7050 Birds. 



seen only what almost any one else may see; still I must assert tliat, long before I 

 became acquainted with Waterton's ' Essays,' I was fully convinced of the fact which 

 he there denies. Domestic ducks, when kept near a house and treated kindly, will 

 fearlessly perform their toilet within a very short distance of any one they are familiar 

 wilh. Thus I have often watched ducks preening themselves with perfect composure 

 only three or four yards, perhaps less, from me, when I could distinctly perceive that 

 they inserted the bill among the feathers, with a motion precisely such as if gently 

 compressing the gland upon the rump in order to squeeze out some of the oil, after 

 which they resumed the operation of dressing themselves. This seemingly lubricating 

 process was often repealed, and the effect was imparted to the head and neck (which 

 Mr. Waterton considers a bird cannot reach for this purpose) by a very simple but 

 methodical raanceuvre. The beak, having been directed to the oil-gland, is next used 

 —as if to discharge its contents — upon the feathers of the back, when the head and 

 neck are thoroughly rubbed over the spot, which the length and flexibility of the neck 

 enable the bird to do, so as completely to apply it to every part except the forehead, 

 the plumage of which I remember noticing in the duck to throw oS" water less than 

 that of any other part. The conclusion drawn from such observations was fully con- 

 lirmed by others upon a caged canary. These notes, though penned in 1841, were 

 indited from memory, it is true, but I feel quite confident as to the general accuracy 

 of my recollections. I do not, however, desire dogmatically to affirm the certainty of 

 my inferences, particularly in opposition to a naturalist of such skill and varied expe- 

 rience as Mr. Waterton; I would only invite readers of the 'Zoologist' to employ 

 their opportunities in endeavouring, apart from all theory, either to establish or to 

 refute the opinion T have expressed. I have taken for granted that the gland upon 

 the upper side of the rump of a bird contains an oily matter, because that fact will be 

 evident enough to any one who only opens the gland of the fowl he has been eating. 

 To account for only now producing reflections made nearly nineteen years ago, T can 

 only say that the 'Zoologist' did not then exist, that the subject was not always borne 

 in mind, and that, when it did recur, I hesitated whether or not tu offer my notes for 

 publication. — Arthur Hussey ; Roltingdean, April 17, 1860. 



Occurrence of the Wood Warbler (Sylvia sibilatrix) near Penzance, and Note on 

 the Migratory Warblers. — After a careful attention to the different migratory warblers 

 affecting this neighbourhood for the last twenty-five years, I have during the past week, 

 for the first lime, discovered the wood warbler near this place, and in full song, ihat is, 

 uttering its thrilling sibilous song, and at intervals those very peculiar mournful chirps 

 entirely different from its other song, and which might easily be attributable to another 

 bird by those unacquainted with this bird. At present, we are unacquainted with the 

 nightingale, lesser whitelhroat, garden warbler, reed warbler and common redstart ; it 

 is, however, by no means improbable that in the course of time I may have to record 

 the appearance of these birds, for by some curious and inexplicable law many birds 

 unknown in a district make their appearance all at once, and continue ever afterwards 

 to affect the localities. In illustration of this I may mention the blackcap warbler and 

 the common willow wren, species unknown here thirty years ago, and now found in 

 most of our groves and plantations. I should mention that the above-mentioned birds, 

 except the nightingale, have been captured at Scilly and in this neighbourhood during 

 the autumnal migration, apparently in transitu, especially after strong opposing winds, 

 and I may include also the pied flycatcher, but they have not appeared with us as 

 summer visitors. — Edward Ilearle Rodd ; Penzance, May 10, 1860, 



