Birds. G73 



" An extensive preserve for every kind of British bird which may choose to take 

 advantage of it, has afforded me excellent opportunities of making ornithological notes 

 with tolerable exactness, and the observations of former years have occasionally been 

 corrected by others in after-times. Still I recommend that what I have given to the 

 public on the nature of our birds, should be received with a certain degree of reserva- 

 tion, as their habits are apt to vary in proportion as location varies. Thus, the wind- 

 hover, or kestril, at this place, abstains from killing birds during its abode amongst 

 us ; but, after it has left us on the approach of autumn, it is known to feed upon them 

 during the winter months, as Mr. Bury has satisfactorily proved in the 17th number 

 of that clever and instructive periodical the Zoologist"-—]), cxxxviii. 



We now proceed to the Essays, two of which, 'The Cayman,' and 

 the 'Combat between two Hares,' have appeared in our own pages; 

 some of the others we have also seen. We select three passages 

 which will be sure to interest our readers. 



" The Civetta y or little Italian Owl. 



" This diminutive rover of the night is much prized by the gardeners of Italy for 

 its uncommon ability in destroying insects, snails, slugs, reptiles, and mice. There is 

 scarcely an out-house in the gardens and vineyards of that country which is not te- 

 nanted by the civetta. It is often brought up tame from the nest ; and in the month 

 of September is sold for a dollar to sportsmen, who take it with them in their excur- 

 sions through the country, to look for larks and other small birds. Perched on the top 

 of a pole, it attracts their notice and draws them within the fatal range of gunshot by 

 its most singular gestures ; for, standing bolt upright, it curtsies incessantly, with its 

 head somewhat inclined forwards, whilst it keeps its eyes fixed on the approaching ob- 

 ject. This odd movement is peculiar to the civetta alone. By it, the birds of the 

 neighbourhood are decoyed to their destruction. Hence its value to the ranging 

 sportsman. Often and anon, as the inhabitants of Rome pass through the bird-mar- 

 ket at the Pantheon, they stop, and look, and laugh at this pretty little captive owl, 

 whilst it is performing its ridiculous gesticulations. 



" Its flesh is relished by the natives of Italy. You may see the civetta, plucked and 

 ready trussed for the spit, on the same stall at which hawks, crows, jackdaws, jays, mag- 

 pies, hedgehogs, frogs, snails and buzzards are offered for sale to the passing conos- 

 centi, who frequent the bird-market in quest of carnal delicacies. * * 



"Thinking that the civetta would be peculiarly useful to the British horticulturist, 

 not, by the way, in his kitchen, but in his kitchen-garden, I determined to import a 

 dozen of these birds into our own country." [Here follows a little episode, not suffi- 

 ciently zoological for our pages]. 



" All went well after this, until we reached Aix-la-Chapelle. Here, an act of rash- 

 ness on my part caused a serious diminution in the family. A long journey, and wet 

 weather, had tended to soil the plumage of the little owls ; and I deemed it necessary 

 that they, as well as their master, should have the benefit of a warm bath. Five of 

 them died of cold the same night. A sixth got its thigh broke, I don't know how ; 

 and a seventh breathed its last, without any previous symptoms of indisposition, about 

 a fortnight after we had arrived at Walton Hall. 



" The remaining five have surmounted all casualties, having been well taken care 

 of for eight months. On the 10th of May, in the year of our Lord 1842, there being 



ii 2 A 



