MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 43 



surface had crawled the worms in countless thousands^ knotting and twining 

 themselves in glistening heaps, shews nothing now but a stony fragment, whose 

 very existence and former life are disputed. 



Richmond, Yorkshire, March IWi., 1851. 



Nesting of Books, (Corvus frugilegus.) — I venture to suggest, that, most 

 probably, Schwenekfeldt should have qualified his remark with the addition of 

 ^'in his vicinity," where probably the largest trees near buildings, were near 

 cemeteries or churchyards. On reflection, I never remember having seen a 

 rookery except near a large building. There are very numerous instances in 

 Gloucestershire, of rookeries in large elm trees, near large, retired houses; 

 there is one in Brunswick, and also one in Queen Square, Bristol; one in St. 

 Dunstan's churchyard, near the Custom house, London. There is a single elm 

 tree, near the corner of Wood Street, Cheapside, in which, for several years, 

 there have been, usually, three or four nests; and I remember when the first 

 nest was built, there was no other that year: I have watched them with great 

 interest on account of the singular locality. Hence I conclude that Rooks 

 do not dislike either retired or noisy situations; and most often select large 

 trees near buildings; but, not having had a Rook's education, I am unable to decide 

 whether they do so from preferring to live near mankind. — Henry TucJcett, 

 Frenchay, Bristol, 3 mo: 8th., 1851. 



Incubation of the BaHridge (Perdix cinerea.) — A few years ago I saw a 

 paragraph in some periodical, alluding to Jeremiah, xvii. 11, '^^As the Partridge 

 sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not;" and adding, that some highland 

 shepherds had asserted, to the writer, that the Partridge did not complete the 

 hatching, but vacated the nest for several hours previously. If that keen 

 observer of nature, Waterton, or some other, could throw any light on this 

 question; it would be very interesting. — Idem. 



Early appearance of the Cuckoo, (Cuculus canorusj) at Malvern. — I send you 

 an extract from a letter, which I received the other day from my sister, by 

 which it appears that the Common Cuckoo was seen at Malvern, as early as 

 the 12th. of January last. I may mention that my sister, having lived with 

 me some time, has been in the habit of noticing and paying some attention 

 to the difierent birds, so that I do not think it probable she would be 

 mistaken as to the species. The following is the extract : — "I quite forgot to 

 tell you, that, on Sunday, the 12th. of January, while we were at Malvern, 

 we heard a Cuckoo : we, that is, Annie and Charles Kenpey, George Gibbes, 

 and myself, were walking on the hills, and distinctly heard , it. At first we 

 thought it could not be so, and set it down to Lady Wilmot's parrot imitating 

 one. On our return home, we were all standing in the Easted's garden; 

 when Mr. Easted called out, "Why, there flies a Cuckoo!" and we all saw 



