MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 165 



still earlier in other years. This remark has reference to the obsen-ation in the first part, 

 page 21, that the first brood is hatched early in June', or in the last week in May.— J. C. 

 Black Hall, Devon, May 13th., 1851. 



Tlie Siskin, (Fringilla spinus,)— I observed a small flock of about fourteen of these birds 

 on the 23rd. of January last, in the new park belonging to the Earl of Stamford and 

 "Wamngton, Dunham Massey, Cheshire.— Samuel Hoberts, The Downs, Bowdon, Cheshire. 



T/ie Nif/htittgale, (Sylvia luscinia,) I heard singing last season in a wood about one mile 



from Sliipley, near Bradford, Yorkshire. I understood this bird, at the commencement of its 



season, attracted such large audiences as to be almost a formidable rival of the Swedish Night- 

 ingale.— Idem. 



In March last, passing the entrance of the new park, Dunham Massey, I heard a strange 

 confusion of tongues from the sylvan choir, which, on examination, I found to proceed from 

 tlie fright occasioned by the passing of a Hawk in pursuit of a Song Thrush. Almost every 

 inhabitant of that portion of the wood had mounted the topmost branches of the trees, and 

 were uttering the most discordant sounds that can be imagined; when, as if by magic, the 

 discord immediately gave way to a burst of song from every throat capable of joining in the 

 hymn of thanksgiving, as it appeared, for their deliverance.— Idem. 



Carnivorous propensity of tlie Herring Gull, (Larus argentatus.)— Passing over an embankment 

 on the beach, between Lowestoft" and Yannouth, the early pai-t of last year, I came unexpectedly 

 upon this bird, which appeared to be resting itself upon the shingle; I approached it within 

 ten yards, when it rose. I then perceived it had endeavoured to swallow an animal too large 

 to pass the oesophagus, which it endeavoured to disgorge, after having settled a short distance 

 out at sea. For a wonder, I was without a gun, but, on the following morning, I again 

 walked down to the beach, and, to my surprise, saw the afoi-esaid Gull lying dead, washed high 

 upon the beach. Upon examination, I found it had endeavoured to swallow a large male Brown 

 Hat, ( Mus decumantis ; J the i-esult was, it had died of suflbcation.— J. 0. Hakper, Norwich, 

 July 7th., 1851. 



The Puffin, (Fratercula arctica,) in the «<-««fer.— We have been favoured by W. P. Cocks, Esq., 

 of Falmouth, with an interesting account of the occurrence of the Puffin on the 27th. of January 

 last, at Gwyllyn Vase, near Falmouth. The specimen was dead, but in a perfect condition. He 

 says, "the bird was a tight, well-made, little aristocratic fellow, with unsoiled plumage, and 

 weighed ten ounces." This bird being a regular summer visitant, its occun-ence in winter is 

 a circumstance worthy of record. We may ask, was this bird delaying on our shores in consequence 

 of the extreme mildness of the weather during the whole of the autumn and wiuter; or, was 

 he, like the Cuckoo noticed at page 43, induced to visit us at an earlier period than usual, 

 from the same cause? Its presence at Falmouth at the time stated, is probably refcrrible to 

 one of these two causes. We should be much obliged to any correspondent who may have 

 met with the bird under similar circumstances, to favour us with an account of it; for we do 

 not think it probable that Mr. Cocks' bird was a solitary wanderer to om- coast on that occasion. 

 -B. E. M. 



Pugnacious disposition of birds in general towards tJicir <fea<f.— Seeing a notice in your pages 

 of the attack of the llobin on one of its own species stuffed, reminds me of several instances of 

 similar occurrences that have come under my observation ; indeed, however pugnacious or otherwise 

 the particular birds may be when alive, they seem in general to have a great aversion to dead 

 or stuffed specimens of their kind. Last June, I reared up two young Bullfinches from the nest, 

 both male birds, which lived togetlier always on the most amicable terms, until one day having 

 had the misfortune accidentally to kill one, the survivor, upon seeing its dead companion, flew at 

 it with the greatest fury, making that half-hissing half-screeching noise, so peculiar to the bnd. 

 Another case of the sort I remember in a Peacock, which, on being shewn a stuffed specimen 

 of the same species, with which it had been brought uj), and lived with for years, immediately 

 attacked it with beak and spurs most vigorously; and had not its unconscious victim been 

 removed, would soon have succeeded in stripping it of its feathers, and spoiling its beauty : these 

 attacks the bird always renewed on getting sight of its old companion. Having introduced nij' 



