Birds. 649 



These observations were made by me long- before I was aware of Mr. Waterton's ideas 

 on the subject. Tame ducks (when treated with only moderate kindness) will perform 

 their toilette with a visitor close to them ; and whoever will embrace opportunities of 

 watching the operation, cannot, I think, fail to perceive that the above description is 

 correct, as to the apparent object. 



Note. — It is very satisfactory to me to perceive, that the above remarks, made ma- 

 ny years ago, are completely confirmed by (evidently) a very accurate observer, Mr. 

 Bury, of Bonclmrch, as recorded in ' The Zoologist' for May last, (Zool. 522). In 

 addition to what I have already said, I would request persons, who have the oppor- 

 tunity, to watch any small cage-birds in the operation of dressing themselves, when they 

 will see the process to be, that the bird inserts its beak among the rump-feathers, with 

 a gentle action, precisely what one would expect for the purpose of expressing the con- 

 tents of the oil-gland, and then draws the feathers, particularly the larger ones, separate- 

 ly through the beak, so as equally to lubricate the whole. — Ar. Hussey ; Rotiingdean. 



Note on the dispersion of Seeds by Birds. On reading Mr. Jordan's remarks upon 

 this subject (Zool. 591) I am reminded of an experiment made by my brother the au- 

 tumn before last, on some acorns which he had obtained from the crop of a wood-pi- 

 geon that he had shot. Most of them were in a half digested state, but those on which 

 the stomach had scarcely begun to act, had been so forced by the warmth and mois- 

 ture as to throw out roots. He planted them, together with other acorns which had 

 not been submitted to the same action : both kinds are now growing, the furrner are 

 very much the most forward. — I. W. G. Spicer ; Esher Place, Surrey, June 12, 1844. 



[May I be allowed to suggest the possibility of the pigeon's having swallowed 

 acorns which had already begun to germinate ? — E. Ncwman~]. 



Note on the arrival of Swnmer Birds at Bonchurch, Isle of Wight, in 1844. I here- 

 with forward you my list of summer arrivals. It is not very complete, as I was some- 

 times prevented making the necessary observations. Of some regular summer visitors 

 I have omitted all mention : viz., such as were likely to have been in the country for 

 any time before I had opportunity of seeing them : but with respect to those included 

 in my list, T think I may venture to affirm that they had not reached our shores twen- 

 ty-four hours previous to their having been seen by me. In each case I have noted 

 the date of the occurrence of the first individual : for some species continue to arrive 

 by small parties for the space of ten days or a fortnight. Of some species, too, many 

 more land here than remain to breed in our immediate neighbourhood, or, perhaps, in 

 the island ; such as the pied and yellow wagtails, the wheatear, swallow, martin, swift, 

 willow warbler, vvhinchat, redstart and nightjar: while, of others, as the nightingale, 

 black-cap, spotted fly-catcher and red-backed shiike, the same individuals appear to 

 return. to their old haunts. I know exactly where to find them, if they have arrived ; 

 and I seldom see other individuals than these, which may be called natives. I am 

 also satisfied that birds of different species travel in company, or, at least, make their 

 appearance simultaneously ; and that this is the case, not with the first-comers only, 

 but also with parties that arrive subsequently. For instance, I have noted in my list 

 the simultaneous first arrival of several species; but I observed on April 16, at 6, A.M. 

 (I was out in search of a hoopoe I had seen come in from the sea the day before), a 

 party of about thirty female wheatears, a solitary male nightingale, and several 

 willow-warblers, which had evidently just landed. I knew that such was the case, 

 not only from their close proximity to the sea, and because none of thei'i were to be 

 seen the day previous ; but also from the tired appearance of the wheatears, and 



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