84 MISCKLLANEOUS NOTIORS. 



nestlings. Like many Indian birds, they fly long before they can feed themselves, and they arc 

 always shivering their wings and clamouring for food. I have had a young one which eat 

 everything, and never seemed satisfied — bread and boiled rice, a soft pulpy fruit, raw meat, etc., 

 and as soon as it could fly, it flew off to its friends the Crows. The Crows, always in pairs, 

 came regularly with their two nestlings, a Cuckoo and a Crow, to eat boiled rice on the verandah, 

 or in the room, if the plate were put near the door. The young Crow looked clumsy and dingy 

 beside the handsome, sprightly young Cuckoo, who shivered his bronzed and glistening wings, 

 and gaping wide his crimson thi-oat, always took precedence and was fed first. Tlio fruit or 

 berry they are so fond of is the Scarlet Gourd, (Ilomordiea monodelpha,) which creeps all over 

 the liedg(!s; and when the berries of tlie Asoy trees, (Uvaria louffifoUa,) one of the Custard 

 apple tribe, are ripe, the Cuckoos and Golden Orioles, and the Small Ilornbill, (Buceros,) come 

 in numbei-s to feed upon them. I have not been able to find out where the Black Cuckoo 

 goes in autumn, but after August or September its joyous note is rarely heard, but when I do 

 I shall let you know. — Extract from the letter of a friend to R. P. C, October 1st., 1851. 



TJte Cuckoo, (Cuculus canoras,) lias tliis j'car been remarkably abundant in the vicinity of 

 Black Moor, near Leeds— it was heard on the IGtli. of April. The country people about here 

 repeat an old couplet, running — 



The Cuckoo is a pretty Irird, and single as she flies. 

 She brings us gootl tidings, but tells us no lies. 



It is also superetitiously considered imlucky to be witliout money on firet hearing its welcome 

 notes. Eight Cuckoos were seen assembled in a single oak tree the second week in July; 

 probably old birds commencing their migratory movements. — Jno : Dixon, 7, Copenhagen- 

 Street, Leeds, November 3rd., 1851. 



The Stvallmv, (Hirimdo rustica.) — In the "Leeds Intelligencer," for November 13th., 1847, 

 I find the following: — "Rara Avis. A Swallow was observed flying about the Leeds Station, 

 of the Leeds and Bradford Kailway, on Sunday last, the 7tli. — -a very rare occuiTence so late 

 in the year." October 4th., 1849, another was observed aljout the Kailway Station, Starbeck; 

 the day cold and wet. Tliis solitary lingerer attracted the attention of a carter, who knocked 

 it down with his hat. It was brought to mo, but only lived a couple of hours. April lotli., 

 1851, Swallows appeared at lloundhay. — Idem. 



Note on Swallows. — The last of the Ilirundines that I have seen this season, were four House 

 Martins {Hirimdo urbiea,) and one Swallow, {H. rustica,) which were flying round a church 

 tower, on the 25th. of October. Having two brothers in the island of Madeira, one of them, 

 who has been there three or fom- years, informs me that in November, December, and January, 

 there are a great number of Swallows and Swifts, the latter, however, are of a larger sort than 

 our Swift. — F. H. D'Arcy, Lymington, Hants., December 6th., 1851. 



Mr. John Cope, of Abbots Bromlej', near Staftbrd, has forwarded to me tlie following curious 

 statement: — "Three Chimney Swallows were found, to all appearance dead, between the glass 

 and brickwork of a window tliat had been stopped up for some years, in the house occupied 

 b}' Mr. Spooner, of Abbots Bromley. The bricklayer who pulled dowu the brickwork took them 

 into the house, by the fire; in a short time they showed signs of life, two of them soon 

 became able to fly, and escaped, and were seen no more; the other did not recover, and very 

 soon died." — F. 0. MoRiiis, Naffci-ton, March, 1852. 



Spoonbill, (Platalea Icucorodia,) in Hampshire. — ^Thei-e was a Spoonbill shot on the marshes 

 here the other day. — F. H. D'Arcy, Lymington, Hants., December 6th., 1851. 



Harli/ Blackbird's Nest, (Turdus morula.) — A friend in Essex, tells me that at Southend, in 

 that county, there was a Blackbird's nest found with one (!gg in it, in the middle of January 

 last; to remove any doubt about its being addled, the bird was frightened off" the nest. — Idem. 



Colour of Iridcs in the Bed-necked Grebe, (Podiceps rubricollis.) — In reply to a request respecting 

 tile colour of iridcs in the Eed-neeked Grebe, I copy the following memorandum: — 1837, 

 December 27th., shot a female Eed-necked Grebe from a boat, after a short and sharp chase, 

 though it dived so quickly, as to escape many shots fired from a very short distauce; it still 

 retained many of its summer feathers scattered over tlie heail, neck, and breast. Eyes, dark 



