Zoology, . 289 



to the belly in pursuit of flies or water spiders, which sport 

 in hundreds over its surface : they will remain in the water 

 for ten minutes at a time. A few years ago, a cuckoo 

 (Cuculus canorus) deposited its ^g^^ in the nest of these birds ; 

 and, in the course of time, the young foundling made its ap- 

 pearance, and took its station on the top of the thatch of the 

 building, where it was carefully fed by its foster-parents. It 

 was amusing to see the antipathy demonstrated by the swal- 

 lows of the neighbourhood (who are ever ready to buffet an 

 intruder), swoop at it with great vengeance in passing to and 

 fro. The cuckoo made no defence, except throwing its head 

 back, and opening its capacious mouth ; but whether in fear 

 or to intimidate them I cannot say. — Scolopax rusticola. 

 \Jiil-doell, Notts, Oct. 21. 1832. 



Tomtit, or Blue Titmouse (Pdrus c<sriileus). — I am aware 

 that this little bird will choose curious places for bringing up 

 its young, but the following surpasses all I ever before heard of. 

 Some years ago, a man of the name of Tom Otter murdered 

 his sweetheart at a place called Drinsey Nook, in Lincoln- 

 shire. The assassin suffered the extreme penalty of the law, 

 and was gibbeted near the place where he committed the fatal 

 deed. It appears, that whilst the carnivorous tomtit was feed- 

 ing on the flesh of the malefactor, he had an eye to a com- 

 fortable habitation in the vicinity of so much good cheer ; 

 and as there was no hole in the gibbet post to suit his purpose, 

 he actually took possession of the dead man's mouth, and he 

 and his mate brought forth a brood of young cannibals ; and 

 more than that, they built there the next year, and were 

 equally successful in rearing their young. I think I hear 

 some of your readers say, " Come, come, Mr. Woodcock 

 {^colopax rusticola); you are now dealing in the marvellous, and 

 are rather stretching it :" but I can assure you. Sir, it is correct, 

 as I have had it corroborated by several eye-witnesses. — Id, 



Pdrus major {Large Tomtit), — I have found the nests of 

 these birds more than once beneath an inverted flower-pot. 

 As before noticed in your Magazine, the old bird invariably 

 covers its eggs with feathers, before leaving the nest. — Id. 



Fishes feed and discer7i in sunny Weather, — By A. R. Y.'s 

 extract (p. 58.) from the British Naturalist, it appears the 

 author of that work says, " that fish do not feed, and there- 

 fore we may conclude that they do not so well discern, small 

 bodies upon the surface, when the sun is bright." If the 

 author had ever been a May-fly fisher, he would have known 

 that bright weather and clear water were essentially necessary 

 to insure his success. This fly (? Sialis lutaria) which is one 

 of the best baits I know for large trouts, is much used by 

 YoL. V. — No. 25. u 



