22 MISCELLANEOUS XOTICES, 



from their breeding ground. A wild Swan located itself on Croxby lake during 

 the whole of the winter of lS49-oO; and on the same piece of water, I am 

 told bj a friend, that a remarkably fine specimen of the Northern Diver was 

 shot in his presence, and preserved. I should doubt his correctness about the 

 species, but hope to have an opportunity of seeing it in a short time, when 

 I will forward a more certain account. — Idem. 



Early Nesting of the Common Thrush, (Turdus musicus,) near Ripon. — On 

 the 19th. of March last, and during the severe weather prevalent at that time, 

 I had brought to me the nest of a Throstle, complete, with two eggs. Its 

 early production induced me to examine and compare the same with a nest 

 and eggs taken in the summer time, some years back. I found a considerable 

 difference, as follows: — The eggs taken on March 19th. measured one inch and 

 one-sixteenth in length, and six-eighths and one-sixteenth of an inch in diam- 

 eter. Those taken in the summer measured one inch and a quarter long, 

 and seven-eighths and one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter. — T. Stuhhs, Ripon, 

 January 20th., 18ol. 



This is a very curious circumstance, and we are much obliged to Mr. Stubbs 

 for pointing it out. It probably is an instance of checked development, in 

 consequence of the severity of the weather; an effect which we should not 

 have expected to have manifested itself in this way. — B. R. M. 



Nest of tlie Kingfisher (Alcedo Ispida.) — There have been so many different 

 opinions respecting the materials of which the nest of this bird is formed, 

 that the following account cannot but interest your readers: — A highly- 

 respectable miller residing near Kiveton Park, assures me that he had a nest 

 last year in his mill-dam, which he unfortunately broke with his spade in 

 endeavouring to dig it out: it was of an oval form, and composed entirely 

 of fish bones: — Bewick in vol. ii page 21, states that he had a nest sent 

 him ^^made entirely of small fish bones, cemented together with a brown 

 glutinous substance:" — I must say even this does not convince me; for I have 

 often searched the holes from which I have seen the birds fly, but never could 

 discover a nest: — Samuel Hannaford Jun., Kiveton Parle, Rotherham, Feb. 1th., 

 1851. 



A Piping Thrash (TurdiLS Musicus.) — An uncle of mine had a Thrush 

 which he brought up from the nest, and by constantly playing on the flute 

 in the room where it was kept, the bird was able in a very few weeks, to 

 whistle with great accuracy three or four tunes. Unfortunately a cat got at 

 him one day, and so severely mangled the poor bird, that it died very soon 

 after; but even whilst dying, it commenced one of the tunes in .imitation 

 of church bells. — Idem. 



A Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus,) attacked by small birds. — Between eight and 

 nine one evening in June last, I saw a female Cuckoo flying towards a 

 plantation at Shenriers Bridge, near Totnes, Devonshire, where I had frequently 



