654f Zoology, 



with the chur chur of the sparrow, so exactly imitated in every 

 respect, that, were it not for what follows, no one would sup- 

 pose it to be any other bird. It is called the mocking-bird 

 here, and it well deserves the name ; for it is a real scoffer at 

 the sorrows of other birds, which it laughs to scorn, and turns 

 into ridicule by parodying them so exactly. I never heard it 

 attempt to imitate any of the larks or thrushes, although I 

 have listened to it for hours. This bird was very plentifully 

 met with in Wharfdale, ten years ago, and is also found in 

 this neighbourhood ; but I am not aware that any body in 

 either of those districts ever attempted to keep one in confine- 

 ment ; although, from their powers of imitation, I think the 

 experiment well worth trying : probably the idea that they 

 could not provide them with proper food has prevented them. 

 — T. G. Clitkeroe, Lancashire, May 2. 1832. 



Sedge Warbler {Qurruca salicdria Fleming). — Sir, A very 

 observant person in this neighbourhood, who is much out at 

 night by the river side, assures me» that he has observed this 

 bird during the whole winter, about the spot whence it was heard 

 pouring forth its varied notes every night during the summer, 

 from the middle of May to the latter end of July. It is 

 described by all naturalists as a migratory bird, as well as its 

 congener, the reed warbler (C arundinacea) : but may not an 

 individual occasionally winter with us, as is the case with 

 some of the migratory species ? I am anxious for a confirm- 

 ation of this point. — J. S. K. High Wycombe, July, 1832. 



The Sedge Bird {Curj'uca salicdria Fleming), at Godalming 

 in Surrey, may commonly be heard repeating its harsh and 

 unpleasant notes through the night in summer. — Edward 

 Newma?i. Deptford, Sept. 19. 1831. 



The Nightingale singing on the 1 ^.th of December, — At 

 Godalming in Surrey, on the 12th of December, either 1823 

 or 1824, I heard the nightingale singing clearly and dis- 

 tinctly, although not very loudly. I luckily had a companion 

 at the time, a close observer of birds, who has several times 

 since borne testimony to this remarkable fact. In the same 

 • neighbourhood, I have frequently seen the nightingale in the 

 month of October, and once in November. — Edward New- 

 man. Dept/ord, Sept. 19. 1831. 



Habits of the Strix Scops L. in Italy. — Tliis owl, which 

 in summer is very common in Italy, is remarkable for the 

 constancy and regularity with which it utters its peculiar 

 note or cry. It does not merely " to the moon complain " 

 occasionally, but keeps repeating its plaintive and mono- 

 tonous cry of kew kew (whence its common Florentine 

 name of chiu, pronounced almost exactly like the English 

 letter Q), in the regular intervals of about two seconds, 



