5 14» Short Communications : — 



escape of the bird by flight when pursued. — J. G. Lexden, 

 Essex, 3d of 4th mo., 1834. 



[The disgorgement may subserve to this effect, but is not 

 fear the operating cause of it? We have been told, or have 

 read of a vulture, or some bird, which, on being carried in the 

 arms of some one, disgorged upon the dress, or person, of the 

 carrier. A heron, disabled of flight, and captured, which we 

 once saw carried in the arms, did not so (its stomach might 

 be empty), but made a somewhat vigorous unexpected peck 

 at the face of the person carrying it.] 



The Falconidce, all of them, like the Owls, return hy the Mouth 

 the indigestible Remains of the Food they have swallowed, and 

 generally just before they go to look for a fresh supply. 



Insectivorous Birds also reject or disgorge the indurated 

 parts of coleopterous insects. — Y. May 25. 1834. 



[The Gulls, it would seem (p. 512.), and the Rook (244. 

 460.), also return by the Mouth the indigestible Remains of their 

 Food.-] 



The Eggs of the Carrion Crow are sometimes covered, (VI. 

 209.) — I am nothing of an ornithologist, and feel by no 

 means inclined to question the allegations of such a writer as 

 Mr. Waterton, but I think the following remark (VI. 209.), 

 in reference to the nest and eggs of the carrion crow, should 

 be received with some qualification : — " Not a single particle 

 of the lining of the nest is ever seen betwixt the eggs and the 

 eye of him who has ascended the tree to take a view of them." 

 This, I am bound to believe, had I no other authority than 

 that of Mr. Waterton, is generally the case ; yet, certainly, 

 not universally. I climbed a birch tree last year, on which 

 was situated a carrion crow's nest: it contained four eggs, 

 and of these two only were visible, the others being covered 

 by a quantity of loose moss, and wool, contained in the in- 

 terior of the nest. This is the only instance I have seen, but 

 I am persuaded that it is an occasional occurrence, or it 

 would not, probably, have fallen under my observation, during 

 the few opportunities I have taken of examining crows' nests. 

 I presume, however, that the nest of the carrion crow is most 

 frequently perfectly smooth, as Mr. Waterton says ; but I 

 have observed it in two or three instances to contain more or 

 less loose materials, such as wool, hair, moss, &c. — J.Jones, 

 Gelly, Llanfair, Montgomeryshire, March 28. 1834. 



A pair of crows take up, generally speaking, a certain 

 district, from which they beat all intruders ; and woe betide 

 the unfortunate straggler that chances to search for a dinner 

 upon their domain. If one of the pair that is thus located 

 be killed, another partner is immediately procured, and domi- 



