206 MISCKIXANEOUS NOTICES. 



The Swift, (Cypselus apus,) was first seen by mc this year on Tuesday, May 18th., at Cawood, 

 about twelve miles south of York.— B. K. M., May 24:th., 1852. 



A Bar-tailed Godwit, (Litnosa rufa,) in summer plumage was shot at Kedoar, by Mr. Robert 

 Dobson, June 11th., 1852. — Daniel Ferguson, Redcar. 



Late nesting of tfi^ Bedbreast.— Towards the end of November last, the nest of a Redbreast, 

 (Erythaca rubcmla,) containing eggs, was discovered by some workmen while pulling down a 

 shed at Giibton, Dumfriesshire, the seat of Francis Maxwell, Esq. The bird was sitting at the 

 time, and when distui'bed continued to linger near the spot till her frail fabric was buried 

 in the ruins.— Richard Rimmer, Kirkmichael House, February 4tli., 1852. 



Ming-dove, (Columba palumbus.)"I am at a loss to account for the pined and emaciated 

 state of a very large proportion of our Ring-doves this year. I have shot a great many, and 

 think I am not wrong in saying that one-third have been in a most deplorable condition, 

 matteiing under the wings and thighs, feathers loose, and altogether presenting a diseased 

 appearance. Perhaps you or some of your correspondents will kindly throw some light on this 

 subject. —Idem. 



Tlie Bullfinch, (Pyrrhula vulgaris.)— Last summer I took a nest of young Bullfinches imme- 

 diately before they were fully fledged. In a few days they all became sickly, and afterwards 

 died, except one, a hen, which from that moment evinced all the solicitude of a mother 

 towards the rest. When food was put into the cage she immediately conveyed it to them in 

 turn; refusing to taste herself till all were satisfied. She is still in my possession, and has 

 learnt to repeat two or three short sentences with great distinctness.— Idem. 



Occurrence of the Hawfinch, (Loxia coccothraustes,) in Wariviolcshire.—h. fine male specimen 

 of this bird was shot by Bowyer C. B. Cave, Esq., on the 11th. of this month, in his garden 

 at Kenilworth. Another specimen has since been seen in the same locality. I may as well 

 observe that I have seen these birds in considerable numbers in Albania, near the coast during 

 the winter months,— H. J. Torre, Kenilworth, February 17th., 1852. 



Carnivorous propensity of the Barn-door Fowl. — About three weeks since, I caught a large 

 Mouse in a granary, which on my throwing it into the poultry yard, was seized by a Cock. He ran 

 about the yard for two or three minutes, pursued by some of his companions, evidently desirous 

 of snatching the prize from him, and then he proceeded to swallow it head foremost, and 

 succeeded in doing so apparently with little difficulty. On another occasion I threw three mice 

 cut into small pieces to the poultry, which were devoured with avidity by them.--"W. M. Heath. 

 Lytchett Matravers, Dorset, January, 1852. 



TJie Nightingale, (Philomela luscinia.) — These sweet little songsters have been enlivening our 

 woods for the last fortnight. — J. "W. Lukis, Heacham Hall, Norfolk, AprU 29th., 1852. 



Skylark, (Alauda arvensis,) breeding in confinement. — Amongst all the interesting correspon- 

 dence in your amusing and instructive publication — "The Naturalist," there appears no record 

 of the Sky-lark having bred in confinement. A few years ago a pair in my possession, which 

 were kept in a cage five feet by three, had four broods in one year, but only three young 

 ones in the first nest arrived at maturity; two broods died on the second and third days, and 

 the eggs in the last nest were all addled. Both birds were exceedingly attentive to their young, 

 the cock being particularly active in keeping the nests clean ; and as soon as any of the young 

 died, he took them in his bill and thrust them out between the wires of the cage. Having 

 placed a fine young Lark near the cage, it so aroused the anger and jealousy of the old one, 

 that he killed his mate by pecking her on the head until he had quite destroyed the skull. 

 If other Larks are placed near him, they cease in a short time to sing, being completely 

 cowed by his energy and strong melodious voice. I have a Great-crested Grebe, which was 

 shot by L. Rudd, Esq., on Monday last, in the estuary of the Exe. A pair of Shovclers and 

 a Long-tailed Duck vwere seen in the same locality by this eminent ornithologist. — W. Tombs, 

 JcN., E.xeter, March 12th., 1852. 



Late occurrences of the Landrail, (Crex pratensis.)— As I was looking through the Cam- 

 bridge market on November 7th,, 1851, I was rather surprised at seeing a Landrail apparently 

 fresh killed; however on examining it, I found an old wound in the pinion of the wing 



