Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/395

Rh wings appeared, Feb. 6th; in 1897, Feb. 16th. 1896, Curlew appeared, Feb. 10th; in 1897, Feb. 20th. 1896, Grey and White Wagtails, March 12th; in 1897, March 8th. 1897, Yellow Wagtail, March 28th; Ring Ouzel, April 5th; Cuckoo heard, April 26th. These three birds were earlier than usual. Dunlin Sandpiper, about April 20th. Swallows, more numerous than usual and earlier, appeared May 4th. We may also notice that the Corncrake nested here in 1896, and has not been known to do so for many years. Lapwings, Ring Ouzels, and Swallows are more numerous than formerly, and recent protective legislation may be making itself felt in that direction. The Lapwings' eggs were in much request, and the Ring Ouzel was much persecuted on account of its predaceous habits upon fruit, though I believe that it does more good than harm by eating slugs, caterpillars, and other insect-pests in gardens. We have seen two avian combats—one between Grouse and Hooded Crows—when the latter attempted to interfere with the nesting operations of the former. Grouse show marked powers of organization in such cases, rallying to assist each other, and raising a peculiar noise on such occasions. The second fight, of a less serious nature, was between Lapwings and Partridges. A number of the latter were introduced here in 1896, their eggs being hatched and young reared under barn-door hens. These birds have spread, and their requirements necessitating more ground than formerly have brought about the strife with Lapwings. The Partridges are bold, and resist successfully the onslaughts of the Lapwings, which are made on wing, and on the Partridges while moving on the ground. Redbreasts were earlier about farm-buildings in 1896, those seen previously being in August. In 1896 a flock of Geese passed northwards about March 20th, and in 1897 about a month later. On Sept. 30th, 1896, about thirty passed southwards. It is rarer to notice them here in the autumn than in spring.— (Alford, Aberdeen, N.B.).

Inherited Habit in Birds.—I have recently had an additional and very striking proof of the fact that birds build their nests in obedience to inherited law and not by imitation. I considered the instances already mentioned respecting my Canaries quite good enough, but the case which I now have to record is, if possible, even more conclusive. To most scientific ornithologists the little bird familiar to aviculturists as the Bengalee will be almost unknown; it is, however, abundantly bred and regularly exported by the Japanese, and has been produced by them probably for many centuries. The origin of Bengalees is not known for certain, some breeders believing that they were originally derived from the Sharp-tailed Finch, Uroloncha acuticauda, others from the Striated Finch, U. striata; whilst Mr. Abrahams holds that they are the result of a cross between the latter and the Indian Silver-bill, Aidemosyne malabarica, a belief which, from a