Birds. 669 



in addition to the force derived from volition which it also possesses. Whether the 

 body of a bird when dead, a hawk or a lark for instance, if exhausted of all internal 

 air by an air-pump, would then fall with the same or a less apparent degree of veloci- 

 ty, from any given height, as the same bird in its natural state of existence, with all 

 its powers of volition would do, or what would be the difference in the quickness of its 

 descent, might be an experiment worth trying, that would perhaps tend to explain and 

 elucidate more fully the circumstances I have ventured to suggest, with reference to 

 the means by which water- fowl are enabled to dive or submerge themselves at plea- 

 sure, and lead to more important reflections as regards the habits and powers which 

 birds possess. — W. H. S. ; Hatton Hall, Salop., April 28, 1844. 



Note on the Water-rail. I observe in ' The Zoologist ' for this month (Zool. 575) 

 a note by Mr. Hussey on the water-rail, in which he mentions that Mr. Yarrell speaks 

 doubtfully as to whether water-rails remain in England during the winter. Perhaps 

 you would be good enough to add, under Rallus aquaticus, in my list of Kentish birds 

 (Zool. 625) the following confirmation of Mr. Hussey's opinion, that they do remain 

 here all the winter. While walking by a small stream in this neighbourhood, in the 

 early part of last December, a retriever which accompanied me caught in an old hedge 

 a small water-rail, which, with considerable satisfaction, she laid at my feet. A few 

 weeks after, near the same spot, she caught the female. I am quite of opinion that 

 these birds are resident here all the winter. In fact, from finding them at different 

 times, during the winter, I cannot doubt that some, at least, remain throughout the 

 year, in England. — J. Pemberton Bartlett ; Kingston Rectory. 



Note on the Water-rail. I am surprised that one of your correspondents (Zool. 149) 

 should say that he knew of but one instance of the water-rail breeding in this country, 

 for the nests of these birds are not very unfrequent about this place, and I have eggs 

 taken from a neighbouring moor now in my possession. Nevertheless, many of these 

 birds very possibly may depart in the summer, and probably do, as I think they are 

 much less common at that time than in the winter. As to the bird found at the chain- 

 pier at Brighton, I should think it most likely came from the south ; because, in the 

 first place (being a bird that, if it migrates at all, comes here in the winter), it would 

 naturally go north in the summer ; and in the second place, I should think it would 

 not be so much exhausted by passing over the land, where it might settle when inclin- 

 ed, as to be rendered incapable of flight: and so on the whole I give it as my opinion 

 that it came from the south, and was proceeding on its northern migration on the ap- 

 proach of spring. — P. L. Sclater ; Haddington, Odiham, Hampshire. 



Note on the Nidification of Swans. We are informed upon undoubted authority, 

 that the swans (which usually build upon the ground) have this year invariably raised 

 their nests to the height of two yards and upwards ; a similar fact is observable with 

 respect to water-hens. This is by some persons deemed an omen of a very deep sum- 

 mer flood. — Nottingham Journal. 



Enquiry respecting the manner in which the newly -hatched Wild Duck is conveyed 

 to the Water. "They who write on Natural History," says White of Selborne, "can- 

 not too frequently advert to instinct, that wonderful limited faculty, which, in some 

 instances, raises the brute creation as it were above reason, and in others leaves them 

 so far below it." Having then the sentiment of good old White in view, I would re- 

 spectfully invite the attention of the numerous out-door observers who read ' The Zo- 

 ologist,' to some undescribed traits in the private life and manners of the wild duck. 

 It cannot, I imagine, be denied, that that species of water-fowl not unfrequently selects 



