Birds. 347 7 



have been killed near Yarmouth about the beginning of January. — L. H. Irby ; Sa- 

 ham, Norfolk, April 24, 1852. 



Occurrence of the Glossy Ibis in Ireland. — A specimen of the glossy ibis (Ibis fal- 

 cinellus) was killed on Lough Dun, in County Longford, about the 20th of November 

 last.— T. L. Powijs ; Christ Church, Oxford, March 24, 1852. 



Occurrence of the Little Crake (Crex pusilla) in Norfolk. — An adult male of the 

 little crake, in very fine plumage, was shot at Sutton, near Stalham, on the 16th of 

 April. The date of its capture corresponds very nearly with the time of the general 

 arrival of the spotted crake. — L. H. Irby ; Saham, Norfolk, April 24, 1852. 



Occurrence of the Eared Grebe at Yarmouth. — A beautiful pair of the eared grebe 

 were killed last Tuesday at Yarmouth, and are now in the possession of Mr. Green, the 

 naturalist. The female had several eggs about the size of small marbles. — Edward 

 Newman ; May 14, 1852. 



On the Specific Distinctness of the Ringed Guillemot. — In an interesting note (Zool. 

 3425), Mr. A. Newton remarks that it can only be ascertained by repeated observations 

 whether or not the ringed guillemot is to be regarded as a distinct species from the 

 common one ; but he expresses his opinion that it is a point which may be easily as- 

 certained, and he feels that it is highly desirable the question should be settled. Whilst 

 I cordially acknowledge the justness of these views, I confess I do not see any proba- 

 bility of a speedy settlement of the matter. Assertions which find their way into books 

 of authority are very long before they entirely lose credit. They are handed down 

 from one writer to another ; they are received as articles of early faith to which one is 

 apt fondly to cling in after years: those who might make original observations not car- 

 ing to run the risk of unsettling their former belief, whilst those who have no personal 

 opportunities of inquiry prefer the established authority of their first favourite to that 

 of any one who has been rash enough to call it in question in any point. Numberless 

 feelings are operating in the same direction. In questions of species, this man has 

 specimens which are valuable as long as the species is supposed to be distinct ; that 

 man has some other equally powerful bias, of which he may not be at all conscious. 

 Few persons are actuated by a pure love of truth. But these are not the only diffi- 

 culties. There are differences of opinion as to what really constitutes a species, and 

 not many people have clear ideas on this head, none, I believe, can have any perma- 

 nently settled notions. At all events, those who hold the opinions which have been 

 recently advocated by several of the most advanced men in palaeontological research 

 must be in some perplexity. If certain living beings have made their first appearance 

 not in one spot, but in several parts of the world independently, in one case precisely 

 similar to each other, in another so nearly similar that they will still breed together 

 continuously, in a third so that they can only breed together for one or two generations: 

 if, on the other hand, as we know, ages of peculiar influences may have subsequently 

 made apparently distinct races, that is, what we call permanent varieties, of various 

 branches from one common stock ; — it will be admitted that we must be in considera- 

 ble difficulty in adapting the word species to our new ideas, and supposing this to be 

 done, great obscurity must still remain respecting individual cases. Without, how- 

 ever, discussing the question, — What is a species P it appears to be pretty generally 

 agreed that if no obvious structural difference can be shown to exist, beyond what may 

 be supposed due to age, sex, or season, there is no presumption of a distinction of spe- 

 cies, unless at all events there can be found some marked variations in the actions of 

 life, and especially a constant restriction in interbreeding. It follows, if the rule is 



