in 1854. This specimen lived twenty-four hours in confinement, and whenever the strong light of a moderator lamp was thrown upon it during the night, that portion of the animal exposed to the light was immediately suffused with a deep tint of Sepia.*

Second. A specimen of Rossia (macrosoma?), captured at New Brighton in 1857. This genus, of rare occurrence in any part of the British coast, had not previously been detected in the estuary of the Mersey.

Third. The “pen" of a gigantic Squid. The animal from which this was taken was captured by Captain Mortimer, of the American ship "Florida," about 200 miles N. W. of Bermuda. It was nearly nine feet in length-was estimated to weigh 3 cwt., and required six men to hoist it into the vessel.

From the fact of this Squid having been provided with hooks on the arms, as distinctly stated by Captain Mortimer, it, in all probability, belonged to the genus Onychotenthis. The pen itself measures 3 feet 9 inches. The 'beak' of the same creature is in the collection of Mr. Francis Archer.

It was remarked by Dr. COLLINGWOOD that the Cephalopoda are extremely well-illustrated upon our own shores; all the British genera, excepting only Ommastrephes, being found on the Liverpool coast.

* The above specimen is the one referred to in Proceedings, 1859-60, p. 32.

THIRTEENTH ORDINARY MEETING.

ROYAL INSTITUTION, 15th April, 1861.

The REV. H. H. HIGGINS, M.A., PRESIDENT, in the Chair.

Mr. JAMES BLAKE was elected a member.

Among other donations laid upon the table, the PRESIDENT called particular attention to a set of the volumes of Proceedings of the Royal Society, from A.D. 1800 to the present time, and announced that this valuable acquisition was due to the activity of the Honorary Secretary, who was doing much to improve the society's library.

A communication from the Council was made to the society, to the effect that it was recommended that the members should dine together, at some suitable time and place, during the recess. Childwall, and the latter part of May, were mentioned, and the proposal met with the cordial approval of those present. A committee was appointed to make the necessary arrangements. *

Dr. COLLINGWOOD exhibited a cuttle of the genus Rossia, taken by Mr. A. Higginson, at New Brighton, some years ago. It was but recently that this rare animal was known as an inhabitant of our shores, and now two specimens have been brought forward, both from New Brighton, and probably of different species.

The following paper was then read

* This dinner took place at Childwall Abbey Hotel, on Monday, 13th May. The beauty of the day enhanced the success of the gathering, which was of the most agreeable nature. Covers were laid for forty-five gentlemen, being as many as the room would comfortably accommodate; and the guests, having first

CONTRIBUTIONS TO BRITISH ORNITHOLOGY;THE NOTES OF BIRDS.

BY CUTHBERT COLLINGWOOD, M.A., F.L.S., &c.

THE subject of the present paper, if it possess no other merit, is, at least, appropriate to the season, since our woods already resound with the songs of our indigenous birds, while the first instalment of the more musical band of foreign visitors has already appeared among us.

I hardly think, however, that the subject needs any defence, inasmuch as it is one of considerable interest to the general naturalist, and, to the ornithologist, essential. It is, moreover, a subject which, in my opinion, is singularly neglected. True, that in most ornithological works, a few pages are devoted to the notes of birds; but, as far as my experience goes, the cursory remarks found in these works are of a very general nature, and, in most cases, mere repetitions, copied from one author into another. In scarcely any work that I am acquainted with, is the subject fully entered into as a matter of personal

