Birds. 671 



nor do I know any British naturalist, who, having observed the canine-ornithologico 

 method such a bird " adopted " when the young are excluded from the egg, and ready 

 to take the water ; but reasoning from analogy, which is unsound, and never ought to 

 be abided by, by the man of the fields, desirous of eliciting truth from the objects 

 he seeks to investigate; methinks there is more matter of fact in Col. Montagu's ac- 

 count of a " nest of the wild duck " in his time " being found in the head of a pollard 

 willow, impending the water, from whence the young might readily drop unhurt into 

 their natural element," than all the billing methods which Selby refers to, and which 

 he presumes the wild duck adopts to secure her offspring from destruction. We ought 

 not to presume, in cases like these, but to ascertain whether the duck carries her off- 

 spring in her bill, in the season already referred to. If she does, it really occurs to me 

 that such a phenomenon is barely known to Ornithology. If she does not, why then 

 'tis high time, methinks, to have that part in the history of the species expunged from 

 our ornithological literature. — James Hardy ; Leicester. 



Notice of Waterfalls Essays* 



The name of Waterton is so universally received as a guarantee for 

 excellence in all that relates to out-door Natural History, that we may 

 without hesitation excuse ourselves from any eulogium, since, how- 

 ever well merited, it would be considered trite and unnecessary. 

 There is, however, one subject connected with the present publica- 

 tion, that must not be allowed to pass unnoticed ; — we allude to its 

 presentation to Mrs. Loudon. And sincerely do we hope that every 

 reader of ' The Zoologist ' will lend a helping hand towards further- 

 ing the " Wanderer's " benevolent design ; and not merely purchase, 

 but recommend, the present volume of Essays, in the hope of serving 

 a lady whose husband, for so many years, stood prominently forward 

 as an energetic, talented, and persevering labourer in all branches of 

 Natural History. Mr. Waterton's words are these : — 



" The volume which I now present to an indulgent public, is an unsolicited dona- 

 tion to the widow of my poor departed friend Mr. Loudon, whose vast labours in the 

 cause of Science have insured to him an imperishable reputation. If this trifling pre- 

 sent on my part shall be the medium of conveying one single drop of balm to the 

 wound, which it has pleased Heaven lately to inflict on the heart of that excellent la- 

 dy, my time will have been well employed, and my endeavours amply requited." — 

 Preface, p. iv. 



The volume commences with a continuation of the author's autobi- 

 ography, the former part of which will be fresh in the memory of most 



* Essays on Natural History, chiefly Ornithology. By Charles Waterton, Esq. 

 Author of ' Wanderings in South America.' Second Series : with a continuation of 

 the Autobiography of the Author. London : Printed for Longman, Brown, Green, 

 and Longmans, Paternoster Row. 1844. 



