PREFACE. IX 



abstracted through the mouth, without the aid of a stomach-pump, 

 and, I regret to add, the interesting patient remains in a very debili- 

 tated and critical state. 



The present volume is enriched with a series of excellent papers 

 on the Natural History of Norway, from the pen of the Rev. A. C. 

 Smith : these abound with those vivid descriptions of Nature which 

 so completely transport the reader to the scenes described, and excite 

 a feeling akin to regret, in the reflection that such a harvest of facts 

 as that country of mountain-wilds contains, should be so rarely reaped ; 

 that out of the crowds of sportsmen who migrate thitherward, so few 

 should be able or willing to chronicle their observations. (Zool. 2977, 

 3023, 3041, 3083, 3103, 3130, 3167, 3187, 3256 and 3223). 



Our South-American traveller, Mr. Bates, has sent but two com- 

 munications; the first (Zool. 3142) is dated Ega, Upper Amazons, 

 Dec. 23, J 850, and the second (Zool. 3230) is from Para, under date 

 of April 30, 1851. From these it will appear that Mr. Bates is pur- 

 suing Entomology with unabated energy and undiminished success ; 

 and that he omits all mention of any immediate return to his native 

 land. 



In birds, the most remarkable record is the discovery of a bird in 

 the interior of Africa, evidently one of the Grallae, but having a beak 

 of anomalous figure and enormous magnitude. It is said to feed on 

 young crocodiles, and our distinguished ornithologist, Mr. Gould, has 

 given it the name of Balaeniceps rex, (Zool. 3037). Four nominal 

 additions have been made to our British birds. A well-authenticated 

 instance of the occurrence of the hawk owl is published by Mr. Hig- 

 gins, (Zool. 3029). The only claim the bird previously possessed to 

 be inserted in our list as a straggler, was derived from an individual 

 killed at sea, as recorded by Mr. Yarrell. Mr. Higgins's account 

 is most circumstantial and satisfactory. Mr. Newton (Zool. 3277) 

 records the occurrence of the American wax-wing or cedar-bird 

 (Bombycilla Carolinensis) in Cambridgeshire : the specimen is in the 

 IX b 



