166 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



BuUfiuch, I cannot pass him by without a remark on the wonderful aptitude these birds display 

 for learning tricks — naturally of a bold disposition, when brought up by the hand, tliey seem 

 to have no fear, and lose that innate dread of man instinctively implanted in them. Amongst 

 other feats my little bird has learnt, he will, on my dropping a seed held at some distance over 

 his head, fly up and catch it in his mouth, or, what I think is more wonderful, stay till the 

 seed comes within reach and then catch it ; and this he does with the greatest precision, rarely 

 failing iu his objcct.~F. M. Burton, 1, Belgrave Street, Argyle Square, London, April 21st., 

 1851. 



Tamcncss of birds when not molested.— 1 niaj^ just mention, as a proof of the advantages which 

 might accrue to ornithologists, by sparing the gun upon all consistent occasions as much as 

 possible, and otherwise not scaring the objects of thou- study, that a Thrush, ( Ttirdns mitsiciis,) 

 has made her nest tliis season within three yards of the window of the dining-room here; and 

 a pair of Redbreasts within two. It is most pleasant to watch the little occupants passing to 

 and fro, aUke regardless of observation, and fearless of danger. The Thrush has occupied the 

 same bush for two seasons past; and it is not many years since a pair of llLng-doves, {Colinnba 

 palumbm,) built in a spruce fir, not ten yards from the garden gate, where thej' were constantly 

 liable to disturbance by the ringing of the bell, and the passing in and out of the members 

 of the family; but this they did not seem much to mind, and succeeded in bringing out their 

 progeny, which were afterwards unfortunately pillaged by a prowling Magpie, all, however, in 

 the way of his allotted avocation, so we must not find fault with poor Mag. The male Ring- 

 dove used to descend and walk about the grass-plot, in the early morning, but generally took 

 his departure to the neighbouring park when not engaged in the duties of incubation. A shot 

 has not been fired in the garden, I believe, for at least twelve or fourteen years; nor arc the 

 birds otherwise molested, unless by the agency of Cats or Magpies. ~R. F. Logan, Hawthorn 

 Brae, Duddingstone, near Edinburgh, July, 1851. 



The Bed Ant, (Formica rubra.)— 'Wliile visiting, a few days since, at Norbury Park, in Surrey, 

 I observed a curious incident relating to these interesting little creatures, illustrative of their 

 bold disposition, which I do not recollect to have seen recorded elsewhere. I was watching them 

 as they climbed in a stream the stems of some old oaks, which grew in the Park, busily 

 searching for beetles and other insects, which, on settling in tlieir path, were mstantly seized 

 and borne off; some, from thcu* weight, size, and sti'ungth, requiring two ants to carry, one 

 taking hold of the head the other of the tail ; others being eaiily mastered by one ; wlien, on 

 putting my hand near to any part of the line of march, I observed that those immediately 

 underneath suddenly stopped, and by means of somehow or other turnuig the underside of their 

 bodies upward, by bending the liead back, and pushing their tails forward under their legs, so 

 as to have their stings most prominent, placed themselves in an attitude of defence ; the gi-eater 

 number, on my putting a piece of stick near them, shewed the better part of valour, discretion, 

 and prudently dropped to avoid the danger; but some were so bold as to lay hold of the twig 

 with their mouths and attempt to wound it with their stings.— F. M. Buiiton, 1, Belgra\'e Street, 

 Argj'le Square, London, June 10th., 1851. 



A specimen of the common Cabbage ^Moth, (Mamcstra brass tea:,) came out of chrysalis in my case 

 on tlie 26th. of April, in the present year, 1851. I never knew the insect to appear before at 

 such an unusually early time, tlie proper period being June, and it therefore seems to me worth 

 placing on record.— F. 0. MoRiiis, Naflerton Vicarage, Driffield, July 5tli., 1851. 



llruiriir. 



Sainmer Life on X.and and Water, at South Queemferry. By W. \^''ALLACE 

 FyFE. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd. 1851. 



The facilities of conveyance now afforded in all directions, have the effect 

 of annually draining our cities and towns of a large proportion of their inhabitants 

 during the delightful season of summer. All who can possibly escape from 



