If any one was inclined to doubt the propriety of our worthy editor's remarks on 'Partial Migration' (Zool. 983), or to cavil at the approbation with which he quoted a passage from the writings of the intelligent Bewick, bearing upon the same subject, surely he ought to cast away all such misgiving after attentively perusing the excellent papers by MM. Duval-Jouve and Deby, on the birds of their re- spective countries. No one, I think, possessed of similar tastes with these two authors, can fail to express his surprise at the novelty of the facts adduced, and his delight at the fine field for research which is therein opened up to view. Leaving the further elucidation of continental Ornithology to these two naturalists, and trusting they will ere long receive the efficient aid of many able coadjutors amongst their respective countrymen, let each turn his thoughts homewards and with renewed earnestness of purpose, giving the most careful attention to the habits and distribution of the birds which occur in his daily walks, and strive to make good his right to those honorable titles which the short-sighted enemies of this method of study have heaped upon us by way of reproach. Thus only can we hope to amass a body of indes- tructible facts, prepared for the philosophic mind, from which it can draw correct conclusions, and thence rise to general laws. And let those who despise such labours give heed to this extract firom the works of the immortal Cuvier. "The most simple observation may overthrow the most ingeniously constructed system, and open our eyes to a long train of discoveries, which had been previously con- cealed from view by received formulæ."
The following notes have been arranged in the hope that they may prove useful and interesting, and I trust that they form only one of a series of papers on this interesting subject from the pens of other and more able observers, that will shortly appear in the pages of this magazine.
Common Buzzard, Buteo vulgaris. Is by no means a very com- mon bird throughout the year, but there is an annual influx of the species in September and October, but especially in the latter month.
Merlin, Falco Æsalon. I have been long of opinion that there is a
