91 



ftlktlliraratrs Unta. 



Wild Cat. — One of the largest specimens of the Wild Cat ever killed 

 in this country, (Scotland,) is to be seen in the shop of Mr. Ingram, gun- 

 maker, 100, Union Street, Glasgow. It was trapped on the shooting-ground 

 of Mr. Dennistown, of Golfhill, Caithnesshire. It measures four feet from 

 the nose to the tip of the tail, and when caught weighed twenty-two pounds. 

 — N. B. Daily Hail. — J. Mc. Intosh, The Grove, January, 1857. 



Great Black Woodpecker, (Picus martius.) — Vol. i., page 20, I have re- 

 corded the existence and breeding of this bird in England, particularly in 

 the county of Surrey. This announcement, the readers of "The Naturalist'' 

 will remember, was met by some of our learned zoologists as an attempt 

 on my part to "gull," and that I had mistaken a Tom-Tit for a Black 

 Woodpecker. How far I have gulled! the readers of "The Naturalist," 

 the following little fact will speak for itself: — In July, 1856, I paid a 

 visit to a particular friend in Surrey, and having occasion to pass the 

 well-known "Black Bear Inn," at Esher, I pulled up to refresh myself, 

 when, on entering the door, what caught my eyes but a fine specimen of 

 a ''Black Woodpecker," which I then remembered having, while I resided 

 at Claremont, been shot by Mr. Storey, in whose possession it still remains. 

 In conversation with Mr. Storey about this bird, and others in his possession, 

 he informed me that some gentlemen from London, who professed to have 

 some knowledge of birds and Natural History, (?) had the impudence to assert 

 that he never shot the bird in question in the county of Surrey. Now 

 every bird in Mr. Storey's possession has been shot by his own hands, and 

 in the county of Surrey. What is, after this, the value of mere assertion 

 made by bookworm Zoologists? — Idem. 



The Crested Grebe, (Podiceps cristatus.) — A fine young specimen of this 

 bird was shot by myself off Brighton a fortnight ago. This bird is by 

 no means common in these islands. The young in their first plumage are 

 without the crests and tufts. — Frank C. d'Alquen, 8, Montpellier Terrace, 

 Brighton, January, 1857. 



Attachment of the Nightingale to young of its own species. — Mr. W T agget, 

 a piano-forte tuner in this town, had a male Nightingale in confinement, 

 and having found the nest of a Nightingale with two young ones, placed 

 it in the cage with his bird; and, strange to say, the old bird brought up 

 the other two, one of which is now alive and in fine condition. — Idem. 



Notices in Zoology. — Bats flying on 27th. February; some Rooks' nests 

 ready with eggs on the 18th. March; 19th., Boat Beetles rising; 6th. April, 

 some young Crows hatched; 9th., heard Chiff-Chaff; 17th., Summer Snipes; 

 21st., Cuckoo; 28th., Swallows.— R. P. Alington, Swinhope Rectory, 1856. 



