2296 Birds. 



than 82, belonging properly to other districts, visit the neighbourhood now and then, 

 sometimes breeding, but generally merely passing, or, as in the instance of sea-birds, 

 being perhaps driven inland by stress of weather. All birds are thus comprised under 

 five divisions : — 



Resident Natives. 



Migrant Natives. 



Winter Visitors. 



Passing Visitors. 



Occasional Visitors. 

 The birds falling under the native divisions merely require enumeration ; and unless 

 interesting anecdotes or unrecorded peculiarities can be adduced, the bare list of names 

 printed in three columns would amply suffice. The winter and passing visitors require 

 a few explanatory memoranda, which may be placed below the columns of names. 

 Of the occasional visitors every particular should be given, especially the dates of oc- 

 currence. By adopting this plan at a variety of stations, the most valuable statistics 

 of British ornithology would be obtained. — Edward Newman. 



Colour of the Egg of the Egyptian Vulture (Vultur percnopterus). — Your cor- 

 respondent, the Rev. Mr. Malan (Zool. 2138), intimates, in reference to the egg of the 

 Egyptian vulture, that Mr. Yarrell is wrong in calling it white, and he moreover says 

 that he can corroborate the description given of it by Mr. Hewitson as being correct. 

 This I cannot understand ; for, both in his Supplement and in the second edition of 

 his ' Oology,' Mr. Hewitson has figured and described the egg in question as being 

 of a pure bluish white, without any spot or marking whatever, — whereas Mr. Malan 

 affirms, on the contrary, that the egg is either spotted or blotched all over with red- 

 dish brown : in what respect, then, does he corroborate Mr. Hewitson ? — James Smith ; 

 Manse of Monquhitter by Turriff, Aberdeenshire, October 2, 1848. 



Curious Anecdote of the Kestrel (Falco Tinnunculus). — Tn the summer of 1847 two 

 young kestrels were reared from the nest, and proved to be male and female : they were 

 kept in a commodious domicile built for them in an open yard, where they lived a life 

 of luxury and ease. This summer a young one of the same species, not unlike a 

 powder-puff, — for it was still covered with down, — was brought and put into the same 

 apartment; and, strange to say, the female kestrel, sensible (as we must suppose) of 

 the helpless condition of the new-comer, immediately took it under her protection. 

 As it was too infantine to perch she kept in one corner of the cage, and for days sel- 

 dom quitted its side : she tore in pieces the food given to her, and assiduously fed her 

 young charge, exhibiting as much anxiety and alarm for its safety as its real parent 

 could have done. If any biped or quadruped approached the cage she expanded her 

 wings, erected her feathers, and kept up an incessant clamour, as if to scare the in- 

 truder away. But what struck me as very remarkable, she would not allow the male 

 bird — with whom she lived on the happiest terms — to come near the young one, being 

 doubtful, probably, of its tender mercies; be that as it may, she repelled all advances 

 on his part. As the little stranger increased in strength and intelligence her atten- 

 tions and alarm appeared gradually to subside, but she never abandoned her charge 

 until it could carve for itself and perch by her side, on which occasions she seemed 

 mighty proud of her foster child, and its sleek and glossy appearance afforded ample 

 proof that it had been well cared for. The three are now as happy as confined birds 

 can be, Mrs. Kestrel having laid aside all jealousy of her mate and apprehension 

 from strangers. No apology seems necessary for recording in the pages of the 



