Birth. - 867 



however, that it has become a sort of fashion, to call in question many of his asser- 

 tions, and to throw a doubt upon many facts, which he seems fairly to have established. 

 I am induced to venture these remarks, in consequence of what has fallen from some 

 of your contributors, in a few of the later numbers of ' The Zoologist,' as I am afraid 

 it may be construed into tacit acknowledgement of error, on the part of Mr. Waterton, 

 if nothing should appear from his pen, in vindication of what he has before written. 

 My friend, however, does not stand in need of my feeble aid, to defend his well- 

 earned fame as a naturalist ; but I think I may take upon me to assert, that he has 

 not even seen any of the remarks to which I am alluding. Mr. Waterton sailed from 

 this country on or about the first of October last, and is at present sojourning in the 

 Eternal City, where it is not likely that he reads the pages of ' The Zoologist,' or, if 

 he does, it is still less likely that he can at present reply to the various remarks that 

 have called his accuracy in question. I feel it due to his literary reputation, to state 

 thus much, leaving him to deal with the cases as he thinks fit, when an opportunity 

 may present itself. During his absence, I doubt not, Mr. W. will lay up an amusing 

 store of information, for the future benefit of his brother naturalists ; and possibly, a 

 rod in pickle for those who have been bold enough to attack him. I do not take up 

 cudgels for Mr. Waterton, or pronounce him either right or wrong. I feel that I have 

 only discharged an obligation, which friendship has imposed, and hope that you, 

 Mr. Editor, will consider it merely as such, bearing in mind a well remembered pas- 

 sage, that 



"Absentem .... amicum, 



Qui non defendit alio culpante .... 



. . . . hunc tu, Eomane caveto.'' 

 — S. H. Haslam ; Greenside Cottage, January 10, 1845. 



Late migration of some summer birds of passage from Ireland. The great mildness 

 of our climate induces many of our summer migrants sometimes to defer their de- 

 parture much beyond the period usually assigned as limiting their abode in this 

 country, and especially in England. Some birds spend even the entire winter with 

 us, which seldom remain during that season in the sister country. The grey wagtail 

 and the quail are to be met with, the winter through, in the south of our island, in 

 nearly as great plenty as at any other season. The land-rail, too, prolongs its stay 

 till very late in the season, being frequently met with, and shot by sportsmen, in 

 potato-fields, after the stubbles have ceased to afford it shelter in autumn, and little 

 other cover is to be found. The latest date at which I have marked its occurrence is 

 October 12. The swift I have seen so late as September 12 and 20 ; house martin, 

 November 3 ; cuckoo, shot August 22 ; the chimney swallow, this season, on Novem- 

 ber 10 ; and, on one occasion, so late as December 5 ; on a fine warm evening, two or 

 three years ago, I observed a pair of these birds sporting about above the houses in 

 Main-street, Wexford. — Joseph Poole ; Grovetown. 



Insectivorous propensity of the Kestril, fyc. The reference Mr. Bury makes to the 

 kestril, in his excellent article on the food of birds, in your last number (Zool. 816) 

 induces me to mention, that on the 23rd of April, 1840, I observed a male bird of 

 that species, hovering over a field of newly-sprung oats, and every now and then 

 descending, and seizing something. Curious to know the object of its search, I suc- 

 ceeded in shooting it, and, on examination, discovered that it had been preying on 

 caterpillars, about an inch and a quarter in length, and of a pinkish colour. These I 

 at first conjectured to be wireworms, but have since seen cause to alter this opinion. 



