220 



MISCELLANEA. 



noticed a weasel in full gallop coming forward, evidently in 

 hot pursuit. The Aveasel came close up to him, and was killed 

 by a blow from the butt-end of his whip. (2.) Only two days 

 ago, when it was a hard frost, Mr. Lilly was with a friend in 

 the country, five miles from Berwick, when they saw a Wea- 

 sel crossing the road before them, with something heavy in 

 its mouth. The weasel was shot, and the prey was found to 

 be a large toad. 



The Mallet (Mugil chelo). — " Coldingham. During the 

 past and beginning of the present week, a rather singular cir- 

 cumstance occurred at Coldingham shore, in the appearance of 

 a large shoal of fish, very rare in this locality, of the Mallet 

 species. An unusual number of fish were observed swimming 

 about for several days, going and returning with the tide, but no 

 particular notice was taken of them until Monday last, when 

 they set in very thick, literally crowding the harbour. The 

 entrance was secured by nets, and a large quantity of the 

 fish caught, and conveyed fresh to the Edinburgh market. 

 They have not since been seen, and it is believed have not 

 appeared on any other part of the coast. The case is not al- 

 together without a precedent in this quarter, a somewhat 

 similar occurrence having taken place about ten years ago, a 

 little farther to the west." — Berwick Advertiser, April 10, 1847. 



April 24. — To-day Mr. William Dunlop brought me a speci- 

 men of the male Merlin, which he had shot on the moor above 

 Mayfield, on the 22d inst. The day previous he saw the bird 

 strike down a partridge. The merlin and its mate were 

 seemingly engaged in building a nest, which was placed on a 

 tree, — a fact worth record. — N.B. Mr. Broderick questioned 

 the accuracy of Mr. Dunlop*s fact ; because it was contrary 

 to the general observation, and befcause the Merlin does not 

 construct a nest at so early a period of the year. The Mer- 

 lins, Mr. Broderick suggested, might be merely roosting on 

 the tree ; and the nest the remains of that of some bird's of 

 the previous year. 



