IGO 
‘ Catalogue of Norfolk and Suffolk Birds.’ Mr. AVliitear on more 
than one occasion, about tlie year 181G, takes us to tlie Winterton 
marslies, and introduces us to breeding Beeves, Black Terns, and 
Avocets. One man tells him that in the spring of the year 1818 
he had discovered lifty-six eggs of the Shoveller ; and that the 
Sheldrakes, which used formerly to be in great abundance, were 
ruthlessly destroyed because they disturbed the Babbits in their 
burrows : also, that in a single spring he had killed nine Moor- 
buzzards at the same trap. Of course, Mr. Whitear had seen the 
Bustard in its wild state ; and he tells us on one occasion he had 
approached one within one hundred yards. These and many other 
notes of his will be read witli interest by all. It will be noticed 
tliat the writer became more and more deeply interested in the birds 
which came under his notice ; and we feel that, but for the sad and 
untimely accident wliich closed his career of usefulness, the con- 
tribution to the ‘ Transactions ’ of tlie Liiinean Society, by which 
alone he is known to Naturalists, Avould not have been his sole 
contribution to ornithological science. 
For some time past it has been strongly impressed on my mind, 
that, whilst so much has been speculated of late on progressive 
development, and a good deal of sentimental talk about man brought 
upward from the mollusk, or some low origin, that a great deal 
may also be said about the unchangeableness and eternal fitness of 
things. Although old phases of belief may threaten to be set aside 
by the jiresent ideas of development, yet, Avhether it please ns or 
not, Ave are near akin to the philosophers who Avere never satisfied 
unless they were either hearing or debating on some neAV thing. 
I.et me for a feiv minutes say a feAv Avords on the permanence of Plant 
Life. I Avill not noAV say anything about the venerable Dragon-tree 
of Teneriffe, estimated to be, at least, six thousand years old ; Avhich 
has alas ! lately succumbed to the force of a tropical tornado — 
of the Oaks of Bashan, celebrated as in the days of the kings of 
Judah ; nor of the Cedars of Lebanon — some of them considered to be 
coeA^al Avith tliose Avhich existed Avhen Hiram made a covenant Avith 
Solomon to provide Avood for building the first Temple ; — tliese are 
