160 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



Peafowl, (Pavo cristatus ) — It is supposed by many — and amongst the many, some scientific 

 Natiu'alists — that the white variety of tliis bird, which is so frequently seen about gentlemen's 

 houses, is not of the same stock as the common. Having had a considerable number of these 

 elegant birds, I assert, without fear of contradiction, that the white variety is one and the same 

 with the more common, both being reared by the same birds. They are more delicate than the 

 common, and form a beautiful addition to a gentleman's grounds. — Idem. 



We believe it is always the case that Albinos, or animals in which the pigmentum niynun is 

 deficient, are more delicate than those with the natural colours. AVe have no doubt that our 

 correspondent is connect in his statement, as to the Wliite Peafowl being only a delicate variety 

 of the common.— B. R. M. 



Anecdote of a Blackbird. — A young lady residing in Banft', who has a love for flowers, had, 

 in the spring of 1849, in a portion of a garden set apart for that purpose, planted a selection of 

 choice annuals. As is customary in flower plots, a small stick or pin was stuck into the eai'th, 

 to mark where each species Avas planted; and in the top of these sticks were introduced, by 

 means of a slit being made, slips of paper uiscribed with the name of the plant. Now, it would 

 most naturally appear that these tickets or slips of paper could be of no use to any party ; yet, 

 much to the surprise of the lady, a few of them, day after day, most miraculously disappeared, 

 leaving the empty sticks to tell that they were gone. "WTiat added to the mystery was, that 

 some were left here and there, wliich seemed to indicate that the thief did not Avish to take 

 them away indiscriminately, so as to strip all the sticks bare in one place. It was very 

 marvellous, the lady thought, and wondered if it was a trick any one was playing. Her brother, 

 with whom she lived, was informed of the circumstance, but he knew notliing of the matter; 

 the servants were next questioned, but they too knew as little, and had seen no one near the 

 place but the lady herself. Days passed away, and still the tickets were disappearing, to the 

 no small surprise of all in the house, for now all were on- the alert to detect, if possible, the 

 supposed fairy or fairies who were playing their pranks with the tickets, but their watchfulness 

 seemed to no purpose. After a long interval, howciver, old Father Time at last unveiled the 

 whole afliiir. The lady, rising one moniing rather earlier than usual, and having gone to her 

 bed-chamber window, which looked into the garden, to ascertain the state of the weather, 

 observed a Blackbird hopping amongst her now almost ticketless bed of aimnals. At this she 

 was not at all surprised, because bii'ds were numerous in the garden, being, indeed, encouraged 

 to come ther'e. But judge her a.stonishment when she beheld Blackie seize a hold of one of 

 the remaining tickets with her bill, and tug lustily to get it disengaged from the stick, but 

 failed in doing so ; the stick, like an honest servant, would not give up its charge. (This may 

 explain why one was left here and there, ius already alluded to.) But the bird, not to be 

 beaten, tried another, and succeeded, and, flying awaj^, disappeared with the prize among the 

 branches of a pear tree fai-ther up the garden, llie secret was now out; for the lady, going 

 into the garden to the pear tree, was most agreeably surprised at seeing in a cavity, all her 

 lost tickets in the form of a Blackbird's nest. Being an admirer of the sweet and melodious, 

 as well as a lover of the beautiful and fragrant gems of nature, the nest was allowed to remain 

 unmolested, in the hope that the sable builders might be enabled to rear a brood of young in 

 the tenement so strangely constructed. But, unfortunately, this was not to be, for a se\cre 

 stonn coming on before the nest wtis completed, caused it to give way and fall to the ground. — 

 Thomas Edwaeds, Banff", June 11th., 1851. 



A specimen of the Snow Bunting, which has been presented to me by Mr. John Dickson, of 

 this place, was shot near Scarbro', on the 26th. of Mai'ch last. — F. 0. MoKnis, Naft'erton 

 Vicarage, Driffield, July 1st., 18.51. 



TJie Tlirmh. — A person in this town, named Eothwell, with whom I am acquainted, has 

 had a fine cock Thrush in his possession for about two ycai-s. It was a nestling when he 

 obtained it. About ten days ago, he got a nest of five young Throstles, which he purposed rearing 

 by hand, and had so fed them in the sight of the old bird for a day or two, wlien he observed 

 that it appeared a good deal interested in the young brood, and was flying about the cage with 

 food in its bill; at the suggestion of a person who saw this, he put the whole of the birds in 

 one cage, and, strange to say, the old bird has continued to feed the young ones ever since. 

 If a morsel of raw meat be placed on the cage, he innnediatcly seizes it, and then, anxiously 



