138 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



is a very beautiful specimen of its kind, measuring thirty-two inches from 

 beak to tail. Mr. James, we believe, is having it preserved. — From the 

 "Carlisle Patriot, communicated by T. K. Atkinson, Esq. 



Occurrence of the Tree Sparrow in Devonshire. — A few days since, when 

 examining a lot of small birds exposed for sale in the Plymouth market, I 

 was much pleased to find among them two specimens of the Tree Sparrow, 

 (Fringilla montana,) never having before observed the species in Devonshire. 

 I ascertained they had been killed, with other small birds, on a farm in the 

 neighbourhood. — John Gatcombe, Wyndham Place, Plymouth, March 28th., 

 1857. 



Common Bittern. — A fine specimen of this bird was captured alive some 

 months ago on the banks of the Isis, just below Abingdon. The bird had 

 gorged itself with fish to such an extent as to be unable to fly, which, on 

 being taken, it immediately disgorged. It is in the possession of a bird- 

 stuffer in that town, who has kept it with considerable care, and has succeeded 

 in partially taming it. — J. C. Thynne, St. Peter's College, Radley, March 

 30th., 1857. 



The First Egg. — I find among my notes for March, 1853, the following: — 

 "23rd. — In 'spite of wind and weather,' a pair of Hedge Sparrows seemed to 

 have resolved upon being first in having a home; hence through their rashness 

 I became this morning possessed of my first egg, taken from their nest. It 

 may appear cruel to rob them of their first pledge, but surely the frosts and 

 snows now prevalent would have destroyed it. The hedge in which they had 

 built had a north-east aspect, and in some parts was deeply imbedded in 

 snow-drifts." In 1854, my first egg was a Hedge Sparrow's, secured on 

 March 31st.: these occurrences were in Norfolk. My first egg of the present 

 year was, singularly, a Hedge Sparrow's, date March 30th. This is the 

 only instance I have known of this bird's nesting in Birmingham, for till 

 this season it has not been a visitor at the Elms. — G. R. Twinn, April 

 6th., 1857. 



TO THE EDITOR OF "THE NATURALIST." 



Accident has just made me acquainted with your pleasing publication; 

 and though I have no scientific knowledge whatever of any of the 

 "ologies" that make up the distinct components of natural history, I can 

 read a publication like yours with much the same pleasure I feel in 

 rambling through the fields and the woods. As a mere testimony of my 

 good will, I send you an account of a curious incident in my peripatetic 

 observances. — Wandering one Sunday evening in the neighbourhood of 

 Geneva, I saw something moving in the grass; on looking more nearly I 

 discovered two insects of the beetle tribe employed, the one pulling after 



