Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/48

1214 close to the water's edge rose as the boat approached, they got up rather hurriedly to some little height and then turned and swooped down gradually, after the manner of gallinaceous birds. About the meaning of the Spanish name abutarda, Ford, in his 'Hand-book,' says "it is probably Iberian ; the Romans catching at sound, not sense, called them aves lardas, quasi (slow birds), which no one who has ever seen them fly or run, as we have, would do." A Spanish sportsman, of Seville, informed me that two or three months before, they might have been shot in plenty, (off their nests I suppose) perhaps they are slow then. However, the engineer of the steamer, an Irishman, assured me that abutarda, in modern Spanish means "slow bird," and he told me the name of some other bird beginning with abu, which he also explained, but this mean- ing in the Latinized state of the language may easily have been superinduced. But I must not occupy your room any further, than to say that I have duplicates of the eggs of the Little Bustard, Bee-eater, Pratincole, and Stilt Plover, which I should be happy to exchange with any of your correspondents for eggs of British birds of equal rarity which may happen to be desiderata to my cabinet. These I brought with me from Barbary. — J. Wolley ; Trinity College, Cambridge.

Early appearance of the Tufted Duck. — On Saturday, October 13th, 1845, near Worthy on the Ichen, I shot a specimen of the Tufted Duck (Fuligula cristata). It was swimming, but rose from the water as I came near. Was not this an early specimen of the bird? — P.L. Sclater; Hoddington House, near Odiham, Hampshire.

Extraordinary Feet in a Duck. — When staying a short time since at the house of the Rev. Robert Ellis, of North Grimstone, in this county, he shewed me a duck, or more properly speaking, a drake, the feet of which were not webbed, but were to all appearance, those of a common barn-door fowl ; nevertheless, he swam at the head of his progeny with much force and adroitness. Mr. Ellis also informed me that at some other place he had seen a duck which had one foot webbed, and the other not. This specimen of the genus Anas, would doubtless be au fait at the Horatian recorded game of par impar. — Francis Orpen Morris; Hafferton Vicarage, near Driffield, Yorkshire, October 20th, 1845.

Singing of Swans. — In 'The Zoologist' (Zool. 1177), I find a remark that the singing swans of the Ancients "must still be accounted as fabulous." Having often listened to their melody with great pleasure, I am inclined to think differently, and feel called upon to act as their champion. In Australia, where the black swan (Cygnus atratus) is met with in large flocks, their note is very sweet. In a shallow inlet in Port Stephens, about a hundred miles to the North of Sydney, I have often seen flocks of between (on a moderate computation) two and three thousand, and the notes of the mul- titude each differing slightly from his neighbours, when carried over the waters to the boat in which we were approaching, were blended together into most harmonious and plaintive music. This was, however, only before they were disturbed. For as soon as the boat came near the sweet melody ceased, and the scene assumed an entirely differ- ent aspect. By their song, we could always tell whether the swans were in the bay before their long necks appeared above the line of water. The same note, though in a different key, I have noticed when they have been flying home from their feeding ground. This was generally about sunset, and as their way lay directly over the house in which I was living for some months, I had frequent opportunities of hearing and seeing them. They generally flew in parties of about seven or eight together. — Robert L. King; Grammar School, Truro, December 5th, 1845.