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390° THE ZOOLOGIST. 
for the last twenty years on various parts of our sea coast, but more 
particularly in Ireland, I have come to the conclusion that the migratory 
act in all birds is an acquired habit, originating in the search for food, 
which after a little time becomes fixed, and then inherited; and is also 
changeable, as circumstances bring into play a little judgment or reason. 
It is remarkable that the Woodcock is the only bird known that carries its 
young in flight, which it frequently does when taking them to the feeding 
ground at the dusk of the evening, and again early in the morning back to 
their resting-place in some cover or in the open, as the state of the weather 
may be. When suddenly disturbed it may be seen mounting over small 
trees or flying near the ground, carrying a young bird between its legs to a 
place of safety. —W. Kinsey Dover (Myrtle Grove, Keswick). 
[The Woodcock is not the only bird that carries its young. The same 
habit has been observed in the Common Snipe, as we have pointed out in 
our edition of White’s ‘ Selborne’ (p. 101, note); and Guillemots and other 
rock-building birds transport their young to the water by carrying them in 
the hollow of the back, between the uplifted wings.—Ep.] 
Tue Evropran Quan In AmErica.—It appears from a recent number 
of the American journal, ‘Forest and Stream, that a large number of 
European Quails have beev turned out in the United States, particularly 
in the neighbourhood of Rutland, Vermont; and that, so far as has been 
ascertained, the experiment in acclimatising the species there has been 
successful. This year, it is said, 5000 were shipped to America, and that 
with the remainder of last year's importation and their progeny, a stock of 
at least 61100 birds was secured. Many of last year’s birds paired and nested, 
and this year several nests with the full complement of eggs have been found. 
It is asserted, however, that many of those originally imported have strayed 
to a considerable distance from the place where they were turned down, and 
that nests have been found twelve or fifteen miles away. This is only what 
might be expected in the case of a migratory bird like the European Quail, 
and it is probable that, unless a fresh importation is made annually, and the 
stock of breeding birds thereby kept up, the whole colony would gradually 
disperse, and finally disappear from the spot where they were first introduced 
to American soil.—J. E. Harvine. 
THe Grey Waerall GREGARIOUS AT Roosrinc Time.—I noticed a 
curious thing the other evening (August 19th), about 7.30 p.m. My brother 
and I were botanizing round a reedy lake, when we became aware of the 
presence of a number of Grey Wagtails, Motacilla boarula, in a small patch 
of Arundo phragmitis, covering an area of about thirty yards by ten. They 
continued to arrive in parties of three, four, and five, until there were at 
least a hundred assembled. They made a low chirping and fluttering 
amongst the reeds, where they were evidently preparing to roost. It was 
—— 
