89 



LOCAL JOTTINGS.— No. 7. 

 DORCHESTER— DORSETSHIRE. 



BY JOHN GARLAND^ RSQ.^ memb: ent: soc:^ mkmb: ween: club. 



Instinct of the Wild Duck, (Anas boschas.) — A curious instance of instinct, 

 or almost reason, occurred in these birds within my knowledge under the 

 following circumstances: — A friend of mine had a couple of Wild Ducks 

 given hira which had been kept in a garden, were rather tame, and had had 

 their wings pinioned, that is, the first joint of one of the wings taken off to 

 prevent their flying. They were very happy for many months in their new 

 abode — the garden, and with their liberty, to a considerable extent, disported 

 themselves in the River Froome, which runs by his residence, always returning 

 to be fed and go to rest. This pleasant state of existence continued until 

 after some ten or a dozen Ducklings had been hatched, and brought up to 

 ''eatable estate" — they being pinioned in like manner as their parents; when 

 on my friend having a couple of the progeny killed, they immediately, old 

 and young, disappeared down the river, and have not since been heard of. 



TJNPBECEDENTED MILDNESS OF THE SEASON. 



The Quail, (Coturnix vulgaris.) — This bright- weather visitor to our shores 

 is seldom I believe met with in the winter. One was, however, shot in good 

 condition at Brickland, near Weymouth, in the last week in January. I 

 myself saw a specimen in the hands of a man, who had taken it in the 

 snow on Tuesday, the 15th. instant, near this town. It was very poor and 

 much reduced, but the plumage was very good. 



The Croctis, (Crocus aureus.) — This pretty flower, and the Snowdrop also, 

 (Ga/anthns nivalis,) were growing in considerable quantities and beautifully in 

 flower in a gentleman's garden at Stinsford, near this town, on the 12th. of 

 January, and the leaves of the Rose and Honeysuckle were fully expanded. 

 Snowdrops were also gathered wild at a place in Fadrington, called "Mount 

 Pleasant." The most singular instance however of the mildness of the season 

 might have been observed on the loth, of January, in a field near the Old 

 Castle, Sandsfort, about a mile and a half from Weymouth, towards Portland, 

 where men were actually busily employed cutting grass as in the spring; and 

 upon being asked as to the crop, one of them replied, "There is as much 

 grass here now in weight as when we cut the field in spring." This I con- 

 sider worth "jotting." 



Dorchester, February IGth., 1853. y^<^i^^'^^0^ 



VOL. III. 



