Woodcock* breeding in Ross-shire. 347 



search, I have obtained more bones from the identical spot 

 which contained those first found. This time I found two 

 fragments of bone, one of large size, of that kind so frequent- 

 ly met with in the neighbourhood of the "red crag." To the 

 latter fragments are attached numerous fossil Balani ; and it 

 is worthy of remark, that I did not find these on the beach, 

 but took them immediately from the crag. There is no gra- 

 vel over the crag at this place ; and if there were, it is impos- 

 sible that these fragments of bone could have been deposited 

 with it, and that the delicate Balani could have survived the 

 transporting action that brought from great distances the hard 

 substances which compose the gravel of this part of England, 

 and after this transportation be found in that perfect condi- 

 tion in which they appear on these bones, 



I have also obtained bones from the " coralline crag," not 

 only in the quarries of Sudburne Park, but also from an ad- 

 joining parish. That the bones found in the crag at Felix- 

 stow, are those of Mammalia , I think there is no question ; 

 and the bones found in the "coralline crag" are so analogous 

 in structure, and other particulars, that there appears very lit- 

 tle doubt of their identity, but this point can be easily set at 

 rest. A fragment or two of bone of similar structure I have 

 also taken from the "red crag" of Orford. 



I take this opportunity of informing you of the above cir- 

 cumstance, as from what you have said on this subject, it is 

 probable you may feel some degree of interest in it, being ac- 

 quainted with the geological features of this part of England. 

 — John Brown. — Stanway, April, 1838. 



[In all probability the bones alluded to by Mr. Brown will prove to be 

 those of aquatic Mammalia, which are known to occur in the red crag; but 

 should they appear, upon examination, to belong to land animals, we shall 

 not fail to notice the circumstance. — Ed.~\ 



Woodcocks breeding in Ross-shire. — Residing in a part of 

 the country remote even from Edinburgh, I received Nos. 5, 6, 

 7, 8, and 9, of the Magazine of Natural History altogether, 

 and therefore could not sooner reply to Mr. Fairholme's stric- 

 tures in the number for July, p. 537, et seq. 



Mr. Fairholme unaccountably says that I speak of wood- 

 cocks breeding in Selkirkshire, which is an oversight. I on- 

 ly mention having seen them in Ross-shire. Mr. Fairholme's 

 statement as to the breeding of woodcocks, as far as it goes, 

 agrees with my own repeated observations, excepting what 

 regards the low croaking sound, which has hitherto escaped 

 me. As Mr. Fairholme describes it as being not unlike the 

 purring of a cat, or the noise of a spinningwheel, it exactly 

 agrees with the peculiar sound made by the Caprimulgus, a 



