8 HABITS OF THE NATTERJACK. 



leaves this country early in the summer ; I have imagined that on account of the 

 shortness of the time which the Cuckoo spends in this country, it would not be 

 able to rear its own young, and hence the economy of leaving the egg in the nest 

 of another bird. 



In my sc' ?>o.l r boy days I once put five young Starlings, which I had taken 

 from a- nole in a tree, into the nest of another pair of Starlings, which had built 

 in a Pigeon-cove and had four young ones. The nine birds were reared, but the 

 chirping was incessant, and the labour of the old birds very great. 



The greatest boldness I ever witnessed in a parent bird was shewn by a hen 

 Partridge, which, on being surprised with her young covey, dashed like the 

 domestic hen at a spaniel, and fairly drove the Dog away, and who came cower- 

 ing to my heels. The beautiful bird, fired by her maternal feelings, came to 

 within a few yards of me, and then flew away to her mate, who had decoyed her 

 young away into safety. What a contrast this appears to the actions of the 

 Cuckoo ! but the laws of Nature are as unerring in the actions of each for the 

 propagation of their species, and the instinct that teaches the Ostrich to leave her 

 eggs in the sand, is as all-sufficient as the instinct that causes the Tomtit to build 

 so warm and close a nest that all the heat of her little body may be retained for 

 her eggs. 



Maidstone, Nov. 1837. 



HABITS OF THE NATTERJACK (Rana rubetra, Linn.) 

 By R. Tudor, Esq. 



Dear Sir, — I have received the following very interesting communication 

 respecting the habits of the Natterjack, from R. Tudor, Esq., of Bootle (an 

 accurate and intelligent naturalist), which, if you think worthy of being inserted 

 in your magazine, you are at liberty to publish. 



Being an observer of this curious and interesting animal, I beg leave to forward 

 to you a few particulars relative to its habits. The Natterjack is a reptile 

 intermediate between the Frog and the Toad, and is found in great abundance at 

 Bootle. Turton's description of the animal is, " Body about two inches and a 

 quarter long, tubercled, one inch and a quarter broad, above of a dirty yellow- 

 clouded with brown, beneath paler with black spots, back with a yellow line ; 

 fore feet four-toed ; hind feet five-toed and a little webbed." Its time of spawn- 

 ing is much later in the spring than that of the Common Frog, being about the 

 latter end of April. It is singular to observe the impregnated eggs strewed 

 about the shore after expulsion, in clusters bearing a great resemblance to strings 

 of black beads, extending many yards in length, and convoluted in every possible 



