6240 



Birds, 



quotes Mr. Sell)}', who says the snow buntings " never perch on trees," to prove his own 

 assertion, " in no instance hav e I ever seen one attempt to perch on a bush or tree." 

 Probably Mr. Selhy may have seen but occasional stragglers, and those in an open 

 country where no trees were at hand, for, had he visited North America, he could not 

 have failed to have observed what I have above described. It only shows liow cautions 

 we ought to be before pronouncing a decided opinion on the habits of birds that only 

 occasionally fall under our notice. Mr. Abraham, of Kingston, Canada West, a very 

 intelligent bird-sluffer (to whom I was more than once indebted for information), had 

 a caged snow bunting which constantly made use of the perch. As to the editorial 

 query (Zool. 6094), "Was the pied flycatcher the bird that he saw?" I should say 

 decidedly not, for the following reasons: — In the first place, I must notice their great 

 dissimilarity in size; for the pied flycatcher, according to Macgillivray, measures but 

 65 inches in length, and 8 inches in extent of wings; whereas the snow bunting, 

 according to the same author, is 6/3 inches in length, and 13 inches in extent of wings.* 

 Secondly, the two birds are of a totally different shape, if not colour. Thirdly, a turnip- 

 field is not a likely place, 1 should say, for the pied flycatcher to resort. Fourthly, the 

 habits of the latter bird, diff'ering so widely from those of the skylark, it is very 

 improbable that they should associate. Fifthly, Montagu says, " This bird (the pied 

 flycatcher), rarely if ever makes its appearance in the southern parts of the island.'' 

 Sixthly, Macgillivray states, that " the pied flycatcher, which like the gray, is a summer 

 bird in Britain, arrives from the middle to the end of April." But enongh, I think, 

 has been said to prove that it could not have been the pied flycatcher that was observed 

 by Mr. Mathews, in January last. Had I reason to doubt its being the snow bunting 

 I should be more inclined to set it down as either a female, or immature male, of the 

 Lapland bunting {Emheriza calcarala)^ which is about the same size, and not very dis- 

 similar in colour, for Temminck, tells us (vol. i. p. 323), " La femelle a le sommet de 

 la tete, le cou, le manteau et le dos d'un cendre roux avec des taches noires; une bande 

 d'un blanc roussatre suit la meme direction comme chez le male; elle se reiinit avec 

 un trait blanc qui part de Tangle du bee ; gorge blanche, bordee lateralement par une 

 bande brune; la poitrine marquee de nombreuses taches grises et noires; les autres 

 parties inferieures blanches ; des taches longitudinales sur les flancs." According to 

 the Prince of Musiguano and Dr. Richardson, the Lapland bunting "frequently 

 intermingles with larks." — Hennj W. Hadjield ; Elgin, September 8, 1858. 



Another talking Canari/. — Mr. Sotheby relates, in the 'Zoological Proceedings,' 

 some particulars of a canary whose conversational powers made an approach to those 

 of the little bird which, a few years ago, proved so attractive an exhibition in Regent 

 Street, This bird was the only one hatched out of a nest of four eggs, and was 

 forsaken immediately on escaping from the egg-shell; it was found nearly dead in the 

 nest, placed by the fire in flannel, eventually restored to life and health, and brought 

 up by hand. Separated completely from all other birds it became familiar with those 

 who fed it. Its singing notes were totally difl"erent from those of a canary: at three 

 months old it repeated the words " Kissie, kissie," and imitated the sound of kissing; 

 and afterwards for hours together repealed " Dear, sweet Titchie ; Kiss Minnie ; Kiss 

 me then dear Minnie ; Sweet, pretty little Titchie," &c.: it also whistles the first bar 



* One shot by me on the 29th of October, 1857, measured 6^ inches in length, 

 and 12 inches in extent of wings. 



