o f the British Isles, has not been naturalized with us, inasmuch as it is, o f all game-birds, the most delicious,
o f consummate beauty, and o f unconquerable hardihood, ‘ and adapted, moreover,’ according to Mr. George
Chichester Oxenden, who has seen and shot these birds in most European countries, ‘ to every variety of
cover, from pine-forests to hazel- and oak-copses.’ But it is not to o late in the day for the Acclimatization
Society to take the Hazel-Hen in hand ; and if the localities were suitable for the purpose (and such there
are, no doubt, in England and Scotland), and the attempt were made with from twenty to fifty brace of
these birds, I see no reason why it should not succeed.”
That the introduction o f the Pheasant, the Guinea-fowl, and the Turkey has been to a certain extent
successful must be admitted ; but it is to a certain extent o n ly ; for it is believed by competent authorities
that the Pheasant if left to itself would die out in thirty years, and the Guinea-fowl and Turkey in a much
shorter time. Nursers, feeders, and watchers are absolutely necessary for the preservation o f these three
birds, ju st as. the safety and health o f the Elands in Lord Hill’s Park at Hawkstone are dependent upon the
keeper who feeds and nightly shelters them during inclement seasons.
Had I not had ample experience on the subject o f naturalization, I should not have prolonged these
remarks ; but having for the last forty years been a close observer o f the denizens o f the Gardens o f the
Zoological Society o f London, a Society justly popular for its interest and usefulness, I have not failed to
note that, however high our hopes may have been raised respecting the probability o f the successful introduction
of many valuable species, nothing but bitter disappointment has been the result. Two o r three
instances will suffice. Soon after the arrival o f the beautiful Mandarin Ducks they commenced laying, and
hatched out several clutches o f young. I t was therefore only natural to infer that this lovely denizen o f the
Celestial Empire would hereafter grace our ponds and lak e s ; but such has not been the case, and very
sparingly indeed does the bird breed after the second o r third year o f its introduction. Three species o f the
equally beautiful Ceriornithes, or so-called Horned Pheasants, have a t one time o r other also graced the
gardens. They gave early evidence that they would reproduce their kinds ; and many o f them did s o ; but,
alas ! the same result followed ; for in a very few years all, both old and young, sickened and died. A like
fate attended the fine Crossoptilons : they laid freely, and a numerous progeny were raised during the first
two o r three y e a rs; but they ultimately all perished; and thus these fine and rare members o f the
P/asianid(B, which formed unrivalled ornaments to the Gardens in 1870, were in 1872 not to be seen.
Many other instances might be cited in support o f this view o f the impossibility o f naturalizing a foreign
species. Nature, as a rule, places each species in the locality best adapted to i t ; and its removal to any
other is pretty certain to end in failure. The attempts a t introduction o f these and other birds by such a
society as the Zoological, however, have this good end : they enable the public and the scientific
ornithologist to view in a living state objects o f which otherwise they could only inspect the dried skins__
and when they breed, to make themselves acquainted with the colour and markings o f their eggs, the downy
state o f their young, and the changes o f plumage they undergo until they attain that of the adult. Still it
is to be regretted that their existence is not further prolonged.
Each season o f the year possesses its peculiar attractions; but spring has especial claims upon our notice.
The sun, awakened from its wintry lethargy, ushers in this delightful season with its genial warmth ; and
all nature greets with joy the presage o f coming summer, and its many pleasing and interesting associations.
The smaller birds are now prompted to exercise their vocal powers, filling the woods and hedge-rows with
their joyous harmony; and preparations for pairing forecast the breeding-season. The Grouse tribe resort
to their “ lek-stalles”*, the Ruffs to their hillocks ; the Rooks return to their ancestral elms, and the Daws
to the nooks and crannies o f the castellated tower.
It is a t this particular season that birds assume their gayest colours, and oftentimes appear in accessory
plumes. The Peacock now spreads his magnificent train to the greatest advantage; the Ruffs, display their
curious neck-plumes, the Grebes their tippets, and the Egret its flowing back-feathers. In short, every
species is now arrayed in its newest and most showy dress. Pairing having been accomplished, each species
sets about the serious responsibilities implied in the propagation o f its kind. Some, during this season,
delight to nest in company, as seen in our own familiar Rook, which will occupy in immense numbers the
lofty trees o f many a noble avenue, returning, year after year, for centuries, to the same spot. Such places,
again, as Ailsa Craig, Handa, and Flamborough Head attract myriads o f cliff-haunting species, which evince;
a similar tendency to reproduce in colonies. Few more wonderful sights can be seen during the month of
Ju n e than the precipitous face of one of these places, say Handa. Viewed from the sea, there may be
descried tier upon tier o f Guillemots and Razorbills, &c., almost jostling one another, from the manner in
which they are closely packed. Each species constitutes a separate community, and strictly confines itself to
its own ledges. The Cormorants and Gulls have also their selected situations. Far above all, in their
curious rahbit-like burrows, in the sandy earth constituting the summit, congregate those oddest of all birds,
the Puffins. The din and noise o f such an assemblage is indescribable, and, when a gun is fired, almost
unendurable; while'the circling, swooping flight o f the countless myriads thus disturbed communicates the
sensation of complete bewilderment. Usually among these great gatherings will breed a pair o f some
raptorial bird, such as the Peregrine, o r more rarely the White-tailed Eagle, while in some of the more
southern cliffs the Chough nestles, and adds its cackling cry to the universal hubbub. The Common Heron,
again, is a bird nesting in communities, choosing, as a rule, large pine-woods,—notable examples being the
* Lek and lek-stalle are Norwegian terms, applied to localities “ where affairs matrimonial are carried on.” We find them
frequently used by Mr. Lloyd in his ‘ Game-birds and Wild Fowl of Sweden and Norway,’ when alluding to the courting assemblies
of the Capercaillie, Blackcock, Snipe, &c.