1888 The Zoologist — Octobek, 18C9. 



Arrival of the Ctickoo in February. — " The earliest arrival of the 

 cuckoo I have noticed was on February 16th, 1849: the weather was 

 particularly fine and sunny for the time of year, and the cry at that 

 unusual season attracted the attention of a number of persons. It was 

 heard for half an hour on that day, but not subsequently." — p. 158. 



In closing the book, and I have read every word of it, I find myself 

 compelled to retain the impression it first made on nie — first im- 

 pressions are generally the best — that the author had better read more 

 and write less. I can readily imagine that he will promptly retaliate 

 by saying that we have already abundance of author's copying from 

 one another, and questionable statements repealed ad nauseam; that 

 we want new and truthful observation ; that the subject is not ex- 

 hausted; and thai, instead of a constant consultation with books, we 

 should ajipeal directly to Nature and learn of her. This line of argu- 

 ment is irresistible, unanswerable; but is it all-sufllcient ? A man 

 may possibly, also, imbibe from Nature truthful views of religion, but 

 I would recommend him also to read his Bible and his Testament 

 before he announced those views, and to read them with the deepest 

 attention and with a determination to learn and to profit by them. 

 Good books on all subjects teach the reader "how to observe." 

 Original observations are invaluable if made and recorded in this 

 knowledge. Now I confess to feeling insuperable doubts as to Mr, 

 Sl.rland's decision on the hooting of owls; as to the shrikes (I admit 

 this is copied) nesting at Lee ; as to the black redstart nesting in 

 hedges; as to the chaffinch building on the tops of posts and sticking 

 the nest to the post with saliva ; as to the female cuckoo crying 

 " cuckoo," or sucking the eggs of little birds, or arriving amongst us 

 in Februav}'. 1 lliiuk that had Mr. Sterlaud carefully read and de- 

 liberately considered all that has been written on these subjects, and 

 then carried the hints and ideas thus acquired into the lanes and 

 woods and forests, he would have scarcely written what he has ; and 

 in the particular case of the shrikes he would scarcely have copied 

 what he has : I cannot but believe that he might readily convince 

 liimsclf that these matters are not exactly as he has stated them, and 

 yet I do not for a moment doubt that he has written them in good 



faith. 



Edwaiiu Newman. 



