naturalist’s calendar. 
537 
jecture, that the concrete substances both of musk and civet, and, 
perhaps, ambergris, may owe their origin to the action of some 
secretory ducts connected with the heart and kidneys of the animals 
which produce them. The silky texture of its hair, again nearly 
resembles that of the cashmere goat, while its habitation on the tops 
of the mountains, its facility in running, and its dexterity in climbing 
rocks, are all indicative rather of the goat than the ox. The identity, 
however, of general figure and size will warrant the naturalist in plac¬ 
ing it in the bovine tribe .—Field Nat. Mag. 
Birds. —On a voyage from London, northward, on the 16th of 
September, a correspondent to the Field Naturalist Magazine throws 
some new light on the migrations of birds. “ When off the coast of 
Yorkshire, about ten or twelve miles from Redcliff, tree pipets, wil¬ 
low wrens, whinchats, and a single female redstart settled on the 
vessel. On the 17th, some wheatears, rcfbins, and one male stone- 
chat., made their appearance. These all left the vessel on the first 
night after their appearance, excepting two robins, which remained 
for some time, being fed by the passengers. The robin is constantly 
migratory in all parts of the continent, and in the Orkney and 
Shetland Isles, but stationary throughout Britain. On returning 
southward, however, the greatest number of species was seen. When 
off Whitby, about fourteen miles from land, on the 7th of October, 
a flock of golden crested wrens settled on the ship’s tackle ; the little 
creatures, being much exhausted, suffered themselves to be taken by 
the hand ; as did also a solitary chiff-chaff, which, together with nine 
gold crests, it was attempted to bring alive to London ; but they all 
died on the passage. On the same day, two female chaffinches, two 
song-thrushes, some field-fares, starlings, and tree-pipits, alighted on 
the vessel, many of which were taken alive. An eve-jar also followed 
the ship for some time, and settled more than once upon the bow¬ 
sprit. A woodcock likewise flew about the vessel for some time this 
day, and alighted twice on the deck. October 8th, a flock of ten 
sparrows settled on the ship, and others of this species continued to 
arrive during the whole day, as the vessel passed the Norfolk and 
Suffolk coast, particularly when off Haisborough, Yarmouth, and 
Harwich. Their numbers increased at length to upwards of a hun¬ 
dred, and they remained on board until the vessel almost entered the 
Thames. They appeared to arrive from the English coast, but the 
exact direction from which thev came cannot be well ascertained.”— 
V 
Field Nat. Mag. 
Insects. It is the female only of the Musquito (Culex molestus) 
which is troublesome as a bloodsucker; causing a burning pain, fol- 
