MIf5CELLANE0US NOTICES, 21 



Birrainghani, and was assured that it had been procured in England; and I 

 dare say that there are many more instances than mine on record. — J. Mc' Intoshj 



Charminster, Dorset. Nov. \d., 1850. 



On the incubation and rearing of the young of the Moorhen (Gallinula 

 chloropus.) — In confirmation of a curious anecdote, related by Mr. Yarrell, in 

 his work on ^^British Birds/' vol. iii, page 33, with regard to the incubation 

 and rearing of the young of the common Moorhen, I observed the following: — 

 In the year 1844, and in many subsequent ones, I had a pair of the above 

 birds located in a small pond near my house; they became so tame, as, frequently, 

 early in the morning, to be found, when the door had been left open, inside 

 the hall picking up the crumbs from the floor. Upon being disturbed, they 

 would quietly run out of the door, stop, look back with regret, and with a 

 jerk of the tail commence feeding on the grass. They commonly bred three 

 times in the season; the first brood being hatched early in June or in the 

 last week in May: two broods followed the parents at the same time, and 

 were fed by them indiscriminately. Upon the third brood being hatched, the 

 first was driven away by the parent birds. The fact that I wished more 

 particularly to mention is, that I constantly observed the young bird of the 

 former brood, after receiving food from the parent, proceed with it in search 

 of one of its younger relations, and with the greatest tenderness administer 

 to its bodily wants, by giving to it the food intended for itself. — Bichard 

 Pye Alington, Sivinhope Rectory ^ near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. Feb. 8th., 1851. 



Capture of Rare Birds. — On the 19th. of January, 1850, a beautiful specimen 

 of the young of the Eared Grebe {Podiceps auritus) was captured in the parish 

 of Thorsway, Lincolnshire : it was found by some labouring men sitting on the 

 top of a straw stack, at least a mile and a half from any water, and knocked 

 down with a snow-ball; it lived for two days in the possession of the Eev. 

 Edward Cove, of Thorsway, and fed upon some barleymeal which was offered 

 to it: it was found dead on the Tuesday morning. During the same winter, 

 a female specimen of the Common Scoter (Oidemia nigra) was shot by the 

 Rev. W. Marsden, of Louth, on a small stream quite in the town, and at 

 least twelve miles from the sea. The same gentleman also captured a specimen 

 of the Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus hyperboreus) near Louth. The above 

 specimens are all at present in the possession of Mr. Marsden. Many years 

 ago, a specimen of the Avocet was shot by Mr. Harneis, of Thorganby 

 Hall, feeding on the edge of Croxby lake, Lincolnshire; and a specimen of 

 the Peregrine Falcon was shot by his son, (and now in his possession) in the 

 parish of Hawerby. (vide page 90, "Morris's British Birds.") I also saw a 

 specimen of the above noble bird, about six weeks ago, in this neighbourhood. 

 The Dotterel, (Charadrius morinellus) once so common on the north wolds of 

 Lincolnshire, is now very rarely seen, though it still continues to visit some 

 land, newly enclosed by my brother, Mr. Pye, from the sea, in the parish of 

 North Summercoats, in small numbers, twice a year; going to and returning 



