The Zoologist— Octobkk, 1866. 445 



August, 1866. 



Martin.— Srd. The first brood of martins has taken wing. 7th. 

 The cone-shaped nest, having, as already stated, been blown down on 

 the 6th of July, excepting a small portion of the foundation, the birds 

 very soon set to rebuilding, but the power of retaining in the ovary the 

 fully developed egg is certainly very wonderful. 13th. The nest is 

 wellnigh finished, and, to strengthen it, I observe that an unusual 

 quantity of straw and other fibrous material has been used, and is to 

 be seen here and there protruding from the layers ; whereas, in the 

 former structure, little or none was observable. The nest damaged by 

 the storm of the 18lh of June, and subsequently repaired, has again 

 been blown or washed down, and the young birds, four in number, 

 were found on the 1 1th inst. lying dead on the ground. Judging from 

 their size, and the length of the quills, they would probably have taken 

 wing in the course of three or four days. It is somewhat remarkable 

 that they should so long and perseveringly stick to a building so 

 exposed, and where they have been subjected to such trials and 

 disasters, so that out of the whole colony but two broods were safely 

 reared. I know of no other species so tenacious of purpose; nothing 

 daunts them. Slst. Martins congregating ; a small flock observed to- 

 day ; birds of the season, I believe. 29th. A second brood is being 

 reared by the owners ol one of the first or perfect nests, for, with the 

 exception of two, they are more or less open at the top or sides, so that 

 a portion of the lining is seen. 



Cuckoo. — 8th. 1 have just heard that the young cuckoo is dead. 

 It had been removed to a large cage, but still fed on chopped 

 meat, though I had suggested that caterpillars, grubs and insects 

 should be given it. This may also account for its comparative slow 

 growth, insect-food being, perhaps, of all aliments the most nutritious ; 

 for instance, fly-eating fish are the fattest and most rapid of growth, 

 and fly-catching birds the most muscular and powerful for their size ; 

 for example, the swallow-tribe ; and insects enter into the bill-of-lare 

 of more than one aboriginal tribe. 



Bluethroated Warbler. — The adult male still frequents the brook- 

 side, but nothing has been seen of the immature bird of late ; nor 

 have I been able to ascertain that the species is breeding here. 



Pied Oyslercalcher, ^-c— A bird of this species was observed early 

 in the month, but it is an uncommon bird with us ; also a few sand 

 larks, or dunlins (ray informant could not say which), were seen : this 



