132 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



Singular situation for the nest of the Common Swallow, (Ilirundo rustica.)— A few years since, 

 a piiir of Swallows built their nest in a comer of my brother's bed, althougli it was in constant 

 use every night till the little builders had got up a good part of their dwelling, when bed and 

 bed-room Averc set apart for their especial accommodation, the windows being left open day and 

 night. lu the nest built in this singular situation they reared five young ones, all of which 

 left the nest at the usual time, but not until they had become quite tame. During the period 

 of incubation, and until the young birds were fledged, the nest was visited daily by my brother 

 and friends. The old birds appeared to like these visits, and would fly about the room twitterhig 

 all the while with the greatest complacency. The following year tliey returned and built again 

 in the same place and reared a young brood with the same success as before. On their return 

 the third year the room behig in use was closed against them. They contumed twittering at 

 the windows for some days, but at last took thcii- departure and built in a shed at some 

 distance from the house. They did not return the fourth year.— Jn: P. U., Chestertield, 

 December 16th., 1851. 



Occurrence of the Iceland and Glaucous Gull at Yarmouth, — Mr. Knight, Taxidermist of this 

 city, received for preservation, on November 29th., a tine adult male specimen of the Larus 

 (jliuwus; also a specimen of the Iceland Gull, (Larus leucopterus,) botli of which were killed at 

 Yarmouth.— J. 0. IlAitPEii, Norwich, February Uth., 1852. 



Variety of the Common Sni2)e, (Scolopax gallinago.)— Mr. Saycr, of this city, received for pre- 

 servation a curious and very beautiful variety of the Common Snipe, which was shot within 

 the last fortnight by Mr. Anthony Thomas, at Guestwick. It diftered wholly in colour from 

 the usual plumage, b<>ing of a delicate buff, with darker markings on the back and wings; the 

 bill and legs were of a pinkish hue instead of a green. — Idem. 



Occurrence of three Polish Swans and a Northern Diver, near Zj/nn.—Mv. Glason, of that place, 

 received on the 11th. of December, three fine specimens of the Polish Swan, (Ci/f/nus immutabilis;) 

 also a Great Northern Diver, {Coli/mbus glacialis.) The former were killed out of a flock of 

 nine at Ingoldisthorpe ; the latter at Thoniham. — Idem. 



Heronry. —There is a small Heronry at Gauiford, in the county of Durham.— Robeht Calvert, 

 Bishop Auckland, January 5th., 1852. 



TJie Ringed Plover, (Charadrius hiaticula.)— A young Einged Plover was shot on Looe Island 

 on the 4th. of November, with an additional toe springing from the 

 inside of the right leg, attached to tlie knee as far as the second 

 joint; no other peculiarly existed, and [tlie bird Avas veiy fat. — 

 Clemext Jackso.v, East Looe, December 20th., 1851. 



Curious nest of tlie Blackbird, (Turdus morula.) — A laundry-maid 

 at Lady B~'s, had laid out a quantity of fine linen, on the grass-plot, 

 for bleacliing. Amongst this miscellaneous collection was a lady's cap, 

 bedecked with very expensive lace. Towards night-fall the linen was 

 collected, and the cap found missing; a vain search commenced, inquiry 

 was instituted, but no trace of the missing article could be discovered. 

 "Well, the matter blew over, and for a time was forgotten, until the 

 gardener, having occasion to dress a thick hedge of yew, discovered the 

 theft. A Blackbird, in constructing its nest, had purloined the cap 

 which formed a portion of the outer materials, curiously interwoven 

 with coarse fibres and grass. No nest could have been more beautiful. It was rcmo\Td, put 

 under a glass case, and formed an object of great interest in the good old lady's drawing-room. 

 — John Dixon, Leeds, December 19th., 1851. 



A Pied Blackbird, (Turdus morula.) — A beautiful specimen of a mottled Blackbird was taken 

 at Green Bank, near Pl3-mouth, in December last, by a boy placing a bit of lean beef on a 

 fish-hook : the bait proved successful. Thc^ l>ird has been stuffed by Mr. Mutton, of Plymouth. 

 — JoJiN Baxkek, Stonehousc, January 17th., 1852. 



