Birds, 



G241 



of "God save the Queen,'' and imitates the sound of a dog-whistle occasionally used 

 about the house. The object of my quoting these particulars is to thvow an additional 

 ray of light on that hij^hly interesting subject, the natural source of instruction in song- 

 birds : the facts recorded by Mr. Solheby seem to show that song in birds, as in human 

 beings, is entirely educational. — Edivard Newman. 



Nidijicution of Sivallows. — Since my return from Canada, I hare perused with 

 "some interest (Zool. 5755) Mr. Slaney's novel plan for ridding himself and others of 

 the " nuisance so often complained of," — i.e. the " procreant cradles,'' or nests of the 

 martins, placed in the window-sills, and driving them from the dwelling-houses to the 

 stables, and other out-buildings. Were these latter buildings generally like those of 

 Hatton Hall this plan might possibly succeed, but we know the reverse of this to be 

 the case, and that such buildings, for the most part, are of no considerable elevation, 

 and with few or no windows, consequently totally nnsuited to receive the nest of the 

 martin, as designed by Mr. Slaney. Moreover, it is to be hoped there are still some 

 few among us who would be inclined to pause before proceeding to carry out this 

 sweeping or radical reform, which, if successful, would have the effect of driving this 

 " contiding social bird," " the poor swallow," " this most harmless and interesting 

 visitor, whose confidence in man's protection but too often leads to its own destruction," 

 from the dwelling-house to the stable. This appears a somewhat cool and inhospit- 

 able way of treating "our generally welcomed guests," — besides many persons might, 

 I think, miss " the constant twittering and noise made during the breeding-season." 

 However, it might be fairly asked. What better plan have you to suggest? I must 

 confess that I know of none, unless our " zealous, officious and remorseless house- 

 maids " could be taught to respect the nest of the martin, as they do that of the more 

 fortunately favoured robin ; but how that change is to be brought about I am rather 

 puzzled to conjecture, unless the originator of this well-meant scheme would either 

 indite some pathetic tale or parody the ' Babes in the Wood,' which possibly might 

 touch the hearts of some of the young "remorseless housemaids," but as to the old 

 maids, whose hearts and feelings may be blunted, and not likely to be worked on or 

 affected by either poetry or prose, I would suggest for them that they be duly ad- 

 monished by their lords and masters, and moreover made thoroughly to understand 

 that for the future no inversion of the broom-handle will be allowed or even tolerated, 

 but that the staff of this most necessary household implement must be strictly confined 

 to its destined use. I also observe in the 'Zoologist' (Zool. 5790) an article on the 

 same subject by Mr. R. Smith, in which the following passage occurs: — " But yet I 

 think it should be recorded, that in one instance, to my certain knowledge, a swallow did 

 construct its nest in such a position," — i.e. under the eaves. " The nest seemed very 

 rickety, and loosely attached to the sill, and, unlike the martin's nest, the top was not 

 attached to any part of the projecting eaves, there being a space of about three inches 

 between the two, by which the old bird made its entrance." In confirmation of Mr. 

 Smith's assertion, and in reply to the editorial query at the foot of the page (Zool. 5756), 

 " Does not the writer Mr. W. Slaney refer exclusively to martins ?" I beg to transcribe 

 (having nothing to offer of my own) a few lines in elucidation of the subject from the 

 work of the late Professor Macgillivray, vol. iii. p. 567, Hirundo rustica : — "The 

 materials of which the nest is composed, as well as its form, vary according to circum- 

 stances. Thus, in August, 1834, I observed several nests of this species stuck beneath 

 the eaves at the end of an outhouse on the farm-steading of Granton, in Dumfriesshire, 

 XVI. 3 D 



