58 EX VIRIBUS VIVIMUS. 



REPTILES. — Some are believed to grow as long as they live, are very 

 slow in growth, very long-lived, and very variable in average 

 adidt size ; e. g. Chelonia and Crocodilia j others, as the 

 Lacertilia, are much more constant in size, and are believed 

 to be shorter-lived. 

 Crocodiles, some of the sacred crocodiles of India, have been 

 known since the Conquest. 



* Tortoise, from the Galapagos, was inferred to be 175 years old 



from its rate of growth in the Zoological Gardens, London. 

 (Grindon.) 



* Tortoise, from the Cape, which had been in the Governor's garden 



for 80 years ; it was believed to be 200 years old. (Com- 

 municated by T. Bell, Esq., F.R.S.) 



BIRDS, — Their growth is limited ; they appear to get feeble at a certain 

 age, varying in species, and like mammals may die of ' old 

 age.' 



* Parroquet, 120 years old at death, lived at Florence for ico 



years in a noble family. (Fontenelle, quoted by Flourens, 

 ' Human Longevity,' trans, by C. Martel.) 



* Parrot, ? sp. 120 years old at death, lived in the family of Mr. W. 



for 80 years ; it was said to be 40 when brought to Mr. W.'s 



great-grandfather. (Communicated.) 

 ? Goose, 100 years. (Willoughby.) 

 ? Falcon, large species, 162 years, from inscription on an attached 



ring. It was brought from the Cape in 1772. (Hufeland, 



' The Art of Prolonging Life.') 

 ? Raven, 180 years. (Buffon.) 



The following seven facts were communicated by Mr. Darwin : — 



* Saxicola sialis, for 10 years and more was observed to build its 



nest in same spot. (' Amer. Jour. Sci.' vol. 30, p. 81.) 



* Muscicapa fusca, 9 years ; same observation. 



* Turdus, for a longer period. 



* Falco borealis, 1 2 years. 



* Starling, for 8 years the same lame specimen was observed by 



Eckmark. 



* Kestrel, for 6 years the same specimen was seen. 



* Goldfinch, lived 23 years in confinement. (Montagu.) 



