Zoology. 1 47 



its note is much shorter, quite distinct from that which it makes in the evening. One morning, 

 when on the look-out for these birds, I shot the pipit lark of Bewick, imitating the note of the 

 grasshopper warbler, and exactly in the attitude described by him, " gaping and shivering with 

 its wings on the top of a branch." — J^. Farrar, M.D. Aug. 5. 1829. 



A Species of Alcedo, or Kinajisher. — There is another bird in this country which has often 

 excited ray surprise and curiosity, and which, 1 believe, is peculiar to this place. Every day are to 

 be seen numerous flocks of birds, not quite so large as pigeons, with dark backs and white bellies, 

 passing upand down the Bosphorus with great rapidity. When they arrive either at the Black Sea, 

 or the Sea of Marmora, ihey again wheel about, and return up the channel ; and this course they 

 continue, without a moment's intermission, the whole of the day. They are never seen to alight, 

 either on land or water; they never, for a moment, deviate from their course, or slack their 

 speed ; they are never known to search for or take any food ; and no visible cause can be assigned 

 for the extraordinary and restless instinct by which they are haunted. The French call them les 

 antes damnees ; and certainly, if being allowed no cessation or repose be included in the idea, it is 

 not misapplied. They fly very near the surface of the water ; and, if a boat meets a flock of them 

 transversely, they rise a few feet over it ; if directly, it divides them like a wedge. Their flight 

 is remarkably silent; and though so numerous and so close, the whirr of their wings is scarcely 

 ever heard. They are so abundant in this particular spot, that I have reckoned fifteen large 

 flocks in my passage from Pera to Therapia. I have often wished to shoot one, to examine it; 

 but the Turks have such a tender and conscientious regard for the life of every animal but man, 

 that no person is permitted to kill any bird upon the Bosphorus, w ithout incurring their displea- 

 sure. The only work in which I have seen it mentioned is, Andreossis sur le Bosphore. He calls 

 it Alcyon voyageur, to distinguish it from the Halcyon of the ancients, which was supposed to 

 build its nest upon the waters. {Walsh's Journey from Constantinople to England.) 



The Throstle. — I agree with Mr. Jennings, that the throstle (Turdus 

 musicus) does not Hne its nest with mud, but generally with some compost 

 of which cow dung forms a part, although I have found them lined entirely 

 with rotten wood. It is a fact also that it invariably lays the first egg 

 whilst the lining is wet. — T. G. Clithero, April 17. 1829. 



Distinction of Sex in the Woodcock. — Having been taught by an old 

 sportsman the following ready method of distinguishing the sexes of wood- 

 cocks by the plumage, I offer it to your notice, in the hope that some one who 

 may have better opportunities for observation than my self may be able to decide 

 whether it is to be depended upon as a sure criterion of the sex : — The front 

 or outer edge of the first quill feather of the cock bird is marked alternately 

 with dark and light spots, of a somewhat triangular shape ; while in the hen 

 the corresponding feather is without spots, and in lieu of them presents a 

 uniform light-coloured stripe, extending the whole length of the feather 

 The difference will be immediately apparent on examining the accompany- 

 ing specimens, which are the first quill feathers, plucked respectively from 

 two different birds shot at the same time; the two birds, it may be remarked, 

 in other respects varied sufficiently in plumage to warrant the supposition 

 of their being of different sexes. — W. T. Bree. 



Voice of Fishes. — I have often heard it remarked that fish have no 

 voices. Some tench, which I caught in ponds, made a croaking like a frog 

 for a full half hour whilst in the basket at my shoulder. — John Thompson. 

 Hull, July 20. 1829. 



Extraordinary Growth of a Pike. — If you think the following account of 

 extraordinary growth in a pike worthy of being inserted in your entertaining 

 and instructive Magazine, you may depend upon the authenticity of it from 

 an eye-witness : — Four years and a half ago, some jack were turned into a 

 pond belonging to W. R. Cartwright, Esq., in Northamptonshire, the biggest 

 of which weighed 2\ lbs. In October last the pond was let offj and one jack 

 of 19^ lbs. was taken out, together with five more, from 11 to 15 lbs. each, 

 the largest having grown not quite 4 lbs. every year since its being in. The 

 pond is about two acres and a half, with a small rill running through it, 

 and there was a good stock of carp in it at the time of its being let off.- — 

 A Constant Reader. Nov. 5. 1829. 



Remarkable Flight qfSjnders. — On the 19th of July a number of aeronautic 

 spiders (at any rate small black spiders capable of flight) by some means 

 found their way into St. John's church, and, though not a proper place 

 for observations on natural history, there were so many, that, without 

 shutting my eyes, I could not fail noticing them. The tops of ladies' bon- 

 nets were generally the places whence they commenced their flight, and 

 in it they seemed not to be confined to any particular direction : some flew 

 upwards at a slight angle, some north, some south, some east, some west ; 



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