HEWITSON'S " BRITISH OOLOGY:"

Of the numerous contributions to ornithology with which the press teems, there are few illustrated works of greater interest to the naturalist than the admirable series of representations of British eggs now in progress of publication by Mr. Hewitson. Two volumes have been completed, in which the eggs of one hundred and forty-two species, and in all two hundred and twenty-two specimens, have been figured, for the most part, with the utmost accuracy; so that the possessor of these volumes may be said to enjoy the advantages of a valuable cabinet, such as few could ever hope to obtain, and none without a considerable sacrifice of time and money. There are few naturalists but can well appreciate the usefulness of a work of this description, were it only for the important assistance afforded in grouping birds according to their true affinities, which, in general, are beautifully indicated in their eggs. Mr. Hewitson's work furnishes likewise a fund of curious information relative to the nidification and habits of birds during the breeding season. We only regret that, in so many instances, a whole plate has been devoted to a single egg, while the great variations of appearance incident to those of many species are by no means illustrated to the extent we think desirable. In proceeding to give a critical analysis on the whole series, it is necessary to premise that the work originally appeared in periodic numbers, which are still continued, the only method in which an undertaking of this sort could be successfully prosecuted; but as the volumes before us are bound up according to Selby's arrangementwhich is so far advantageous as it brings the different members of a genus together-it will be more convenient to notice them in this order than in the irregular manner in which they were necessarily published.

Our first volume, then, opens with a beautiful figure of the egg of the Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysea (Falco chrysaetos, of Linneus). This is accompanied with a brief description of its nidification, making the bird out, however, a little too rare, if we may judge from Mr. Selby's account of the birds of Sutherlandshire.* "In the mountainous districts," says Mr. Selby, "this species is still tolerably abundant, although every device is put in practice to capture or destroy them by the appointed fox-hunters and shepherds, the premi

• Vide Jameson's Philosophical Journals for January and April last.

ums paid for the adult birds, as well as for the eggs and young, being liberal. They attack and often prove very destructive to the young lambs, particularly when their eyry is not far distant from the lambing district of a farm. They are sometimes taken in traps, but more frequently shot, after patient and sometimes long continued watching. They breed in the highest and most inaccessible precipices, and it is rarely that the young or eggs can be got at, even by the dangerous experiment of suspending a person by a rope from the summit of the cliff in which the eyry is placed. Several hair-breadth escapes, as well as fatal accidents, were narrated to us by individuals who hau been engaged in these undertakings."* We

To those who have not read Mr. Selby's paper on the mammifers and birds of Sutherlandshire, the following extract will be replete with interest. "The mountainous and rocky character of the greater part of the county, abounding as it does in cliff's of vast perpendicular height, renders it a district peculiarly favourable to the large raptorial birds, such as the Golden and Cinereous Eagles, Peregrine Falcon, &c.; and accordingly we find these powerful species still pretty numerous, though every device is resorted to for their destruction, on account of the havoc they commit upon the flocks. The same may be said of the Fox, the Marten, and the wild Cat, which find protection in the numerous fastnesses of the rocks, and in the caves which abound in the limestone districts. The following list, copied from a document furnished by Mr. Baigrie, of the Foxes, Martens, Cats, Eagles, Ravens, &c., destroyed in the county within the last three years, will afford some idea of their numerous distribution; and the amount of premiums paid, the liberal inducement held out for their destruction.

"List of vermin destroyed, and premiums paid for the same, on the DuchessCountess of Sutherland's estates in the county of Sutherland, from March, 1831, to March, 1834.

71 Old bitch Foxes, @ 42s.

£. S. d.

149 2 0

* All of the species Corvus cornix, or Hooded Crow.

+ The Dipper is so called throughout Sutherland and other parts of the Highlands. The Alcedo ispida is rarely seen.

of the Hen [common] Harrier's. I have not, therefore, thought it necessary, to give a figure of the spotted variety." There are some interesting remarks on the nidification of the Rufous Harrier, as indicative of its affinity to the genus Buteo. Of the Montagu Harrier, Mr. Hewitson says, "the eggs are usually four or five in number: the nest from which specimens are now in my cabinet, contained six-the only instance Mr. Baker [who has found many] has ever met with. They are of a clear white, distinctly tinted with light blue, and are never (to the best of my information) spotted." Most probably, however, examples more or less speckled do occasionally occur.

Two specimens of the eggs of the Common Harrier, (C. communis: we prefer this term, as it is a bird of very general distribution, and the appellations cyaneus, cinerarius, &c., are of generic, rather than of specific application. Common is also a better epithet than Hen Harrier). The eggs of this bird, "though perhaps, most frequently of a bluish-white, are yet very often marked with light spots of yellowish-brown, mixed with a purplish hue, and in some instances, as shewn in the second figure of the plate, with deeper and more distinctly defined spots of brown. The eggs of the three species of Harrier may be readily known from others nearly allied to them, by the fine greenish-blue of the inside, which may be seen upon holding them up to the light."

All the Owl family lay very similar white eggs, and in two plates are represented those of four species, viz., the Long and Shorttufted Madge, the Barn Owl, and the Tawny Hooter. Of the last-mentioned, it is stated, that, "unlike most birds, she begins to sit when the first egg is laid: it is hatched, in consequence, some days before the last." The same may be asserted of the Barn Owl.

