MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 161 



looking round, the firet mouth that opens receives it. About a week after the birds had been 

 together, one of them, which had been in a weak condition from the first, died, and its place 

 was supplied by another young bird of the same description; tliis did not seem to relish the 

 introduction afr first, but gradually foil into the ranks with the others, and this afternoon I 

 saw the whole of the birds iii turn get fed as I have described. — J. A. Eobinson, Southport? 

 Lancashire, May 8th., 1851. 



Note on a Black Cock. — On Sunday moniing, the 20th. of April, a Black Cock was captured 

 by Hale, an under keeper of Lord Broughton de Gyffoi'd's, on Urchfont Down, near Devizes, 

 AVilts. The bird is living, and in the possession of Thomas Xoyes Lewis, Esq., of Wedhampton 

 Cottage, near Devizes. The circumstance is remarkable, as wo are not aware that Black Game 

 is found nearer than the New Forest, Hants, or some parts of Somersetshire. — From the Morning 

 Herald. 



European Hoopoe.— In the early part of this month, April, a fine specimen of that rare and 

 elegant bird, the Hoopoe, (TJpupa ejmps,) was shot m;ar Farringdon, by Mr. Chas. Ileynolds.— 

 E. Maysmob, Devizes, April 29th., 1851. 



Courage exhibited by a Hen, in defence of lier brood.— On Sunday morning last, a large 

 Rat attacked a brood of Chickens in the poultry-yard of W. Holdsworth, Esq., when the Hen 

 most valiantly defended her offspring, and successfully kept the Rat at bay, inflicting considerable 

 punishment. The Cock then came to the Hen's assistance, and by their imited efforts succeeded 

 in giving the rapacious intruder its quietus.— Nottingham Mercury. In Sun of March 29th., 1851. 



On the occurrence of eight Night-Herons on the River Erme, Devon, in May, 1849.— Although 

 the occurrence of these birds was recorded at the time, by my friend, the Rev. C. Bulteel, in 

 "The Zoologist," and elsewhere, still, as some of your already very numerous supporters may 

 not have seen it, and as I think I can add a little information on the subject, I forward you 

 a copy of the circumstance from my note-book:— On the 23rd. of May, 1849, as the Rev. C. 

 Bulteel was fishing near the mouth of the River Erme, he was informed by the gamekeeper of 

 Flete, that a curious bird had just been seen near that spot; ilr. Bulteel immediately procured 

 a gun, and went m pursuit of it, and out of a small alder-bed, flushed four Night-Herons, 

 which, within the three following days, he was so fortunate as to obtain, besides a pair more 

 Jin a neighbouring creek. He informs me they very frequently perched among the foliage of 



all trees, as though to screen themselves from observation, and, occasionally, on dead branches 

 lin a conspicuous situation, when they sat with their necks erect, keeping a sharp look out. 

 I After this occurrence, a solitary bird was frequently seen flying up and down the river, late on 

 i evenings, and early mornings, until June 22nd., when I accompanied Mr. Bulteel, and was so 

 [fortunate as to obtain it, and it proved to be a fine adult male bird; and on the afternoon of 

 fthe same day he shot a female, which I brushed out with my gun from a low, thick, alder- 

 [■fcush, just above Ermington. The male had a favourite haunt in a tliicket of sycamore bushes, 

 i about twelve feet in height, on the banks of the river, to which, though repeatedly disturbed, 

 [it constantly returned. It flew with its head close down upon its back, no neck being 

 {perceptible, somewhat quicker, but otherwise similar to the Common Heron. Out of these two, 

 ■ ■which I dissected, I took both the bones of small fish and eels, and there was the slime of 

 ' the latter about theii' beaks. They each had three streamers, (elongated naiTow feathers arising 



from the occiput, and gracefully arched over the back,) which, when the bii-d was alive, rested 

 Ion one another, appearing only as one: those in the females were three inches, and in the 

 ; males six inches in length, and the former also differed froin the latter in being sliglitly more 



ash-coloured about the sides of the neck and -wings. The irides were redAish lake, -the lore, 

 I dark green, and the legs straw-colour. ~R. A. Julian, Jun., Lara House, Plymouth, July 1851. 



Occurrence of the Little Spotted Woodpecker, (Picus minor.)— On April 22nd., 1851, I obtained 

 an adult male Littie Spotted Woodpecker, on some tall trees on the banks of the River Erme 

 near Ermington. —Idem. 



Occurrence of the Continental Pied Wagtail.— On April 24th, 1851, I was so fortunate as to 

 obtain in the marshes at Lara, a fine specimen of the Continental Pied Wagtail, with a 

 beautiful slate-coloured back. On comparing it with a skin of one I had given me, shot last 

 month at Saumur, France, it agreed with it in every respect. It appeared verv uneasy and 

 VOL. I. Y 



