EIGHTH ORDINARY MEETING. ROYAL INSTITUTION, 23rd January, 1860. The Rev. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A., President, in the Chair. Dr. IHNE laid before the society the most recent chart of San Juan, from the German geographical work of Petermann, which is in course of publication at Gotha, (December, 1859.) Professor ARCHER exhibited a binocular telescope, by an Italian optician of the last century, bearing date 1726, which had been discovered in the collection of the Royal Institution. The following papers were then read : By Professor ARCHER-the third of his series on ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY PRODUCTS OF THE CARNIVORA. By Dr. EDWARDS-the first part of his paper, which was continued at the following meeting. (See page 134.) NINTH ORDINARY MEETING. ROYAL INSTITUTION, 6th February, 1860. The Rev. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A., President, in the Chair. Dr. THOMSON exhibited two interesting specimens of snakes, one of which measured six feet six inches in length, and had been killed while swimming round a ship about three miles from the island of Trinidad. The other specimen had been sent for exhibition by Mr. MOORE, the curator of the Free Public Museum, who stated, in a letter accompanying the specimen, that it was one of the compressed-tailed sea-snakes, the Pelamis bicolor; a species originally described by Quindus as the Anguis platura, and subsequently placed in the genus Hydrophis, but afterwards separated therefrom on account of its long and depressed head, and wide gape. The specimen exhibited by the Secretary, Mr. Moore said, was quite new to our series, but appeared to be allied somewhat to the American genus Herpetodryas. Further examination and comparison, however, were necessary to determine it. The two specimens exhibited, represented two distinct forms of ophidians. The Pelamis having the tail compressed, and the belly covered with scales like those of the back, belonged to the family Hydride, consisting of the genus Hydrophis and other genera; the other, having the tail rounded, and the belly covered with broad plates, or scutæ, belonged to the Colubrida, represented by our common British ringed snake. The outer row of teeth in the upper jaw of the Trinidad specimen were small, and uniform in size, and no poison fangs could be detected. The Hydrophides, on the contrary, were highly poisonous. The following papers were then read ON BIRDS WHICH NEST IN THE DISTRICT. BY J. FITZHERBERT BROCKHOLES, Esq. BIRDS, owing to their beauty, variety and song, combined with their graceful elegance of form and action, have ever been favourites with man in all stages of his existence. A child in the nurse's arms, puts forth its hand to take the robin off the post; youth uses various traps, nets and birdlime to catch them; whilst man pursues them for the cage, museum, the table, or for sport. The varied habits of different species with their high instincts, give them further charm in the eye of the naturalist. To him, also, the earliest song of resident species in each succeeding year, and the first appearance of migratory summer visitors always has its interest. The first nest of each will give to him a pleasure, second only to that of finding a new and desired acquaintance amongst the feathered race. And what a charm there is about the unsullied fresh-laid eggs when seen in their artfully-finished resting place. Those birds which have their home within a circuit of ten miles from the Liverpool Exchange, and from Woodside Ferry on the Cheshire side, are the subjects of this paper. Owing to the increased population and the consequent changes in the locality, some tribes are met with now in fewer numbers than formerly. This is due to the wild nature of the birds, causing them to retire from the vicinity of man; and also, to the relentless persecution to which they are subjected on all sides, and at all seasons. Amongst these are the Falconida, two species of which, or three at most, now remain here to breed. The kestrel, (Falco tinnunculus), one of the most beautiful, interesting, and harmless of hawks, is not an uncommon resident. It may sometimes be seen hovering for a few minutes over a spot where a mouse is seen or expected. Mice and insects are its principal food, and though not quite guiltless of feather, it is more useful than otherwise, and should therefore be protected. Generally, each succeeding day will find it hunting the same ground, at the same hour, and following the same course. This bird is rarely, if ever, its own architect, but selects and repairs an old nest of the crow, magpie, or any other which is sufficiently large. Rocks, ruins, and trees in woods are alike the chosen situations. Last spring, I constantly saw a male bird in a large rookery, where he lived in harmony with his neighbours. His mate probably occupied a rook's nest. The usual five eggs are laid in April, and are subject to considerable variation. They are reddish buff, spotted, and blotched with darker shades. The sparrow-hawk, (Accipiter nisus,) is a much more bold and destructive bird; it is also extremely cunning and wary. A pair may be met with in most suitable woods, where they are not molested. Blackbirds and thrushes seem their favourite food, and when a bird is captured, it is conveyed to an eminence, sometimes to an old nest, should there be one near, and there devoured. They build a large, spreading and rather flat nest of sticks, lined with fibres, usually in a tree which commands a good view in every direction. The various species of fir are favourites for the site: should the first nest be robbed, they will sometimes build a second, or even a third. At other times, an old one will be selected and repaired, whilst occasionally, any accumulation of dead leaves remaining in the tree will be chosen. I have known them also return to a nest they had forsaken a fortnight previously. They are easily made to forsake, as the insertion of the hand in the absence of the bird is alone sufficient. In this, cunning and caprice are well exemplified characteristics. The eggs, five in number, are laid in April, and are subject to very great variation. The type is greenish white, blotched with reddish brown. During incubation, feathers and bits of down are accumulated to a great extent about the nest. These do not form part of the original lining. A kind of harrier may be often met with in the district, and is well known to gamekeepers as the blue hawk. I have seen specimens, but have never been sufficiently near to be able to identify the species. This, or a similar bird, I am told, breeds regularly a few miles off, so that a pair may occasionally nest here. Old prejudices against owls are fast disappearing, and they are now considered to be not only harmless but useful. In many districts they are not molested, and in some they are protected. Two species are resident, and two others are doubtful. These are early nesters, frequently having young before the middle of April. The white, or barn owl, (Strix flammea) is generally distributed; is not uncommon, and is one of the most useful of birds, its food consisting principally of mice. It frequents farmsteads, rocks, quarries and woods; in the last, roosting in evergreens. Frequently the same dormitory will serve for a length of time. This bird builds no nest but lays its eggs on the accumulation of its own castings. The spot has generally a very fetid smell, and is often in a dovecot, barn, hayloft, &c., and sometimes in the face of a rock. Owls are soft-winged birds, and therefore make no noise in flight. This is probably due to the quills partially overlapping each other, rather than to any peculiarity of feather. In those birds whose flight is heard, the quills are separate, and the noise arises from the currents of air passing between them. Should there be one or more quills absent, the noise is greater. This is easily observed in the rook. Owls are therefore admirably adapted for taking their prey. Whilst flying in search of food, the barn owls constantly make a kind of loud hissing noise with their mouths, which is a remarkable habit The fact of their wing and leg bones being sometimes, if not invariably, without marrow, is also curious. The eggs of all the British owls are white. The long-eared owl (Otus vulgaris,) is another resident species which is found in most suitable woods. This bird is also very useful, its food consisting principally of mice with an occasional finch. It seeks gloomy and retired places, roosting in various evergreen trees and bushes, or even in old gorse. Unlike the preceding species, it seldom resorts to the same dormitory for many days in succession. It is very |