112 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



road, and started off at full speed, crossing a brook and several fields, and 

 it was some time before I could catch it, or rather coax it to follow me 

 back, as it will not let me touch it, but shifts away when I make the 

 attempt, and I can only catch it in close quarters. It barks in a shrill, 

 high tone, and appears very fierce when approached by a stranger in a yard 

 in which it cannot get away, and i9 remarkably active and agile. The 

 sire is a white terrier, and my Vulpo-canine produced two whelps, also by 

 a white terrier, in January, one oF which is living, of a white colour with 

 foxy brown marks about the head. It is less shy than the mother, but 

 seems much alarmed, running in a crouching or trailing attitude, at the 

 barking of dogs. Its appearance too is very vulpine. — J. H. Hewer, Reading, 

 April 20th., 1858. 



Eggs of the Nuthatch. — In the April number of "The Naturalist," 

 among the miscellaneous notices, a reference is made to an article of mine 

 in the number of December last, on the Nuthatch, wherein I stated that 

 the eggs were "like the Wryneck's, white." I beg at once to acknowledge 

 this as an unpardonable and unaccountable error, and how I could have 

 committed it I cannot conceive. There is no bird, perhaps, with which I 

 am more familiar. The eggs vary a good deal, but are always more or 

 less blotched with a brownish colour. — 0. S. Round, April, 1858. 



The Redstart. — On the 9th. inst., a male Redstart was shot at Caldy 

 Island, Pembrokeshire, on the grass-plot in front of the proprietor's resi- 

 dence. As this is the first known instance of its occurring there, the fact 

 may perhaps be considered worthy of being recorded. The Redstart is rare 

 in Wales, but especially so in the western part of the Principality. It 

 was formerly considered not to visit Wales. Yarrell says, "This bird also 

 visits Wales now, and has been obtained once in Ireland, near Belfast." 

 The proprietor of Caldy Island, who shot the specimen in question, had 

 never seen the bird before, although he had lived in Wales upwards of 

 half a century.— E. K. B., April 12th., 1858. 



The Black Redstart, etc. — On the 25th. of last month, I had the good 

 fortune to shoot a Black Redstart, in full summer plumage and excellent 

 feather. Although I know it is contrary to the generally received opinion, 

 I am inclined to think that it had but recently arrived here, as I found 

 it in company with a small flight of Wheatears, the first I had seen for 

 the year, all of which I know had but lately come over. I have seen 

 many Chiff Chaffs, but have as yet not heard a sound of their song. I 

 saw a Hooded Crow here a day or two since — a very rare occurrence in 

 this neighbourhood. He appeared to be much buffeted by his black-coated 

 brothers, into whose company he had thrust himself. — Stephen Clogg, Looe, 

 April 5th., 1858. 



