108 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



closed beak to assist, fluttering the while, and on arriving at the top held fast with its chin and 

 closed mandibles till mounted safely on the edge. — Idem. 



Note on the Cochin China Fowl. — This noble-looking^bird has, since its introduction to this 

 country, been the object of severe criticism by poultry admirers, not only on account of the 

 novelty of its size, but most especially to satisfy the ever-prevailing propensity "Self-Interest," 

 whicli hiis given rise to the question, Does it possess superior qualifications, in point of prolificity, 

 to our more anciently-established breeds of Fowls? To those who are undecided, with regard 

 to this question, let me introduce to them the following, calling into question the well-known 

 maxim, "Facts are stubborn things:" — A gentleman, residing in Altrincham, has in his possession 

 several hens and a cock of the above species of poultry. One of the hens, the subject of this 

 communication, commenced laying when about three months and a half old, and laid, without 

 intermission, sixty-one days, and on two of those days she laid two eggs each day, making a 

 total of sixty-three eggs in sixty-one days, a fact which I think well worthy of note. — P. B., 

 Stockport, February 15th., 1853. 



Extraordinary Men's Egg. — I had presented to me by the same gentleman an Egg, which 

 was laid by a Hen no larger than a good-sized Bantam. The circumference in the long diameter 

 was seven inches and five-eighths; short diameter, six inches. — Idem. 



On the Note of the Blue Tit, (Parus caeruleus.) — Until a few months back, I was not aware 

 that the Blue Tit could with propriety be called a songster ; at tlie time I speak of I was living 

 in a house in the heart of the city, but nevertheless we were daily visited by a Eobin and 

 three or four Blue Tits, which we regularly fed. My little girl, then about ten months old, 

 was greatly amused with watching them, and knew them quite well. On one occasion I was 

 standing with my back to the window, when I heard what I thought was the Eobin singing, 

 aud said to the child, "There's Bobby;" on going to the window however I found the song 

 proceeded from a Blue Tit, an old bird, and it continued for some time, at intervals, singing 

 a song so like the Robin's, that unless I had been watching him, I should certainly have pro- 

 nounced it that of the Robin. It was not so strong a voice as the Robin's, but the notes were 

 very sweet; nor did it continue singing so long at one time as the Robin does, but the notes 

 were identically the same. I had the pleasure of hearing this bird's song frequently afterwards 

 until he paired, and domestic affairs took him from ray window. I am still unaware whether 

 this sweet song was the attribute of this individual only, or is common to the species; and 

 whether it is confined to the spring of the year, the time when the circumstance above mentioned 

 occurred.— B. R. M., York, January 29th., 1853. 



Rare Birds near Richmond. — I observed yesterday, in a plantation near this town, a small 

 flock of Crossbills, {Loxia curvirostra,) which are not uncommon visitors here. They appear 

 especially to congregate in the vicinity of a clump of old withei'ed Scotch firs. The only 

 instance of the Buzzard, ( Buteo vulgaris,) breeding in Yorkshire, which I have heard of for 

 some time, occurred at Sedburgh, near Kendal, last summer. The nest contained three eggs, 

 which were all preserved. I shall be glad to purchase any of the rarer sorts of eggs from any 

 person who is disposed to part with them. Perhaps some of your correspondents can refer me 

 to a dealer in any of our larger towns, from whom I can purchase eggs. — H. S., Richmond, 

 Yorkshire, February 3rd., 1853. 



Little Auk, (Mergulus alle,) near Edinburgh. — I beg to" inform you that I shot a specimen 

 of the Little Auk near Cramond, on the Frith of Forth, about four miles from Edinburgh, on 

 the 14th. of February. — Robert H. Bkoughton, Edinburgh, February 21st., 1853. 



Curious circumstance. — A very singular shot was made a short time since by Mr. John Cooper, 

 a farmer at Flixton, near Bungay. He observed a Kingfisher, (Alcedo ispida,) sitting on a 

 spray over a pond, and upon its rising discharged his gun, when a second crossed his line of 

 fire, and they both fell. Mr. Cooper is a tenant of J. Crowfoot, Esq., M. D., of Beccles, to 

 whom I am indebted for a relation of the circumstance. — A Subsciubek, February 5th., 1853. 



A Lark, (Alauda arvensis,) with but one foot. — In the last part of "The Naturalist," your 

 lona correspondent mentions having sometimes got birds with only one foot. Whilst at the 



