102 Notices, Letters, Extracts from Correspondence , S[c. 
to the closet naturalist, but still more so to the field observer, 
little understood by any. Living on the south coast in spring 
and autumn, I have good opportunities of marking the arrival 
and departure of some birds. I have seen the Swallows ( Hirundo ), 
over the sea, actually arrive and pass straight inland without a 
pause or the least show of weariness. Not so the Chiff-chaffs 
and Willow-Wrens, which stay about the shingle at first, till 
they recover their strength—at least, I have seen them at five 
o’clock of a spring morning within a few yards of the waves. In 
autumn, on certain days (varying according to the wind), the 
gardens about Brighton are full of Ring-Ouzels, Chiff-chaffs, 
Willow-Wrens, Redstarts; on the Downs are Wheatears; in the 
air Goldfinches, Swallows, Green Linnets, &c. I have stood 
and -watched these birds early on a fine morning (for birds of the 
above kinds do not fly in cloudy, dull days), going in continuous 
streams down to the sea, following one another as surely in the 
same direction as if going by a mariner’s compass. The Roman 
augurs were not quite so absurd perhaps as one w T ould at first 
imagine; a great many indications may be gathered from the 
flight of birds. Their motions appear to the common observer 
to be guided by chance; but the ornithologist knows that each 
bird he sees is employed on some particular business, and can 
interpret its actions. Birds always travel by night across the sea, 
working their way along the coast till a proper wind is blowing, 
and flying against any light which may appear on the shore. 
In the days of the old watchmen at Brighton, small birds 
used frequently to fly against the lanterns which they carried/' 
Herr August von Pelzeln, of Vienna, informs us that, among 
the collections formed during the late exploring expedition of the 
' Novara/ which have recently arrived at the capital, are “large 
numbers of bird-skins. Among these are an interesting and 
tolerably numerous series from the Nicobar Islands, some rare 
birds from the smaller Pacific Islands, and many from India and 
the Sunda Islands. Among the latter is a species of Bona¬ 
parte’s genus Diardig alius. The collection of skeletons and 
birds in spirits is of great value; and there are also a consider¬ 
able number of nests and eggs.” 
