1130 The Zoologist— March, 1868. 



Ornithology of this county has in former years, I feel sure, been much neglected. I(s 

 position with regard to others of the midland counties is very favourable indeed in an 

 ornithological point of view, having a good coast Hue to the east, and the queen of 

 Scottish lochs to the west. — John A. Harvie Brown; Dunipace House, Falkirk, 

 January 3, 1868. 



A few Suggestions in connection with a future Great Work on British Ornithology. — 

 I offer the following suggestions for the consideration of the readers of the 'Zoologist.' 

 I send them, from a desire on my part, which I think must be shared by many 

 other lovers of our British birds, to see some future large and exhaustive work upon 

 their Natural History, and to see that work undertaken upon some systematic plan by 

 a body of our best British ornithologists, each member of that body having his own 

 portion of the work to perform. It is then with this hope that I wish to draw atten- 

 tion to the subject, and to induce the readers of the ' Zoologist ' to express their ideas 

 concerning the plan or method on which this future work should be undertaken. In 

 all humility I submit the following for consideration, hoping to see it improved upon 

 by others. I would then suggest that a committee be appointed by ornithologisls, by 

 vote or otherwise, as may be agreed, and that that committee be empowered to choose 

 from amongst their number three, six, or more members, on whom shall devolve the 

 labour of preparing a new great work on British Ornithology for the press. Also, 

 supposing that the individuals chosen are perfectly willing to undertake the task, that 

 they do so, after some such plan as the following: — 1. Give the name of the species, 

 using the most generally accepted nomenclature and adopting the best arrangement as 

 yet known to naturalists. 2. Give a list of all synonyms, if practicable. 3. Give a 

 list of all local names, or the most important of them. 4. A description of the birds, 

 male and female, as relating to measurements, colour of plumage, &c. Also include 

 a description of any varieties which have occurred wilhin the experience of the author, 

 such as albinos, &c. 5. Give the geographical distribution of the species in other 

 countries. 6. Give the local distribution of the species in this country, wilh an 

 account of the local or universal migrations, and a history of their habits, as connected 

 wilh such. 7. Give a full description of the nest and eggs of the species, both of the 

 type and of varieties, along with the habits of the species whilst engaged in nidifi- 

 cation and incubation. 8. Give a description of the youug in the downy state. 



9. A description of the young in their different changes of plumage before attaining to 

 the adult stage. (See " Log of the Gray Gull," Zool. S. S. pp. 243, 328, 361, 518). 



10. An account of the habits of our migratory and rarer birds, as observed by 

 naturalists abroad. 11. A short account of closely allied species on the Continent or 

 elsewhere, with a reference to works upon European or other Ornithology in which 

 they may occur. 12. Where practicable, a description of the down of the different 

 species of Anatida? as found in the nesl, for the assistance of collectors in identifying 

 their eggs. I might add to these suggestions ad infinitum, but as the list may already 

 seem somewhat lengthy I will now conclude, leaving to the readers of the 'Zoologist,' 

 should they consider the subject worthy of their attention, to alter, add to, or improve 

 upon them. — Id. 



Merlin near Barnstaple.— While driving from Barnstaple to Braunton, a few days 

 ago, I saw a merlin sitting on a gate-post by the road-side. It was so fearless that it 

 did not fly off until I was quite close to it. The next day the bird was in our bird- 

 stuffer's shop : it had been shot, within a hundred yards of the spot where I noticed it, 



