248 THE ZOOLOGIST, 



would stain or whiten the leaves aud surrounding foliage, and thus adver- 

 tise the secret of their nest to enemies, even to those who prowl after dusk. 

 When a Red-eyed Vireo, whose behaviour I studied at close range, dropped 

 any bit of excrement by accident, she darted after it with such speed that it 

 was snatched up before reaching the ground, or before falling a distance of 

 four feet. Not a trace of defilement is ever seen around the dwellings of 

 any of these birds. 



" On the other hand, predaceous species like Hawks pay no attention to 

 such matters. The excrement of their young is voided in a semi-fluid state, 

 and in a peculiar manner. With tail turned to the edge of the nest the bird 

 shoots it off to a distance of two or three feet, and it may strike the ground 

 six or seven feet from the nesting-tree. 'The only significance which such 

 actions have is that of keeping the nest clean. The advertisement of the 

 nest-stains on the leaves below is a matter of indifference to these bold and 

 persistent outlaws, who have little to fear from any enemy save men." 



Mr. William Cross, the well-known dealer in living zoological speci- 

 mens, died at Liverpool on April 7th. Mr. Cross belonged to a family of 

 naturalists. His father and grandfather were in their day the best known 

 importers of wild beasts and birds in this country. In the early part of 

 last century the Exeter Change, in the Strand, was the rendezvous of 

 collectors eager to purchase the latest arrivals sent to the proprietor, Mr. 

 Edward Cross. In London fifty-eight years ago Mr. Cross was born, but 

 it was in Liverpool, near the North Docks, that he established his famous 

 emporium. Scarcely a ship arrived at Liverpool from China, India, 

 Australia, Africa, and America without having on board zoological speci- 

 mens for Mr. Cross from his agents throughout the world, whom he had 

 distributed. Thousands upon thousands of wild animals have passed 

 through his emporium to owners of public and private collections or retail 

 dealers. In twelve years he imported over a million Parrots, besides birds 

 of every variety and from every clime. Twenty-eight years ago he brought 

 to Liverpool a live Gorilla — the first that had been seen in Europe — and 

 sold it to the Berlin Aquarium for no less than £1000. In private life 

 Mr. Cross was known as a staunch teetotaler, and a keen supporter of all 

 philanthropic movements. 



We regret to announce the death of an eminent zoologist in the person 

 of Prof. M. Milne Edwards, Director of the Natural History Museum at the 

 Jardin des Plantes, Paris, who died suddenly on April 21st, in his sixty- 

 sixth year. 



