The Zoologist — August, 1874. 4093 



abandon to our bidding ; she says, take the rabbit of New Zealand 

 and welcoine, but do not bring the zebra to England ; and yet 

 the transit is easy in both cases, and so in hundreds of others. 



" Man has frequently been induced to try his baud at the introduction of 

 certain species, the acquisition of which he has considered desirable ; such 

 attempts have generally proved futile ; Nature having adapted each for a 

 certain locality, the climate and the condition of the country must be 

 altered and rendered fit for the reception of either bird or quadruped before 

 there is the slightest chance of their successful naturalization. Many 

 persons have been desirous of establishing the North-American prairie hen 

 [Cupidonia Ciqndo) on our moors, and the Ortyx virgiuianus, or American 

 partridge, in our fields and coverts ; but what good would be affected 

 thereby ? The prairie hen would but displace a better breed, the common 

 grouse ; and the little partridge would be no improvement upon our familiar 

 species. There is no fear, however, that this will ever be accomphshed ; 

 and the sooner such fallacies are ended the better. It would be far wiser 

 were the efforts of our well-meaning patrons of acclimatization directed 

 rather to that interchange of blood among the same species which is 

 essential to the maintenance of a healthy stock. I am sure it is all- 

 important with regard to our birds, particularly those that are stationary. 

 It is well known that species that have lived long on an island without a 

 suflBcient interchange will diminish both in size and brilliancy of tints ; and 

 hence, perhaps, may be explained the smaller size and more subdued 

 colouring of many of our birds, compared with continental examples. The 

 blackcock of Norway and Switzerland will be found to have the tone of its 

 plumage more intensified than those inhabiting Scotland, the black being 

 unmistakably of a darker hue, and the gloss of its feathers more resplendent. 

 The Norwegian ptarmigan, too, is of a purer white compared with our own 

 bird, while its full summer dress is much darker. So, again, the lougtailed 

 tit [Mecistura caudata) of Norway and Denmark differs in having a white 

 head, while that of Great Britain has the crown and face dark or obscurely 

 striped ; and the cole tit [Pariis ater) of Belgium in having the back gray, 

 instead of the slight olive tint seen in British examples. To make such 

 differences, however, grounds for specific distinction, as has in some cases 

 been done, is in my opinion playing with science. That the drier and more 

 rarefied air of the Continent, coupled with the more direct influence of the 

 solar rays, contributes to cause these slight differences, seems to me highly 

 probable ; and I am strengthened in this view by noting that among such 

 groups as the Trochilidse, or humming-birds of America, some of the richest 

 and finest colours are seen in species that frequent lofty situations. — P. 15. 



On the subject of pheasant breeding Mr. Gould touches very 

 slightly, and fails to throw much light thereon : he writes of the 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. IX. 2 P 



