparrow flew to a distant part of the table. Mademoiselle 

 strewed a few seeds in front of its cage, but it was too alarmed to be allured; 

 so, putting down her little directing wand. Mademoiselle took up the little per- 

 former in her hands, and restored him to the cage, first kissing him in such a 

 manner as convinced the spectators that 



*' Had the birds been her own children, she 

 Could not have loved them more tenderly." 



To those who are interested in animals I cannot recommend a more delightful mode 

 of passing half an hour than in a visit to the very pleasing, clever and" instructive 

 performance of Mdlle. Van der Meersch and her truly " marvellous birds."— PT. 5 

 Tegetmeier. 



Note on the Hooded Crow?.— Capt. Hadfield appears (Zool. 9719) to have mis- 

 understood my note on the crows (Zool. 9572), which was perhaps ambiguously 

 expressed: what I meant was that the hooded crow is almost unknown here. I am, of 

 course, aware that it is not uncommon in the north; it also breeds near Glasgow, 

 where it constantly pairs with the carrion crow {Corvus corona), of which it is perhaps' 

 a northern race (' Ibis,' isfio, p. 134). I have also received eggs from Ayrshire.— 

 Edward R. Alston; Stoekhriggs, Lesmahagnw, September 4, 1865. 



Supposed Occurrence of the Golden Oriole near Norwich.— I was out boating ou 

 St. Martin's River, Norwich, during one cold December day in 1862. when I es|)ied, 

 on one of the meadows, a man employed with his nets catching small birds, such as 

 linnets, goldfinches, redpoles, &c. I rowed the boat ashore, and approaching him 

 made the usual inquiry as to whether he had met with anything unusual lately ; he 

 replied that during the morning he had seen what he considered to be a very strange 

 bird: he described it as being about the size of a thrush or blackbird, and of a yellow 

 colour; it passed and repassed over his nets several times, usually alighting on the 

 trees or bushes that bordered the river on one side and the road on the opposite, the 

 meadow lying between. He had had very good opportunities of observing it, as it 

 sometimes passed within a few yards of him in crossing the meadow: he, however, 

 missed it about noon, and had not seen or heard of it since. His description of the 

 bird somewhat answered to that of the golden oriole {Oriolus galbula). Is it at all 

 probable that it might have been au* individual of that species? Has it ever been 



