OFFICIAL NOTICES, &c. 
79 
been warm and bright, seen many specimens of the large and small tortoiseshell 
( V. polychloros and V. uriiccc), the peacock ( V. Io), red admiral ( V. atalanta), 
painted lady ( Cynthia Cardui) and also the comma butteifly ( V. C — album), years 
ago when I lived where this last insect and the large tortoiseshell were fairly 
abundant. G. C. Green. 
Modbury Vicarage, S. Devon. 
A Muscovy Duck. — Miss Helen Wake, Rock street, Sheffield, writes to 
say that on the Crowder House Farm of her brother, Mr. Bernard Wake, a 
Muscovy duck, having taken up her abode in a ventilation niche in a barn, about 
15ft. from the ground, there made a downy nest with her own feathers, and 
managed to bring to the ground fourteen ducklings. They were found in the 
early morning (ducks appear to like to keep some of their processes secret) follow- 
ing their mother in the yard in as orderly a procession as our charity children when 
they go to church. Miss Wake suggests that the mother took each duckling in 
her mouth and flew to the ground with it, and then returned for the others, till 
the whole crew were safely landed. She wishes to know the reason of the name 
of these birds, and to ascertain if other readers of Nature Notes have expe- 
rience of similar instances of such nidification. 
Singing’ Birds in London Parks. — “ C. I.,” writing from 16, Kensing- 
ton Park Gardens, says that it has been noticed that the birds in Hyde Park, Ken- 
sington Park Gardens, and Ladbroke Square Gardens are rarely heard to sing. 
She adds, “ Can this be an instinct of self-preservation ? ” 
Mr. A. H. Macpherson, to whom we are under many obligations in ornitho- 
logical matters, kindly sends us the following note in reply. Mr. Macpherson has 
for years made a special study of the birds in the London parks. 
“I cannot say that I think London birds unusually’ silent. The art of singing 
is, as a rule, only practised by birds in spring and in the nesting season, and then 
resident town birds (such as the thrush, hedge-sparrow, blackbird, robin, 
chaffinch, &c. ), which nest in our parks, may be constantly heard. London is 
the best place I know for studying the song of the thrush. I have heard a dozen 
thrushes at the same time, and a few of them sing during the autumn and winter. 
“ A long list of London birds will only contain a small proportion of species 
which are to be heard singing there, but this is because the majority of them are 
birds which visit town either rarely, or for a very short period, or belong to species 
which have no true song. Thus, although a large number of warblers may be 
seen in spring in Kensington Gardens, it is not very often that they can be heard 
singing, for, as a rule, these birds have just arrived in England from the South, 
and are tired out. They have merely stopped for a few hours’ rest in order to 
recover strength before continuing their migration (probably) up the Thames 
Valley. Migrating birds do not sing much until they have reached their 
destination. 
“Song is used chiefly during courtship, and those species which breed in 
London may be heard singing in London (and quite as heartily, I think, as in the 
country), and although early in the morning a few of the warblers which pass 
through town in spring may occasionally be heard trying their voices, as a general 
rule the species which do not breed in London, do not sing there.” 
OFFICIAL NOTICES ; WORK OF BRANCHES, &c. 
The object of the Selborne Society is to unite lovers of Nature for the follow- 
ing purposes : — 
The Prevention from unnecessary destruction of Wild Birds, Animals and 
Plants ; 
The Protection of places and objects of Antiquarian Interest or Natural 
Beauty ; 
The Promotion of the Study of Natural History. 
The minimum Annual Subscription (which entitles the subscriber to a 
monthly copy of the Society’s Magazine) is 2s. 6d. 
All particulars as to membership may be obtained from the Secretary of the 
Selborne Society, 9, Adam Street, Adelphi. 
