MISCELLANY. 43 



same order the primordial flower of each inflorescence is generally five-petaled, 

 while all the other flowers are apetalous. — Annates des Sciences Naturelles. 



CHAPTER OF MISCELLANIES. 



ZOOLOGY. 



The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida) shot near St. Andrews. — A spe- 

 cimen of this pretty little bird (which you have figured so beautifully in Nos. 

 xiii. and xiv.) was shot here in 1834, on the banks of the Kinnesburn, by the 

 miller who lives at the side of the stream. The specimen, which I wished to 

 purchase, is still in his possession. — Henry Buist, Law Park, near St. Andreies, 

 Nov. 14, 1837. 



Partridges. — The Woodstock (Virginia) Sentinel of Nov. 2 says: — "Par- 

 tridges are so numerous in our vicinity that they have actually marched into the 

 stores of the village, offering themselves up willing sacrifices to the delighted 

 merchant. There is scarcely a garden in town where they are not to be found ; 

 and one morning this week we saw several sitting upon the market-house of this 

 place." 



Frog sitting on a Fish's back. — When walking in the spring of the present 

 year by the side of a large fish-pond near Loose, in the vicinity of Maidstone, I 

 observed a person looking very intently at something in the water. On in- 

 quiring what had arrested his attention, he replied that he had seen a most 

 extraordinary sight — no less than a large Frog sitting upon the back of a fish, 

 the latter swimming about very slowly with its burden. He pointed out where 

 he last saw it, but a ripple caused by the breeze prevented my seeing it. I 

 should certainly have been very doubtful of the truth of the man's story had I 

 not seen in the Complete Angler the following curious account of a similar 

 circumstance, related by " Dubravius, a bishop of Bohemia," who " saw a Frog 

 when a Pike lay, very sleepily and quiet, by the shore-side, leap upon his head ; 

 and the Frog, having expressed malice or anger by his swollen cheeks and staring 

 eyes, did stretch out his legs, and embrace the Pike's head, and presently reach 

 them to his eyes, tearing, with them and his teeth, those tender parts ; the Pike, 

 moved with anguish, moves up and down the water, and rubs himself against 

 weeds, and whatever he thought might quit him of his enemy : but all in vain, 

 for the Frog did continue to ride triumphantly, and to bite and torment the Pike, 

 till his strength failed ; and then the Frog sank with the Pike to the bottom of 

 the water : then, presently, the Frog appeared again at the top ; and croaked, and 



g2 



