HISCELLANKOCS NOTICES. 61 



The Eared Grebe, (Podiccps auritus.) — A fine specimen of this bird was shot by Henry Bales, 

 Light-house keeper, near his Light-house, on the I'ith. of April, 1846, aud is now in the pos- 

 session of Crawford Newbj', Esq. — Idem. 



The Sqnacco Heron, (Ardea comata.) — A specimen of this bird was shot on the 9th. of October, 

 1852, on the GUisgow canal by T. Jones, seaman, who brought it here; aud it is now in the 

 possession of Crawford Newby, Esq. — Idem. 



Note on an Oicl. — On Tuesday last as I was going out shooting with a friend, about half- 

 past ten in the morning, wo noticed an Owl flying at a great height, with several Rooks 

 baiting it. The morning was cloudy, but the poor Owl seemed quite bewildered; he flew 

 for a long time in circles rising higher and higher, keeping above the Rooks; at last his 

 tormoulors left him, and he flew away in a straight line, but witliout lowerhig as long as he 

 remained in sight. I suppose he may have been driven out by the Rooks from Ms daily 

 hiding-place, but I do not remember to have seen an instimce of the like kind before. The 

 Owl was at so great a height when we first sjiw him that we could not make out his species. 

 "VV. AValdo Coopkr, "West-Rascn, November 4th., 1852. 



The Rev. S. Alington informs mo that last summer he caught a Cuckoo, (Cueidiis canonts,) 

 under the following peculiar circumstances: — He had a large net over his currant bed, and one 

 morning a Cuckoo was found under the net, and captured. The same gentleman tells me 

 that three j'eare ago a White Starling, (Sturniis viilffaris,) was seen for some days in the 

 neighbourhood of his residence, Candlcsby, near Spilsby. — Idem. 



The Hook, (Corvus frugilogus.) — I wiis surprised some time ago to find that a pair of Rooks 

 had repaired their nest in an ash tree close by this house, and that eggs were laid in it, 

 on wluch tlie hen sat diligently for about a mouth: sho forsook her nest, the eggs being, I 

 suppose, addled, about a week ago. This must surely bo an odd freak, at least I do not 

 remember to have ever heard of Rooks sitting at this time of the yem-. — Idem. 



The Woodcock, (Scolopax rusticola.) — It is well knowai tliat "Woodcocks breed in various parts 

 of Enghmd, but I was not aware till the otlicr day of any locality in Lincolnshire. Sir John 

 Nelthorpc informs mo that they breed in his woods at Seauby, near Brigg. — Idem. 



Late Breeding of the House Martin, (Hirundo urbica.)— On the 27th. of last October I was 

 greatly sui-prised by a neighbour of mine sondmg me a young House Martin that he caught 

 in a stable; no doubt it was attracted there by the warmth, it being a cold and wet day. 

 When first brought it would pm-ch upon my finger without the slightest attempt to flj', but 

 after being put into a hat an hour or so, it seemed re-animated, and could fly across the 

 house. I again put it in the hat, and soon found the poor little fellow dead — starved to death. 

 I should Siiy it had left the nest about four or five days at most, and had scaiTely any food 

 since ; as a proof of this I examined the fieces, and found not a particle of tlie refuse of insects 

 in it, nothing but a thin whitish subshuice; the crop too was quite empty, and the body 

 very thin: although a bad specimen I have stuftetl it. Reflecting upon the fate of tliis poor 

 "untimely bird" — upon its parents which ai*e now no doubt skinnning joyously over other 

 lands, I could not suppress a feeling of pity, to think how strange that Xature sliould com- 

 pletely cut it oft' from following the instinct of its species. — AV. Bond, Frog Island, Leicester, 

 November 4th., 1852. 



The Hoopoe. — A specimen of this bird, ( Upupa Epops,) of which so many notices have been 

 comnninicated to you of its appearance in England, induces me to intimate that we have also 

 had a visit; for on the 1st. of October, 1852, one was observed on the property of Blaira 

 Kaith, about six miles to the north of the city of Glasgow, where it remained for about ten 

 days. It was particularly shy, and as its flight appeared principally to be from the bare top 

 of a tree into the centre of a lea field, it would never permit of being approached sufiiciently 

 near to have ensured it of "a place in the cabinet." — G. Donaldson, Glasgow, November 4th., 

 1852. 



Woodcock. — The early arrival of the 'Woodeock, (Scolopax riisticol<t,) having been frequently 

 noticed in "The Natvn-.ilist," causes me to i-emark that on the bmiks of Loch Lomond, and 

 particularly in the neighbourhood of Luss, this bird has been known regularly to breed 

 for a number of years past, and can bo seen at any time during the siunmer, but particularly 

 in the evenings. — Idem. 



