8502 Notices oj New Books. 



number of them, varying their repast with myriads of caterpillars, wire- 

 worms, and other noxious grubs. They thus compensate certainly in 

 part, perhaps wholly, for the mischief they do at other seasons; and 

 it is even questionable whether, if a balance were struck between them 

 and the agriculturists, the obligation would not be on the side of the 

 latter.— (P. 202). 



An example of sound reasoning on the part of Mr. Johns occurs in 

 his remarks on Mr. Yarrelfs proposed alteration in spelling the name 

 yellowhammer : I quote it as it stands. 



" The Yellowhammer. — Yarrell has suggested that the name 'yel- 

 low hammer,' frequently applied to this bird, should be written ' yel- 

 low amraer,' — the word ammer being a well-known German term for 

 bunting; but as it is doubtful whether it be possible to alter a mode 

 of spelling which has been in common use for two hundred years at 

 least, I have retained the name applied to the species by our earliest 

 ornithologists, Ray and Willughby."— (P. 193). 



Mr. Yarrell is rarely detected tripping in this way ; and so great is 

 the influence of his deservedly high reputation, that this trip is sure to 

 be servilely copied by subsequent compilers. Nothing can be more 

 annoying to the English student than to see French or German spel- 

 lings introduced into Science. 



" The Siskin. — The siskin or aberdevine is best known as a cage- 

 bird, as it is only a winter visitor in Great Britain, and during the 

 period of its stay is retiring in its habits. Siskins are more frequently 

 met with in the northern than the southern counties of England, but 

 are common in neither. They are generally observed to keep together 

 in small flocks of from twelve to fifteen, and may be heard from a 

 considerable distance, as they rarely intermit uttering their call-note, 

 which, though little more than a soft twittering, is as clear as that of 

 the bullfinch, to which it has been compared. Their flight is rapid and 

 irregular, like that of the linnet. They leave their roosting places 

 early in the morning, and usually alight on the branches of alder trees, 

 where they remain all day. The seeds of the alder, inclosed within 

 scales something like those of the coniferous trees, form the principal 

 food of these pretty little birds, who are obliged to hang at the extre- 

 mities of the twigs in order to explore the seed-vessels on all sides. 

 Occasionally, but less frequently, they are seen visiting heads of thistles 

 and burdocks, and not unfrequently they descend to the ground for 

 the sake of picking up scattered seeds. During the whole of their 

 feeding time they never cease twittering and fluttering about joyously 

 from twig to twig. Now and then, as if by preconcerted signal given 



