The Zoologist — June, ] 873. 3575 



objecting to water, she ■washes most nights in her water-tin ; and every 

 night regularly for several months she used to extract some stick-brimstone 

 from the tin and bury it, together with her dung, in sawdust, which is 

 always strewed in the outer half of the cage. She came in season again this 

 year the last week in March, unluckily while I was away from home, for 

 (as I begin to despair of ever getting a wild Tom), Mr. Bartlett had very 

 kindly promised to send me the hybrid Tom from the Zoo. That they are 

 not " mythical," &c., is amply shown by the fact that they have had six in 

 the Zoo within the last two years, three of which came from Lord Seafield's 

 forest, Balmacaan, in Inverness-shire, where he breeds some (in captivity) 

 every year, I believe. A gentleman in Sutherlandshire had one alive about 

 two years ago, but I do not know whether it is still in existence ; and a 

 gentleman in Oxfordshire has bred several hybrids from one : the pair now 

 in the Zoo were bred and presented by him. And I myself was sent a second 

 specimen in September last, but it had been badly trapped, and was delayed 

 on the journey, added to which it was a " bird of the year," and therefore 

 had not come to its full strength ; the consequence of all which was that the 

 poor thing died from mortification of the injured paw. — A.H. Cocks; Great 

 Marlow, Bucks, April 29, 1873. 



Wild Birds Protection. — Mr. A. Herbert moved for a Select Committee, 

 with power to take evidence, to inquire into the advisability of extending the 

 protection of a close season to certain wild birds not included in the Wild 

 Birds Preservation Act of 1872. He said last session a Bill was brought in 

 to protect a similar class of birds. It was enlarged so as to include all birds, 

 and in the end a compromise took place, to the effect that hon. membere 

 who opposed legislation would cease to do so provided certain birds were not 

 included. He had received a great many letters from different parts of the 

 country on the subject. One young lady — (laughter) — wrote to inquire why 

 the amiable and accomplished chaffinch — (renewed laughter) — had been left 

 out of the Act. Another wrote, " What sort of a protection is this when 

 3'ou find no room for the thrush ?" And a third wrote, " If the members of 

 your House of Commons are fond of pleasant sights and pleasant sounds, 

 I cannot help thinking that the song of the blackbird will always be a 

 reproach to them." (Laughter.) All he asked for was an inquiry, and he 

 had the fullest confidence that his clients would make out a case for including 

 these and other birds in the Act of last session. 



Sir H. Hoare hoped the House would grant the Committee, not only on 

 the score of humanity, but because linnets, chaffinches, and birds of that 

 description were interesting in themselves, and afforded pleasm'e to many 

 persons amongst the humbler classes. 



Mr. J. W. Barclay objected to any further legislation in the direction 

 contemplated by the hon. member for Nottingham. (" Oh, oh," and " hear, 