assembled on the bowling-green, sat down to dinner at four o'clock. The chair was taken by the Rev. H. H. Higgins, M.A., President, who was supported on his right by the Worshipful the Mayor (S. R. Graves, Esq.), and, on his left, by Mr. J. A. Picton, F.S.A., Vice-President. The vice-chair was occupied by Dr. Edwards, senior Vice-President; and among the company were Dr. Ihne, Vice-President, Mr. Byerley, Treasurer, Dr. Collingwood, Hon. Sec., Drs. Nevins and Walker, Revds. Dr. Hume, Macnaught, Hindley, and Robberds, Messrs. Clark, Redish, &c. A very creditable repast was served, and the cloth having been removed, and the usual loyal toasts disposed of, the President proposed, "The town and trade of Liverpool," with the health of his Worship the Mayor, to which that gentleman responded in the graceful manner which is natural to him. His Worship then proposed, "Success to the Literary and Philosophical Society," to which the President responded. "The kindred Societies," were the subject of a toast proposed by the Vice-chair, and responded to by Mr. Clark. Dr. Ihne proposed, "The Free Public Library and Museum," with the health of Mr. Picton, who responded. The "Friends and Visitors" were proposed by Mr. Redish, and acknowledged by Mr. Cummins. "The Honorary Secretary," proposed by the Vice-chair, and responded to with musical honours, was acknowledged by Dr. Collingwood; and after the toast of "The Ladies," the party broke up-all highly pleased with the success of the entertainment, which partook rather of a humorous and amusing, than of a formal and unbending, character.

knowledge, and when descriptions are given of the notes of particular birds, they are most frequently of so diffuse and general a character as to have but little practical value.* Doubtless, there are many who have a profound acquaintance with the voices of birds, even approaching that of the Grand Vizier, in the Spectator, who, indeed, is not so fabulous a personage as at first sight he would appear to be; but these persons do not give the benefit of their experience for the guidance of others, and the subject is so purely one of experience, that it is only those who can give useful information upon it.

The language of birds is, then, only to be learned in the woods and fields-only to be taught by Nature herself; at the same time, however, the hints of experience should not be neglected, for although it is useless to remain satisfied with these, and suppose them sufficient in themselves for a knowledge of the subject, still they may greatly assist the student of ornithology in his endeavours to identify the various birds by their multifarious notes; and let no one think that such a study is altogether useless. I have before said, that for the ornithologist, properly so called-not the ornithologist who is content with books and plates, however elegant, but for him who goes out into the native haunts of birds, and enquires for knowledge at the fountain-head-for such an one, a knowledge of bird-language is indispensable, and of constant application. It is a specific character which thrusts itself upon the attention, and appeals to the ear resistlessly. By means of it, in our own country, the arrival of foreign visitants and of migratory birds is readily noted, and a clue is obtained to

*There is much interesting information in Barrington's well-known_article (Phil. Trans., 1773); also in Bolton's "Harmonia ruralis ; " Gardiner's "Music of Nature," &c., but these are of old date, and Kircher's quaint remarks in "Musurgia" are more curious than practical. There are many interesting notices scattered through Loudon's Magazine of Natural History; and the general reader will find much information in the "Domestic Habits of Birds" (Library of Entertaining Knowledge); and also in an article on the songs of birds by the late P. B. Duncan, in the "Literary Conglomerate."

the habits and existing conditions of indigenous birds; while in foreign countries, a careful attention to the voices of birds. not only would greatly facilitate the discovery of new species, but the detection of European birds, or, indeed, the negative knowledge the absolute certainty that such a bird is not. the European species-would assist greatly in elucidating the phenomena of migration.

I have called it language, for such indeed it is, which, like its analogue, human speech, has undergone a Babel-like confusion; nevertheless, each species comprehends the notes uttered by its own, but these notes do not influence another species. Indeed, the analogy may be carried even further. The human voice utters certain sounds which, by a national freemasonry, are understood by all alike, however different their tongue-so with birds, there are certain sounds which are understood by all birds in common-the sounds, that is, which indicate the near approach of common danger. Besides all this, it must ever be borne in mind that birds are, next to man, most gifted with the power of expressing by sounds the feelings and impulses which arise under the various conditions and circumstances in which they are successively placed. Although, however, I purpose, in the present paper, to address myself more particularly to the warble, or love-song, of birds, it must not be imagined that they have no other vocal gifts. The male, the female, and the young, all have their peculiar notes, a knowledge of which may be of service, as it cannot fail to be of interest, to the ornithologist. The male has his defiant note, or battle-cry-his loud outcry when danger approaches-the call he possesses in common with the female, by means of which they are constantly informed of each other's whereabouts-the soft note which he employs when feeding the sitting hen, as well as the more or less brilliant serenade with which he, perhaps, banishes her ennui; the female has her complacent chuckle, when surrounded by her