Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/523

Rh species, amicably, not to say affectionately, living with a largish chicken in Mr. Alan Crossman's aviary. The story of this strange companionship is not a long one. The Buzzard desired to sit, and hen's eggs were given it to brood over. On the first occasion a chicken was hatched and disappeared—ask not where; on the second, two left the eggs, but only one lived, and became the foster-child of the Buzzard, which brought it up, and still continues to treat it in the light of a relation, though now nearly full grown. In this case two instincts of the Buzzard came into collision—that of killing weaker birds to live upon, and a natural desire to bring up young. Taking itito consideration that instincts do not always give rise to stereotyped actions, but are to a certain extent modified by circumstances, and again, that the raptorial bird had had no necessity for some time to seek its prey, it is not so surprising perhaps that the maternal instinct proved itself the stronger.—Daily Mail.

The above is by no means the first occasion that a Buzzard has been known to bring up chickens. Yarrell, in his first edition of his 'British Birds,' vol. i. p. 78 (1843), says:—"The extreme partiality of the Common Buzzard to the seasonal task of incubation and rearing young birds has been exemplified in various instances. A few years back a female Buzzard, kept in the garden of the 'Chequers Inn' at Uxbridge, showed an inclination to sit by collecting and bending all the loose sticks she could obtain possession of. Her owner, noticing her actions, supplied her with materials; she completed her nest, and sat on two hen's eggs, which she hatched, and afterwards reared the young. Since then she has hatched and brought up a brood of chickens every year."

following particulars concerning the expedition which has left England for the purpose of visiting the almost unexplored island of Socotra, situated about one hundred and fifty miles east-north-east of Cape Guardafui, have been given in the 'Times.' The staff consists of Mr. W.R. Ogilvie Grant, of the department of Zoology in the British Museum; Dr. H.O. Forbes, the director of the Liverpool Museums; and Mr. Cutmore, taxidermist attached to the latter institutions. The Royal Society, the Royal Geographical Society, and the British Association have provided part of the funds for the undertaking. The expedition has sailed for Aden, proceeding thence to Socotra by the Indian Marine guardship 'Elphinstone,' which, in compliance with a request made by the authorities of the British Museum, has been placed at the disposal of Mr. Grant and Dr. Forbes for the purpose of conveying them to the island and back to Aden on the termination of their stay. The main object of the expedition is to investigate thoroughly the fauna of the island, and make large and complete collections in every branch of Zoology.