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HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



[May 1, 1870. 



Snow-Bunting.— In reply to Mr. Mash, in March 

 number of Science-Gossip, I am sorry to say that 

 I have watched in vain for the arrival of the Snow- 

 Bunting here. Some half-dozen years since, I fre- 

 quently saw large flocks of them ; last winter I saw 

 but three birds, and this winter I have not seen a 

 single one. I think they must either be more scarce 

 than formerly, or that they have gone to some other 

 winter location. In the winter of 1847 or '48 they 

 were exceedingly plentiful about here ; and a very 

 pretty sight a flock is, as the plumage varies from 

 white to a dark colour— something similar to the sky- 

 lark, only darker. I have two Buntings in confine- 

 ment, and they seem to like it, for in summer they 

 get so fat that they can hardly fly ; but they make up 

 for that in running about at nights. One of them sings 

 during summer, and has sung very like the hedge- 

 sparrow, but, unlike that bird, he never thinks of 

 singing during the day, but tunes up in the evening 

 and keeps on all through the night. — A. P. 



Golden Plover. — I can confirm the statement 

 of "J. B,." in SciENCE-Gossir (page 95), that 

 the Golden Plover cau be decoyed by whistling. I 

 have frequently done so; but I find that one or two 

 birds are more easily whistled down than a flock of 

 them. I frequently find the nest here on the moors, 

 but I can only find two varieties, that is, the light 

 and the dark-coloured eggs. They don't vary like the 

 Peewir, all shades from light to dark. Can any of 

 your readers say if they have done so — I mean found 

 more shades than two ?— A. P. 



Sphinx Atropos. — I have a specimen of this 

 moth which was taken last August in a steam-ship 

 during the passage from Hamburg to Hull, and 

 [ am informed that they are so taken occasionally. 

 The question arises, was it simply blown off the 

 land, or did instinct impel it to undertake a dis- 

 tant flight in search of its favourite food ? If so, 

 the moth was probably on its way to the potato- 

 fields on the Norfolk coast, where, I think, the 

 larvae were said to have abounded last autumn. I 

 know not whether the potato is cultivated to the 

 same extent on the North German territory, from 

 whence the insect may be supposed to have mi- 

 grated nolens aut volens. — W. Smart. 



Large Egg. — Last year the dimensions of an 

 unusually large hen's egg were chronicled in 

 Science-Gossip. The following are the measure- 

 ments of a duck's egg which was recently brought 

 tome; length 3'575 inches; circumference at the 

 widest part G'525 inches ; circumference round the 

 ends 9'1 inches. In general appearance the form 

 of the egg was somewhat elongated. It contained 

 two yolks and weighed five ounces. — G. II. H. 



Capture of an Otter. — A fine female otter was 

 shot in March last, in Burgate Meadows, close to 

 the river Avon, by Morrice, the waterkeeper of the 



Marquis of Anglesea. Erorn the appearance of the 

 otter, it was conjectured that some young ones 

 were close at hand, but they could not be found. 

 This is the fifth otter destroyed by Morrice in the 

 same place since last September. — Salisbury Journ. 



Enclosed Nest and Eggs. — It may be 

 interesting to your readers to know that in a large 

 elm, lately cut down near the lych-gate of Chisle- 

 hurst church, a bird's nest containing seven eggs 

 was found completely embedded, and having at least 

 nine inches of solid wood grown over it, without 

 any trace of an inlet. The eggs, which are quite 

 perfect, are, without doubt, those of the Great Tit 

 (Panes major), and are now to be seen by any one 

 who likes to apply to Mr. Doumall, carpenter, 

 Chislehurst Common. — Walter Barratt. 



Centenine Eggs. — In several back numbers 

 of Science-Gossip, are notices of wonderfully 

 small birds' eggs. They were well known to, 

 and described by, the illustrious physiologists 

 Eabricius and Harvey. Eabricius says that the 

 small eggs are called in Italy centenina, each 

 being thought by the vulgar the last that will be 

 laid, and that it comes as about the hundredth 

 in number ; whence its name. He adds, that the 

 ova centenina are of two kinds, one being quite 

 without a yolk— and this, the true centenine egg, the 

 last that the hen will ever lay, or at least for a long 

 while. The other centenine, though small, has a 

 small yolk, and will not be the last that the hen will 

 lay. Harvey mentions that these small eggs are 

 called centenina ; and Eabricius, that the albumen 

 of the yolkless egg has the regular chalazee. The 

 late John Davy, one of the most excellent physiolo- 

 gists of this country, has a chapter on Centenine 

 eggs of the domestic fowl, in his valuable " Physio- 

 logical Researches," Svo., London, 1S63, p. 440. — 

 Q.F. 



Chelifers.— Allow me to say a word on behalf 

 of the much - maligned chelifer, which has been 

 described by a writer in your periodical as of a most 

 quarrelsome and sanguinary disposition. I have 

 kept numbers of Chelifer cancroicles together for 

 several months ; and though I have constantly 

 watched them, I never saw a quarrel or even an 

 attempt at one ; on the contrary, they seemed to be 

 on the very best terms, and very polite and well- 

 behaved. I wish also to mention a curious fact in 

 natural history which has come under my notice, 

 and of which I believe there have been many 

 instances recorded. A neighbour of mine had a 

 pair of silver pheasants, male and female ; last year 

 the male bird died, and since then the female has 

 assumed the complete plumage of the male, and 

 appears, I presume from the greater amount of 

 plumage, to have increased in size. This bird is now 

 to be seen at Levell's Hall, Terrington St. Clement, 

 near Lynn. — John Bramhall, St. Jo/m's Vicarage. 



