The Zoologist — October, 1873. 8733 



secondly, because I thought it possible some counter-statement about the 

 mammoths might appear, showing that the narrative itself was one of those 

 jeux d'esprits for which our transatlantic brethren are so deservedly cele- 

 brated. A mouth, however, has elapsed, and not only have we received no 

 official contradiction, but the statement has been thought worthy of repro- 

 duction by Professor Feuchtwanger, before the " American Association for 

 the Advancement of Science." The learned Professor says : — " The dis- 

 covery of the mammoths in Siberia in the deep gorges of the mountains 

 near the Lena Viner, which was lately published as having been made by a 

 scientific Russian convict, who had seen five living animals, twelve feet in 

 height and eighteen feet in length, with projecting tusks four feet long, 

 excites some discussion in Europe. I think it worthy of inquiry whether 

 the mammoth of the post-tertiary period, discovered during this century in 

 Siberia, near the same river, can have any relation to the convict's discovery. 

 Thousands of these animals have been found buried in the ice, with their 

 well-preserved skins, and thousands of tusks are brought to England to this 

 day for the use of the turner. These are of nearly the same dimensions as 

 those seen by the Russian. The convict has received an unconditional 

 pardon, on the recommendation of scientific men who have investigated his 

 statements and believe them to be true." I must confess to feeling some 

 hesitation in receiving as true Zoology such an astounding statement ; there 

 are also certain of the details, particularly that relating to chewing the cud, 

 which could scarcely emanate from a " scientific " observer, and so the learned 

 Professor calls him. I would avail myself of this opportunity for inviting 

 attention to a paper of my own on the Siberian mammoth, published at 

 page 1 of the 'Zoologist,' under date of January, 1843. From this it 

 appears that M. Klaproth published a note on the same subject in the 

 ' Memoirs of the Academy of St. Petersburgh ' in the early part of the 

 present century (see vol. v. p. 409). In this there is abundant evidence 

 of the head, tusks, legs, and even entire bodies of mammoths having been 

 repeatedly found, at the beginning of the present century, in so recent a 

 state that bears and dogs fed on the flesh : portions of skin and hairs are 

 preserved in the Museum of the London College of Surgeons. The extract 

 from the * New York World ' is reprinted from the ' Standard' newspaper. — 

 Edward Newman.'] 



Blackbird Nesting on tlie Ground. — I may add two other instances of 

 this to the already numerous accounts which have been published : one was 

 in the forest, and the nest was built at the root of an old thorn bush, 

 and when found it contained two eggs. The other instance was on the 

 heaths in the vicinity of Ringwood ; the nest was built on the side of a hill, 

 under an overhanging tuft of heather. I frequently inspected this nest 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. VIII. 3 E 



