121 



9 



smooth and glossy, and makes it look as if polished. Eggs in my collection vary in size from 

 U by H to f § by fS inch. 



According to the late M. Jules Verreaux the superstition respecting the present bird, to the 

 effect that when mummified and hung up it will always point in the opposite direction to whence 

 the wind comes, still exists amongst the peasantry of France ; and he cites this popular super- 

 stition as the chief cause why the bird is so much destroyed in that country. Although now 

 almost forgotten in England, it evidently existed in this country in Shakespeare's time ; and 

 two instances are adduced by Mr. J. E. Halting in his interesting article on the Birds 

 of Shakespeare (Zool. 1867, p. 533): — "It was also supposed that the dead bird, carefully 

 balanced and suspended by a single thread, would always turn its back towards that point of 

 the compass from which the wind blew. Kent, in ' King Lear,' speaks of rogues who ' turn 

 their halcyon beaks with every gale and vary of their masters ;' and after Shakespeare, Marlowe, 

 in his 'Jew of Malta,' says, 'but how now stands the wind] Into what corner peers my 

 halcyon's bill V" 



The specimen figured is an adult male from Cookham, on the Thames, and is the bird above 

 described. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a,b, 6 . Near London {Davy) . c, 8 , d, $ . Cookham, Berks, September 1868. e, $ . Kingsbury, December 

 1862 (/. E. Harting). /, ? . Hendon, Middlesex, October 1869 (J. E. liar ling), g, 6. Pagbam, Sussex, 

 July 11th, 1870 (R. B. Sharpe). h, 6. Near Constantinople, October 13th, 1869 {Robsori). 



E Mus. C. G. Danford. 

 a, <S , b, $ , Adalia, Asia Minor, December 1874 (C. G. D.). 



E Mus. Howard Saunders. 



a, c?. Kingsbury Reservoir, September 29th, 1866 (C. B. Wharton), b, d . Rio Genii, Granada, September 

 1872. c,S. Malaga, October 15th. d, $ . Malaga, November 4th. e,f, <S . Malaga, November 11th 

 and 27th. g, 6 . Malaga, December 30th, 1872. 



3 Ml! 



