442 Birds. 



lowing species have also occurred near Yarmouth this autumn, in addition to the buff- 

 breasted sandpiper, of which I have already sent you notice (Zool. 363). 



Temminck's stint Augt, 2 Rough-legged buzzard Octr. 10 



Purple sandpiper Sept. 20 Peregrine falcon 21 



Stormy petrel 30 Grey phalarope 30 



The peregrine falcon was shot about ten miles from Yarmouth. It measures in length 

 20 inches, in extent 43^ inches, and weighed more than 2 lbs. It is, I suppose, a 

 young bird, the colour of the back and wings being dark brown, and the edges 

 of the feathers with light margins. The cere dark blue, the bare orbital space light 

 blue, and the legs greenish ; the edges of the scales and the soles of the feet nearly 

 yellow. There is also a patch of cream colour on the back of the head, and another, 

 almost forming a ring, upon the lower part of the neck. The stomach contained a 

 quantity of white feathers, and the neck, probably, of a chicken, as a grain of barley 

 was also found. The man who brought it to me, said that when he killed it, it was 

 dashing furiously at his dog. — Wm. R. Fisher ; Great Yarmouth, October 30, 1843. 



Note on the curious manner in which Seeds are sown by Animals. It is generally 

 supposed that the seeds of trees and plants, after having been eaten by birds, are not 

 killed by the process, but ouly rendered in a fitter state for germination by having pass- 

 ed through the stomach. And this is very probably the case ; for we see elder, ash, 

 ivy, gooseberry and currant bushes, growing on ruins and church towers, situations in 

 which they never could have been planted by human hands, but must have sprung 

 from seeds and berries which had been eaten and deposited there by birds. From tri- 

 vial causes spring mighty effects ; for doubtless many of our most richly wooded land- 

 scapes owe much of their timber to the agency of quadrupeds and birds. Linnets, 

 goldfinches, thrushes, goldcrests &c. feed on the seeds of elms, firs, and ashes, and 

 carry them away to hedge- rows, where, fostered and protected by bush and bram- 

 ble, they spring up and become luxuriant trees. Many noble oaks have been planted 

 by the squirrel, who unconsciously yields no inconsiderable boon to the domain he in- 

 fests. Towards autumn this provident little animal mounts the branches of oak trees, 

 strips off the acorns and buries them in the earth, as a supply of food against the se- 

 verities of winter. He is most probably not gifted with a memory of sufficient reten- 

 tion to enable him to find every one he secretes, which are thus left in the ground, and 

 springing up the following year, finally grow into magnificent trees. Pheasants de- 

 vour numbers of acorns in the autumn, some of which having passed through the sto- 

 mach, probably germinate. The nuthatch in an indirect manner also frequently be- 

 comes a planter. Having twisted off their boughs a cluster of beech-nuts, this curious 

 bird resorts to some favourite tree, whose bole is uneven, and endeavours, by a series 

 of manoeuvres, to peg it into one of the crevices of the bark. During the operation it 

 oftentimes falls to the ground, and is caused to germinate by the moisture of winter. 

 Many small beeches are found growing near the haunts of the nuthatch, which have 

 evidently been planted in the manner described. — J. J. Briggs ; Melbourne, Novem- 

 ber, 1843. 



Note on the Songs of Birds. White of Selborue laid it down as a maxim in Orni- 

 thology, that where there is incubation there is music ; and it appears a correct one. 

 Birds never produce their songs with such melody and vigour as during the breeding 

 season ; and some, as the missel-thrush, hush them entirely when it is over. Many 

 birds, as the robin, blackbird, song-thrush, yellow bunting, common bunting, goldfinch, 

 greenfinch, wren and some others, continue to warble until the verge of autumn. Mi- 



