NOTES AND QUEBIES. 367 



wings appeared, Feb. 6th; in 1897, Feb. 16th. 1896, Curlew appeared, 

 Feb. 10th ; in 1897, Feb. 20th. 1896, Grey and White Wagtails, March 

 12th; in 1897, March 8th. 1897, Yellow Wagtail, March 28th; Ring 

 Ouzel, April 5th ; Cuckoo heard, April 26th. These three birds were earlier 

 than usual. Dunlin Sandpiper, about April 20th. Swallows, more nume- 

 rous than usual and earlier, appeared May 4th. We may also notice that 

 the Corncrake nested here in 1896, and has not been known to do so for 

 many years. Lapwings, Ring Ouzels, and Swallows are more numerous 

 than formerly, and recent protective legislation may be making itself felt 

 in that direction. The Lapwings' eggs were in much request, and the Ring 

 Ouzel was much persecuted on account of its predaceous habits upon fruit, 

 though I believe that it does more good than harm by eating slugs, cater- 

 pillars, and other insect-pests in gardens. We have seen two avian combats 

 — one between Grouse and Hooded Crows — when the latter attempted to 

 interfere with the nesting operations of the former. Grouse show marked 

 powers of organization in such cases, rallying to assist each other, and 

 raising a peculiar noise on such occasions. The second fight, of a less 

 serious nature, was between Lapwings and Partridges. A number of the 

 latter were introduced here in 1896, their eggs being hatched and young 

 reared under barn-door hens. These birds have spread, and their require- 

 ments necessitating more ground than formerly have brought about the 

 strife with Lapwings. The Partridges are bold, and resist successfully the 

 onslaughts of the Lapwings, which are made on wing, and on the Partridges 

 while moving on the ground. Redbreasts were earlier about farm-buildings 

 in 1896, those seen previously being in August. In 1896 a flock of Geese 

 passed northwards about March 20th, aud in 1897 about a month later. 

 On Sept. 30th, 1896, about thirty passed southwards. It is rarer to notice 

 them here in the autumn than in spring. — William Wilson (Alford, 

 Aberdeen, N.B.). 



Inherited Habit in Birds. — I have recently had an additional and very 

 striking proof of the fact that birds build their nests in obedience to 

 inherited law and not by imitation. I considered the instances already 

 mentioned respecting my Canaries quite good enough, but the case which I 

 now have to record is, if possible, even more conclusive. To most scientific 

 ornithologists the little bird familiar to aviculturists as the Bengalee will 

 be almost unknown ; it is, however, abundantly bred and regularly exported 

 by the Japanese, and has been produced by them probably for many cen- 

 turies. The origin of Bengalees is not known for certain, some breeders 

 believing that they were originally derived from the Sharp-tailed Finch, 

 Uroloncha acuticauda, others from the Striated Finch, U. striata ; whilst 

 Mr. Abrahams holds that they are the result of a cross between the latter 

 | and the Indian Silver-bill, Aidemosyne maJabarica, a helief which, from a 





