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REVIEWS OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
the Bullfinch has naturally no song at all, which, on reference to British Song 
Birds , p. 397, will be found incorrect. We, as phrenologists, consider the fact of 
the Bullfinch being taught to whistle tunes with great correctness (so trium¬ 
phantly cited by Audubon, as a proof of the superiority of the Bullfinch’s mu¬ 
sical powers over those of the Nightingale) at once to settle the question whe¬ 
ther or not the Bullfinch has a natural song, in the affirmative. 
It is stated, p. 334, on the authority of Mr. R. D. Duncan, that the Night¬ 
ingale has been heard as far North as Calder Wood, East-Lothian, in the Summer 
of 1826. This, however, is but a solitary instance. 
Mr. MacGillivray has the following paragraph relating to the song of the 
Nightingale:—. 
“ Most authors profess to be in raptures when describing the song of this far-famed bird ; bu t 
some would detract from its alleged merits, and consider it in some respects inferior to the ‘ Mavis 
and Merle.’ My acquaintance with this species, however, is so slight, and my capability of 
appreciating musical talent so feeble, that I am obliged to refer to the report on this subject of a 
gentleman who seems tome to possess the qualifications wanting in myself. Mr. Wood, in his 
British Song Birds , gives the following account of it. ‘ The strains are loud, rich, mellow, sil¬ 
very, and clear, and so far from being a miserabile carmen , as sung by Virgil, and other classic 
poets, I know few songs which are its equal in sprightliness and vivacity, with the exception, how¬ 
ever, of one part, consisting of three or four lengthened notes, beginning very piano , and gra¬ 
dually rising to crescendo and forte , which are certainly of a peculiarly melancholy character. 
The song of this bird does not equal that of the Garden Ouzel in mellowness, nor that of the Gar¬ 
den Thrush in loudness, but it certainly excels all others as a whole.’- Izaak Walton’s 
eulogy is more flattering:—‘ The Nightingale, another of my airy creatures, breathes such swee^. 
music out of her little instrumental throat, that it might make mankind to think that miracles 
a re not ceased. He that at midnight, when the very labourer sleeps securely, should hear, as I 
have very often, the clear airs, the sweet descants, the natural rising and falling, the doubling and 
re-doubling of her voice, might well be lifted above the earth, and say, “ Lord, what music hast 
thou provided for the saints in Heaven, when thou affordest bad men such music on earth ?” ’ ”— 
p. 335. 
It is justly and strikingly remarked, at p. 429, that the Tits are nearly allied 
to the Jays, in their omnivorous character, their habits, and their shape. 
“ The eggs [of the Blue Tit] are numerous; some authors have made them amount to twenty 
while others allege that they are not more tftan from six to eight. Montagu states, that he never 
found more than the latter number, and Mr. Neville Wood considers twelve as the maximum ; 
but on this subject I cannot speak with certainty.”—p. 435. 
It will be perceived from this extract that Col. Montagu had never met with 
more than eight eggs in the Blue Tit’s nest; but in the wall of an outhouse, 
adjoining Foston Hall, Derbyshire, many years ago, we counted as many as ten 
young birds , and one addled egg , all in one nest. It was one of the most beau¬ 
tiful sights imaginable to see the parents feeding this large and lovely brood after 
it had quitted the nest. 
Alluding to the engaging habits of the Coal Tit, Mr. M‘G. remarks, that u even 
