112 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



descent in safety; since that time she has frequently accomplished the same 

 feat. I saw her do it last week in less than two minutes. The chimney 

 is nearly twenty-five feet in height, the lower two- thirds built of the common 

 clay-slate of the neighbourhood, the upper third of bricks; the flue measures 

 below twenty- seven inches by eighteen, gradually decreasing to the brick- 

 work, where, as well as I can judge from below, it is eighteen inches square 

 to the top. — Stephen Cloqg, Looe, March 2nd., 1857. 



Long-eared Owl. — I had a fine specimen of the Long-eared Owl sent me 

 in the early part of January, shot on Braddock Moor by the gamekeeper 

 of the Hon. G. M. Fortescue, of Boconnoe, who also shot, a few days after, 

 what he calls a very large Kite. I have not been able to get any des- 

 cription of the bird, but suppose it to be the Moor Buzzard. — Idem. 



The Haven. — I was gratified on old Christmas Day by seeing a flight 

 of no less than sixteen Ravens — a sight rarely seen in this part of Corn- 

 wall now-a-days. — Idem. 



Indications of Spring. — There are many indications of the coming of 

 spring to be daily seen in this locality; — snowdrops are already past their 

 prime, whilst in many sheltered sunny nooks may be seen clusters of beautiful 

 primroses, and here and there the bright golden buttercup. More than a week 

 since I saw a very fine specimen of the Sulphur Butterfly, and yesterday, 

 in little more than one hour's walk, I numbered no less than fifteen of those 

 insects, (all males,) with one Tortoiseshell and two Peacock Butterflies sporting 

 about with all the graceful and buoyant ease of that beautiful tribe of 

 insects. Spring also begins to influence the feathered tribes; — Herons are 

 to be seen repairing their nests, preparatory to incubation, and on Saturday 

 last I observed a Wren busily occupied in building operations; whilst the 

 songs of our native warblers and songsters are to be heard on every side, 

 filling our ears with melody, and forming a concert not to be equalled in 

 our finest cities. — Idem. 



White-tailed Eagle. — In January last there was a fine specimen of the 

 White- tailed Eagle shot by two labourers in the parish of East Quantock- 

 head, near Bridgewater. It is now at Mrs. Turles', bird-stuffer, of this 

 town, who has shewn her well-known talent in preserving it, who, I con- 

 sider, second to none in that art. — J. Melhuish, Taunton, February 23rd., 

 1857. 



Rare Birds. — On the 20th. of last November I had a very good male 

 specimen of the Little Auk, (Uria alle,) from Welney Wash; on the 

 21st., a beautiful male Grey Shrike, [Lanius excubitor;) December 2nd., 

 I shot a male Chiff Chaif, (Sylvia rufa,) at Batesbite, now in the collection 

 of A. F. Sealy, Esq. Dec. 6th., two Snow Buntings from Ely, and two from 



