Birds. 



7920 



primitive types of the hare and the rabbit, the intermediate and 

 lasting race of the three-eighths ; a new race which returns to neither 

 of the parent species, and which, fruitful with both, fertile also among 

 themselves, will henceforth oblige zoologists either to throw into one 

 species hares, rabbits and leporines, — a thing perfectly absurd, — or 

 else to confess that new types may be produced by crossing animals 

 of entirely different origins; that species consequently are not in- 

 violable, that Nature has not raised between them insurmountable 

 barriers, and that, in short, the classic doctrine of the permanence of 

 species is altogether erroneous ? " 



M. Broca here concludes his account of the leporines. His object 

 is to prove that crossing has produced several new races of animals, 

 for he considers it impossible to attribute to climatic causes and acci- 

 dental influences the formation of the races, so numerous and so 

 diverse, which compose the family of domestic dogs ; and that of the 

 races, quite as different and as numerous, of which the human family 

 is constituted. These questions he discusses at length in his other 

 papers. 



In the absence of direct information, I have before given my reasons 

 for doubting the existence of the hare and rabbit cross ; M. Broca's 

 statements, however, are, I think, conclusive evidence in its favour, 

 and I believe I cannot act more fairly than by sending you the above 

 abstract containing the essential details of M. Roux's successful ex- 

 periments at Angouleme. 



E. W. H. HOLDSWORTH. 



Mildness of the Season. — In consequence of the extreme mildness of the season 

 the birds have been exceedingly tuneful. Thrushes and hedge accentors have been 

 in full chorus around my dwelling; the only bird I have missed during the winter 

 here is the missel thrush, which used to sing regularly within a couple of hundred 

 yards, and also in the " Old Well avenue of elms," in the town of Cheltenham. The 

 number of petty sportsmen during the preceding winter is no doubt the cause of the 

 disappearance of these birds : with the exception of a few days, in which frost 

 occurred, there has been little cessation of the feathered choir since the end of October. 

 The last week the cole tomtit has been giving us warning of vernal days, and the crocus 

 has been in full bloom for several clays — symptoms of premature spring. Thermometer 

 for six days ranging from 45° to 57° in the shade. Birds in many places have com- 

 menced " nidification." In fact, but for the want of our migratory feathered friends, the 

 poet's description is almost verified, for we have had already the " hum of bees,'' the 

 " linnet's lay of love," and the " full choir that w;ikes the ^rove ;" but bow sovj;> it may 



VOL. XX. P 



