The Zoologist — October, 1867. 943 



evolve a species it is because the hypothesis, like the water-butt, will 

 not hold water. No one, within my knowledge, has ever expressed a 

 doubt that our "turbits" and "Jacobins," our "nuns" and our 

 " swallows " would revert to " blue rocks," as soon as man ceased to 

 tamper with their natural instincts. 



With regard to the illustrations, my friend Weir has displayed his 

 usual skill and knowledge of form and habit : his figures are better 

 than photographs, because his educated pencil has photographed 

 each in the best possible attitude, and under the best possible circum- 

 stances ; but why represent each bird under the adverse conditions of 

 a London fog, a " November particular." I have never seen a London 

 fog represented with such fidelity ; its aspect is absolutely fearful ; 

 and a friend looking over my shoulder at the lurid glare exclaimed, 

 " What a fog ! you might cut it with a knife ! " 



Edward Newman. 



Ornithological Notes from North Lincolnshire. 

 By John Cordeaux, Esq. 



(Continued from S. S. 811). 



July and August. 



Corn Crake. — These birds are now quite of common occurrence in 

 this parish and neighbourhood during the spring and summer: I have 

 remarked a gradual increase for the last four years. Previous to this 

 period we seldom if ever either met with them or heard them. I have 

 occasionally put them up, when shooting in September, either in 

 turnips or most frequently in standing corn. On several occasions 

 during the spring and summer of 1865 and 1866 I recognized the 

 harsh monotonous call of the corn crake in some of the low meadows. 

 This year, judging from the incessant " crek, crek " kept up during the 

 whole of the short summer nights, not only in these meadow-lands, 

 but in every part of the parish, we have had very considerable numbers 

 located here. 



Many other birds, as rooks, starlings, wood pigeons, and, above all 

 others, sparrows, have of late years largely increased in numbers. 

 This is apparent, even to the most careless observer. With regard to 

 the rooks and starlings, I often wonder how they manage to pick up 

 a living, so immense are the flocks which now visit our mainland 

 during the later summer and autumn. Every spring fresh trees, often 



