SI Zoology, 



actually appeared within its field. — John Freeman Milward Dovaston. 

 Westfelto7i, near Shreivsburj/y July 20. 1831. 



Intrepidity of the Sivallow. — G. M. remarks (Vol. IV. p. 146.) its attack- 

 ing the stoat (i^fustela errainea) : I have seen it attack the common cat in 

 the same manner. Swallows were and are allowed to build in out-houses 

 belonging to my father ; the house cat would often bask in the sun beside 

 the out-houses, when the swallows always testified their detestation of her 

 by flying over her head in a rapid sweeping curve, almost touching her in its 

 lowest inclination ; and they shrieked their hatred as they flew. The cat 

 was young and playful, and annoyed them in return by catching at them as 

 they passed : this time they would fly in front of her, next time behind 

 her ; and this alternation kept her oscillating, as it were, as her hind quar- 

 ters still lay on the ground, from side to side. Now and then, as if enraged 

 by their pertinacity and her own want of success, she would spring up into 

 the air at them as they passed, with her best vigour and agility ; but I never 

 knew her catch one. Mr. Main describes (Vol. IV. p. 413.) the dauntless 

 bravery of the swallow, and says, it is " one of the most vigilant videttes 

 for the safety of the feathered race." (See Vol. IV. p. 413. for farther in- 

 formation.) — J.D. 



The Veridaniy a periodical, commenced two or three years ago, and 

 since discontinued, gave, in one of its Numbers, the following interesting 

 account of 



A Cat wJiich caught Swallows on the Wing, — The thing appears, a priori^ 

 nearly impossible, and yet we stake our credit on the authenticity of the 

 fact, having seen the whole process of grimalkin's wonderful cunning, and 

 almost miraculous rapidity. It was in the early part of May, when insects, 

 in consequence of the cold, fly low, and of course the swallows are forced 

 to hawk for their prey by skimming the surface of the ground. The wily 

 cat, taking advantage of this, stretches herself upon a sunny grass-plot, 

 with her legs extended, as if she were dead ; the flies collect about her, as 

 flies always do when they can find any animal as patient as my Uncle 

 Toby, to endure their tickling and buzzing; the simple swallows, dreaming 

 of no harm, and thinking they can here make a good meal, dip down from 

 the barren air, dart with open bill upon the flies ; when puss, perceiving 

 her prey within reach, makes a spring like a flash of lightning, and strikes 

 down with her paw the poor thoughtless swallow. The best marksmen 

 know how difficult it is to shoot a swallow on the wing ; but the cat found 

 her patience, cunning, and rapidity, well rewarded by her unerring success 

 whenever a swallow ventured within her reach. (Verulam.) 



Tongue of the Frog (B.dna tempordria). Sir, Having, while dissecting a 

 frog, observed the peculiar construction of its tongue, and thinking it may 

 be as new to some of your readers as it was to myself, I am induced to 

 transmit to you the following remarks upon its structure and uses : — The 

 most striking peculiarity consists in the tongue being affixed to the anterior 

 part of the lower jaw, its greatest breadth being at the root, where it unites 

 with the jaw, and the point lying at the back part of the mouth ; it is also 

 partly confined by a membranous fraenulum [a membranous string under 

 the tongue], of the same substance as the tongue, and capable of some 

 expansion. The only conjecture I can oflfer as to the purposes this singular 

 structure is designed to effect is, that the food of this reptile, consisting of 

 molluscous animBls, whose tenacity of life is very extraordinary, and the 

 animal heat of the frog not being sufficient to destroy them immediately 

 after being received into the stomach, they might endeavour to escape,- and- 

 as this viscus is in the same direction as the mouth, it would favour their 

 so doing, did not the tongue effectually prevent them, by pressing against 

 the upper palate. According to this idea, this deviation from the general 

 structure fulfils the design of the Great Author of the Universe, whose 



