MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 35 



majestically down in the distance; and add to this, that it was on classic 

 ground. Gracefully along the top and down one side lay a piece of brake, 

 brown with age; over this — as it were to mark the spot and direct her 

 fluttering pinions where to settle — were two rich red ivy leaves, and tall fresh 

 grass stood up on every side, backed by soft silken moss; while before the 

 door was a luxuriant tuft of rose campion, whose fair pink blossom will soon 

 glad the eyes alike of birds and man, and by the time the little inmates 

 have reached a size and age to look about them, they will no doubt enjoy 

 the freshness of its honied flowers, and pick many an insect from its bright 

 corolla. I could not well determine what the lining of the nest was com- 

 posed of, and it would be wickedness itself to remove the tender creatures 

 for the purpose; it seemed, however, to be moss and the dry leaves of grass. 

 While I was examining the house and its contents, no doubt the mother 

 watched me narrowly, for on my return, after an absence of not more than 

 two minutes, she sat giving heat to, and security for her helpless charge. No 

 means of escapa could be found, the bird was in the hands of the fowler, 

 and yet she looked so confident that the heart must indeed have been hard 

 that could have injured her. It was not the bold confident look of a strong 

 bird, but a confidence, mingled with supplication, so softened her bright eye 

 that I blushed at the half-formed wish to capture her. It may be that in days 

 gone bye, kind-heartod Southey watched and loved that little bird, and even 

 that thought, without the creature's tender look — which seemed to say, you 

 have just been at church, if you have learned your lesson aright there, you 

 will protect, not injure me — was strong enough to stay the hand even of a 

 '^Naturalist who wanted a specimen." 



Greta Hall, Keswick, May 5th., 1852. 



3KkBllniipnti5 3h\\m. 



A singular Calf. — October 1st. — Visiting my friend, John Collins, of this town, (who is a 

 most excellent preserver of birds and animals,) he showed me a Calf, which he had just stuffed, 

 with two complete and full-sized heads; but wliat was most remarkable the heads were con- 

 nected together at the throat, the lower jaws being flatwise to eacli other; consequently, when 

 erect, the heads were sidewise ; there was also a hump upon the shoulders ; the fore legs were 

 crossed with tlie hoofs turning upwards; the body was of the ordinary size. It was calved early 

 in September, and is the property of a fanner at Shearsby, in Leicestershire. — T. Turner, 

 Friars, Leicester, November 12th., 1852. 



Curious habit of a Hedgehog, (Erinaceus Europceus.) — About seven years ago, at the residence 

 of a relative of mine, in this city, a Hedgehog was kept for the purpose of destroying slugs, 

 snails, etc., in the long, narrow, walled garden behind the house. His usual haunt, during 

 the sleepy hours of day, was either a wood-house, to which he had access, or the covert 

 aflbrded by some ivy at the bottom of the garden. This Hedgehog, (as far as my memory 

 serves me,) differed in no remarkable manner from his spiny brethren, as far as external 

 appearance was concerned; and, had it not been for one remarkable habit, might have long 

 since piissed from my memory. But, in order to give my readers a clear idea of what I am 

 about to relate, I must briefly describe the garden.— It was, as I have said, like most town 

 gardens, ratlier long and narrow, with a path down the middle; this path was flanked on each 



