276 . Zoologi/. 



mermaid ; but still it is sufficiently obvious for the most 

 casual observer to remark it. In a physiological point it is 

 remarkable that two animals of such opposite natures as the 

 cat and rabbit should unite, and the produce partake in so 

 distinct a manner of both species. I cannot think it possible 

 to have been produced without the intervention of both, nor 

 that the remainder was the produce of the same male, as they 

 are all perfectly formed kittens. I much regret I cannot give 

 the anatomical description of this singular animal, being 

 neither a medical nor a scientific man. It was about seven 

 weeks old when I last saw it at a farm called Meering, about 

 eight miles from Newark. I am, Sir, yours, &c. — Rusticus, 

 Oct., 1831. 



In the garden sheds of Lord Calthorpe, Ampton Hall, and 

 of Nathaniel Lee Acton, Esq., Livermere Hall, (two splendid 

 residences in Suffolk, about five miles from Bury St. Ed- 

 munds,) there were, in 1828, and I have learned still are, cats 

 kept, each of which was kittened with an abruptly terminated 

 or retuse tail, not exceeding 2 in. in length. I was informed 

 by the persons who showed them to me, that the short-tailed 

 property had continued through more than two generations ; 

 and that in the litters of kittens produced by these cats, about 

 half were short-tailed ones, the others long-tailed, as usual. 

 On writing to and asking a friend, a patron of cats, which I 

 did at the time, if he would accept one of these short tails, I 

 remember he replied, " No ; I thank you. When I behold 

 my Jupiter (the name of his cat) seated on the hearth, form^- 

 ing one of the family circle, and observe his fine long tail dis- 

 posed in a graceful curve about his person, with its extremity 

 reposing on and covering his fore-paws, I cannot but prefer 

 him to all the short-tailed cats in the kingdom." — J. D. 



A Gigantic Female Hare. — A female hare (Z^epus timidus), 

 of unusually large size, was recently sent to London from Nor- 

 folk, which weighed 13 lbs. IJ oz. The mammary glands 

 W£re large, but she was not with young. The specimen was 

 sent to Mr. Leadbeater, to whom I am indebted for the 

 information. — A. B. Feb. 1 6. 1832. 



Ormithological Reasoniiigs. — Sir, The following singular 

 occurrence is related in the United Kingdom newspaper of 

 this day (Feb. 19.). It originally appeared in a provincial 

 Journal, the Westmoreland Gazette. If it be really a fact, it 

 is deserving of more permanent record than that afforded by 

 the columns of a newspaper. 



" Last week, as Mr. A. Metcalf, keeper to Lord Lowther, 

 in Raven stoned ale, was ranging the fields with his gun, he 

 observed a hawk hovering near him ; and while preparing to 

 give it a shot, a fieldfare flew in terror against his breast, and 



