CHAPTER OF CRITICISM. 
367 
sufficient for its use— Swainson, Selby, and Gould. It is then stated, with 
regard to the same plate, that “the author has judged right in giving three 
figures. We never saw one of the dark colour of fig. 2, a shade between figs. 1 
and 3 being commonest.” Now these three eggs happen to be those of two birds, 
fig. 1 being that of the Chiff Chaff, 2 and 3 those of the Wood Wren and I 
feel confident that the writer never saw an egg of the Chiff Chaff “ a shade 
between figs. 1 and 3.” He might well say he “ never saw one of the dark 
colour of fig. 3.” 
The next error is in reference to plate cxix., in which the reviewer mentions 
the two figures there drawn as of the Purple Heron, “ differing remarkably in 
size.” Now although the eggs do differ remarkably in colour, and sometimes a 
good deal in size, they do not vary quite so much. The eggs there represented 
are also those of two species. 
You will, I trust, excuse me for mentioning these errors, which have most 
likely got into your pages without your having had time to correct them. I 
ought not to conclude these remarks without expressing my satisfaction at the 
manner in which the British Oology is spoken of in the critique alluded to. 
I am, dear Sir, 
Yours truly, 
Derbyj Aug. 26, 1837. William C. Hewitson, 
[^We really are at a loss to imagine how the errors which Mr. Hewitson has 
taken the trouble to point out, could have crept in, unless indeed—which is an 
unusual occurrence with us—we were dozing at the time we wrote the critique. 
We may, however, positively state that we have seen an egg of the Darklegged 
Warbler spotless white. After the account given of Sylvia hippolais in 
Gould’s Birds of Europe^ we thought every naturalist had known that the 
bird of that name found in Britain is “ now universally acknowledged to be the 
S. rufa” or S. loquax of Herbert.—Ed.] 
“ For Many Years Past.” 
To the Editor of the Naturalist. 
Sir, —“ For many years past” may perhaps mean as many as six or seven ; 
and there are cases where it may be as well to mention the source from which 
information has been derived. I have instructed several in the rudiments of 
Natural History, and have taught others the names of the commonest species of 
British birds. W'ill Mr. B. H. Sweeting be so good as to inform me, in the first 
* Mr. Salmon has already been kind enough to correct us in this particular, for which see our 
September number, p. 313.—Ed. 
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