46 MISCELLAHY. 



the creature appears in good health and spirits, and will probably prove as great 

 a source of attraction as the Chimpanzee. — Morning Post, Nov. 1837. 



Sagacity of a Horse. — Last week, two Horses belonging to Mr. Ibbotson, of 

 Dungworth, were turned into a pasture in which there was a pit four yards deep ; 

 shortly afterwards, Mr. Ibbotson observed one of them to be very uneasy, fre- 

 quently running to the gate and trying to get out of the field. Thinking that 

 the Horse wanted to get under cover, as it was hailing very fast at the time, 

 he went to open the gate, where he was met by the Horse, which began 

 neighing very loud, and then gallopped to the mouth of the pit. Mr. Ibbotson 

 was attracted to the place, where he discovered the other Horse at the bottom ; 

 assistance was immediately procured, and Smiler was released from the awkward 

 predicament in which he had fallen, without having sustained any injury. The 

 other, on seeing his companion in a fair way for being liberated, started for home 

 at full speed. — Sheffield Iris, Nov., 1837. 



Curiosities in Natural History. — A fine Hare, curiously marked, shot a 

 few days ago by George Broadrick, Esq., on his estate at Ellerholme, near 

 Wroot, Lincolnshire, is now in the hands of Mr. Reid, of this town, for preserva- 

 tion. The animal has four white feet ; the fore legs, breast, and part of the 

 shoulders are perfectly white, and a narrow white streak or band extends from 

 each shoulder completely across the back, forming a complete ring. — Mr. Reid has 

 also in his possession a perfect specimen of the Promerine Gull Qthe Pomerine 

 Skua, Lestris pomerinus, is the bird alluded to. — Ed.], shot a short time since 

 near Thome. He has ' likewise, among numerous other curiosities, a beautiful 

 Purple Tringa (Tringa purpurea), lately shot at Dinnington, near Worksop, by 

 J. C. Athorpe, Esq. — Doncaster Gazette, Dec. 1, 1837. 



Habits of the Spring Oatear (Budytes flava). — The question respecting the 

 habits of Budytes flava (Vol. II., pp. 103, 294, 422) can only be settled by 

 observation. Mine certainly agrees with that of Mr. Salmon, as this species, on 

 its arrival here, resorts to the banks of the river Mersey, where during the spring 

 numbers may continually be seen busily engaged in seeking for food. The same 

 station is also frequented by Motacilla maculosa, the Pied "Wagtail. This latter 

 species seems rather to prefer the margins of ponds in the vicinity of farm-houses, 

 &c. — Peter Rylands, Bewsey House, near Warrington, Dec. 4, 1837- 



Reply to Observations by Peter Rylands, Esq. — In reply to Mr. Ry- 

 lands (Vol. II., p. 361), in Dr. Pulteney's Catalogue I find the following pas- 

 sages : — " Procellaria puffinus, the Shearwater Petrel, Pen., No. 258 ; Edwards, 

 359 ; Lewin, I., No. 218. I cannot from my own inspection ascertain that it is 

 this bird, but from the descriptions received of it I can but little doubt it ; and 

 the same bird frequents the high cliffs of Purbeck and Portland." — " Anas 

 fuligula, Tufted Duck, Penn., No. 274, Lewin, No. 257. Shot at Bryan- 



