PROCE:^ DINGS OF SOCIETIES. 215 



Cochin China Chickens and Sebright-laced feathered Bantams within the same 

 aviary^ to preserve them from the cats, with which I am surrounded, I am 

 necessarily obliged always to keep a quantity of straw within the aviary for 

 their use, which is within reach of the Pigeons, and of which they avail 

 themselves when not sufficiently supplied with birch broom heads, but never 

 otherwise. I have only one complaint to make on the subject of the twigs, 

 and that is, the Pigeons never appear to consider their nest completed while 

 one stick remains in view, and there is a possibility of dragging it in. 



In reference to the nesting of the Jackdaw, I may observe that they not 

 only breed in churches, towers, castles, and hollow trees, but I have often 

 known them build their nests in the crevices of stone quarries in the vicinity 

 of Bath. When a boy I often assisted others in taking nests from such a 

 situation; and well remember on one occasion raking out one from an interstice 

 in the quarry by the assistance of a long blackberry thorn, which I twisted 

 into the nest, and in time withdrew altogether; it consisted of pieces of flannel, 

 rags, and cloth, and an old black kid glove, an old pen, and a quantity of 

 sticks, wool, etc., but, much to my disappointment, no egg. The Jackdaws 

 sat on the top of the quarry watching my proceedings with great interest 

 during the process of ejectment, and I dare say thought it a most illegal 

 step. — G. H. Broton, No. 5, Bears Place, New Noiih Road, London, September 

 9th., I80I. 



Bemarhahle appearance of Oak trees, at JVohurn, Beds. — A great number 

 of the Oak trees in this district are so completely covered with Oak-apple 

 galls, produced by the puncture of the Cynips quercus, as to have more the 

 appearance of Apple trees loaded with ripe fruit, (only rather small ones,) 

 than Oak trees, there being such immense quantities of them. They have 

 a very pretty effect at this time of the year, and where other trees grow 

 beside them in full leaf, produce a very pleasing contrast. — G. B. Clarke, 

 Wohiirn, Beds., June 1th., 1851. 



^c^rnrrrMugs nf Inrirtirs. 



Yorkshire Naturalists' Club, Monthly Meeting, Wednesday, October \st., I80I. — Tlio club met 

 as usual, at Mr. Graham's, in Jubborgate, wlien E. Charlesworth, Esq. occupied the chair, 

 in the absence of the president, Professor Phillips; there was a full attendance of members. 



Mr. "W". Thompsox exhibited a fine specimen of the Ring Ouzel, (Turdus torquatus,) which 

 he had shot on the 19th. of September last, in the Residence Gardens, close to York Minster. 

 This is a most unusiial locality for this bird; which, however is not very uncommon in some 

 parts of the "West Riding of Yorksliire. 



ilR. Graham exhibited an old female Partridge, (Perdix cincrea,) which was shot by TV. 

 Garwood, Esq., near York, about the middle of last month. It was remarkable in having the 

 upper mandible veiy much elongated, and curved upwards and backwards, almost like the bill 

 of the Avocet. This curious malformation must have rendered feeding somewhat difficult, yet 

 the bird was in good condition. 



Mr. Graham also shewed an extremely large male specimen of the Red Grouse, (Lagopns 

 BritannicHS,) which was lately shot in Yorkshire, by Mr. Wilkinson, of Myton. This remark- 

 able bird weighed full twenty-nine ounces — the usual weight in Scotland is about twenty-five 