Eggs of the Kingfisher and Bee-eater next present themselves, both of a shining white and nearly spherical; the former rather exceeding in size that of a Corn Bunting, the latter about equal to a Song Thrush's egg. The Kingfisher, says Mr. Hewitson, "lays six or seven eggs, sometimes upon a collection of small fish bones, but I think more commonly on the bare sand." From our own observation, we are disposed to consider the former more usual, these birds mostly nestling in the hole that they had long previously occupied for retirement and for a place to roost in, and where they continually disgorge the innutritious remnants of their food till a thick layer has accumulated; though certainly with no instinctive reference to their future progeny.

Three eggs of the Chimney Swallow, (Hirundo garrula), ex

hibiting a moderate degree of variation, but neither of them what we should consider as exactly typical of the egg of this species. No. 1 is, as the author states, the most common; 3 has the spots fewer and of larger size; 2 is intermediate. A frequent variety is thickly besprinkled with rufous spots, rather larger than in No. 1. A few dusky specks are always discernable. We have known the nest of this species to be situate in the hole of an elm, about twenty feet from the ground. From such a place, we once saw three young ones taken.

Eggs of the Eave Swallow, Bank Swallow, and Swift, all white, differing only in size. We disagree with Mr. Hewitson, about the Swift's nidification. Granting that it will often usurp the domi cile of a House Sparrow, and therein lay without further prepara tion, we happen to know that it will as frequently construct a curi ously cemented nest of its own, and this in a very short space of time. Several such nests are in the writer's cabinet.

One egg of the Motheater, or Evejar, (Phalanivora Europea, Caprimulgus of Linneus), most unnecessarily occupying a whole plate. We possess perfect fac-similies of this representation, but, nevertheless, consider it of too light a colour for an average example. Another variety might have been advantageously introduced.. An egg of the Collarless Pyelet (Pied Flycatcher of most authors), and two of the Grey Flycatcher (Muscicapa grisola). The former of a deeper blue than those in our cabinet, or than any that we have hitherto seen, which, in general, have been also much rounder; but no doubt a correct representation of the specimen drawn from. We are informed, however, that "the eggs differ considerably in size and conformation, those contained in one nest being unusually small, nearly oval, and almost white." We have known several instances of this bird breeding in the south-eastern counties, but it is of excessively rare occurrence. It is remarkably attached to the place it has once selected for nidification, and will not desert the hole though robbed repeatedly. In an instance wherein the eggs had been destroyed by a Snake, another nest was built upon the broken egg-shells contained in the last. The Pyelets are double-moulting birds, songsters, and in every respect differ greatly from the Muscicapæ, or Flycatchers: they are also much more lively in their manners. The ground colour of No. 2 of the eggs of the Grey Flycatcher should have been greenish.

Lanius collurio, or Flusher Shrike. These are among the most variable eggs we know, and Mr. Hewitson has accordingly furnished us with three figures of them, all very correct and characteristic.

At the same time, the varieties are not sufficiently illustrated in the plate, and we have many that are quite dissimilar from either of those represented. They vary greatly in size, and also in shape, from nearly spherical to an extremely elongated form. Very commonly, the zone of spots is at the smaller end; and we have specimens from two different nests which could not be distinguished from some of those of the Robin. Not long ago, the writer was much amused at seeing, in a gentleman's cabinet, diverse specimens of the egg of this bird labelled as those of the L. excubitor, collurio, and rufus! Two of the last-named species, the only specimens ever known to have been found in this country, and kindly lent to us by their possessor, considerably resemble No. 1 of Mr. Hewitson's plate of those of L. collurio, but are whiter, more free from dots, excepting at the zone, (which in the one is nearer the middle than in the other), where the spots are very close, and of two colours, greenish-brown and ash colour. There is little doubt but that they are equally subject to variation. Since writing this, we perceive that Mr. Hewitson has subsequently figured the eggs of this species.

Eggs of the Song Thrush, Black Thrush, and Missel Thrush; one of the first, two of the second, and one of the third. That of the first, of course, no one could mistake; but we think the specks upon it are decidedly too smudgy. The Black Thrush's eggs vary a good deal, both in size and markings, and are of every shade from nearly white to almost as blue as some of those of the Song Thrush. We possess one or two that could hardly be told from some varieties of those of the Missel Thrush: at least one more variety of them might have been added. The Missel Thrush's egg is the least characteristic of any we have hitherto met with, though we certainly have specimens very like it; it should be considered as a variety, rather than as a typical representation, and at least two more eggs of this species should have been figured.

Next, we are presented with good examples of those of the Fieldfare Thrush and of the Ring Thrush, two of each. They greatly resemble those of the Black Thrush, and, as Mr. Hewitson observes, "figures 1 and 3 may apply alike to all," the former being the most usual appearance of the Fieldfare's egg, the latter a variety of that of the Ring Thrush; they are blueish, minutely dotted with reddish-brown. Figures 2 and 4 are also a good deal alike in general character, the spots being distinct and larger, and little confluent. The author remarks, "I have never known the eggs of the Blackbird assume the markings of Nos. 2 and 4, this being