Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/276

248 would stain or whiten the leaves and surrounding foliage, and thus advertise the secret of their nest to enemies, even to those who prowl after dusk. When a Red-eyed Vireo, whose behaviour I studied at close range, dropped any bit of excrement by accident, she darted after it with such speed that it was snatched up before reaching the ground, or before falling a distance of four feet. Not a trace of defilement is ever seen around the dwellings of any of these birds.

"On the other hand, predaceous species like Hawks pay no attention to such matters. The excrement of their young is voided in a semi-fluid state, and in a peculiar manner. With tail turned to the edge of the nest the bird shoots it off to a distance of two or three feet, and it may strike the ground six or seven feet from the nesting-tree. The only significance which such actions have is that of keeping the nest clean. The advertisement of the nest-stains on the leaves below is a matter of indifference to these bold and persistent outlaws, who have little to fear from any enemy save men."

the well-known dealer in living zoological specimens, died at Liverpool on April 7th. Mr. Cross belonged to a family of naturalists. His father and grandfather were in their day the best known importers of wild beasts and birds in this country. In the early part of last century the Exeter Change, in the Strand, was the rendezvous of collectors eager to purchase the latest arrivals sent to the proprietor, Mr. Edward Cross. In London fifty-eight years ago Mr. Cross was born, but it was in Liverpool, near the North Docks, that he established his famous emporium. Scarcely a ship arrived at Liverpool from China, India, Australia, Africa, and America without having on board zoological specimens for Mr. Cross from his agents throughout the world, whom he had distributed. Thousands upon thousands of wild animals have passed through his emporium to owners of public and private collections or retail dealers. In twelve years he imported over a million Parrots, besides birds of every variety and from every clime. Twenty-eight years ago he brought to Liverpool a live Gorilla—the first that had been seen in Europe—and sold it to the Berlin Aquarium for no less than £1000. In private life Mr. Cross was known as a staunch teetotaler, and a keen supporter of all philanthropic movements.

regret to announce the death of an eminent zoologist in the person of Prof. M. Milne Edwards, Director of the Natural History Museum at the Jardin des Plantes, Paris, who died suddenly on April 21st, in his sixty-sixth year.