The Zoologist— May, 1874. 3965 



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Researches in Zoology, illustrative of the Structure, Habits and 

 Ecovomy of Animals. By John Blackwall, F.L.S. Second 

 Edition. Demy 8vo, 345 pp. letterpress, two outline plates. 

 London : Van Voorst. 1873. 



" An accurate and comprehensive history of the Periodical Birds may 

 now be considered one of the greatest desiderata in Ornithology. Hitherto 

 little has been done to elucidate the manners and economy of this interesting 

 portion of the feathered tribes, as connected with their periodical appearance 

 and disappearance ; for although much has been written on the subject, yet 

 few facts of any considerable importance have been ascertained ; and even 

 those few lie scattered through the writings of such various authors, and are 

 so blended with what is erroneous, or merely conjectural, that it is no easy 

 task to distinguish and collect them ; consequently our knowledge of the cir- 

 cumstances which regulate the motions of the numerous species of Periodical 

 Birds is still very imperfect, and we are almost entirely ignorant of the 

 places of their retreat, and of the mode of their existence in those retreats. 

 Whether, when they withdraw, they depart from those districts and 

 countries in which they cease to appear, or ivhether they conceal themselves 

 and remain in a state of torpidity, has not yet been positively determined; 

 and opinions must continue to he divided on the subject so long as 

 authors indulge in fanciful speculations, instead of collecting and arranging 

 well-authenticated facts, from which alone legitimate conclusions can be 

 deduced." — Page 1. 



In giving this as a verbatim and literatim copy of Mr. Blackwall's 

 opening paragraph, it is inoportant I should state explicitly that the 

 italics are my own, and are introduced for the purpose of bringing 

 prominently to notice the exact amount of knowledge, or rather 

 of ignorance, that prevailed in 1834 respecting the migratory habits 

 of our birds, as acknowledged by one of our most distinguished 

 teachers of the science. From such an one it appears a curious 

 confession that " we are almost entirely ignorant of the places to 

 which birds retreat in their migrations," for in 1873 we know, or 

 think we know, the retreat of each migratory species as accurately 

 as we learn from 'Bradshaw' the station at which the mail train to 

 Edinburgh is advertised to stop: it is therefore with infinite 

 astonishment that we read without any modification or emendation, 



SECOND SERIES VOL. IX. Y 



