494 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
the hedges and stubble-fields in bevies.. Where loads of corn have. passed 
through gates the bushes often catch some straws, and the tops of the 
gate-posts, being decayed and ragged, hold others. These are neglected 
while the seeds among the stubble, the charlock, and the autumn dandelion 
are) plentiful; and while the ears left by the gleaners may still be found. 
But in the shadowless winter days, hard and cold, each scattered straw is 
sought for. |A few days before the New Year (1879) opened I saw a 
Yellowhammer, attacking, in a very ingenious manner, a straw that hung 
pendant, the ear downwards, from the post of a windy gateway. She 
fluttered up from the ground, clung to the ear, and outspread her wings 
just as the breeze does on a paper kite, and there the bird remained 
supported without an effort while the ear was picked. Now and then the 
balance sas lost, but she was soon up again, and again used the wind to 
maintain her position. The brilliant cock birds return in the early spring, or 
at least appear to do so, for the habits of birds are sometimes quite local.” 
The professional poacher’s account of himself, given in the 
vernacular, furnishes a good illustration of the author's powers of 
observation, combined with the rare merit which he possesses 
of describing accurately without exaggerating. 
We may take it that the present volume is not designed to 
teach the; art of poaching, but, by exposing the machinations of 
the poacher, to enable intelligent keepers, under their master’s 
direction, to outwit that urch enemy of the game-preserver. 
The Natural History of Selborne, and the Naturalist’s Calendar. 
By the Rey. Giwperr Wuirr, A.-M. A New Edition. 
Edited, with Notes, by G. Curtsrorner Davies, Author of 
‘The’ Swan and her Crew,’ &c. Post 8vo, illustrated. 
London: Warne & Co. 1879. ; 
ALTHOUGH we are unable to understand how any necessity 
can possibly have arisen for another edition of White’s ‘ Selborne,’ 
three different editions having appeared within the last, three 
years, we are willing to admit that any attempt to increase. the, 
popularity of this already popular book is worthy of commenda- 
tion, provided the text is left as White wrote it, and is not 
overloaded with notes which, upon examination, are found to 
be neither, useful nor releyant. In the present instance the 
editor’s chief merit seems to lie in the brevity of his notes; we 
should like to haye added also in the accuracy of them. 
