310 



OBSEliVATIONS. 



subject. Is tlie circumstance mentioned by Mr. Pegge 

 true^ ' that butterflies partake the colour of the flowers 

 they feed on ?' I think not. See Anonymiana, p. 469. 



P. 84. Concerning the reason of frogs coming out 

 in rainy weather, the reader will be amply gratified, by 

 referring to the experiments made by Dr. Townson on 

 his two frogs, Damon and Musidora. See his Tracts, 

 p. 50. The general result of which has proved the fol- 

 lowing curious fact : — " that frogs take in their supply 

 of liquid through the skin alone, all the aqueous fluid 

 which they take in being absorbed by the skin, and all 

 they reject being tran^^pired through it. One frog in 

 an hour and half absorbed nearly its own weight of water. 



P. 139. The very beautiful, one may almost say 

 poetical way, in which the rnale bird procures a mate by 

 the power of his song, may be seen in the preface to 

 Mr. Montagu's Ornithological Dictionary, p. xxx ; from 

 which this corollary may be inferred, that if a confined 

 bird had learned the song of another, without retaining 

 any part of its natural notes, and was set at liberty, it is 

 probable, it would never find a mate of its own. 



P. 152. The bustard,' is extinct in Scotland; and 

 as it is now so scarce in England, owing to population 

 and enclosures, it becomes interesting to remark, that 

 two birds of this kind (male and female), have been 

 kept in the garden ground belonging to Norwich Infir- 

 mary, and have but lately been sold by the owner of 

 them. The male bird was very beautiful and courageous, 

 apparently afraid of nothing, seizing any one that came 

 near him by the coat ; yet on the appearance of any small 



