133 



Blisrdlanfflus JMm, 



The Otter, (Lutra vulgaris.) — Three young Otters were shot last week near the pleasant village 

 of Aasty, about three miles from this place, two of which are now in my possession. — William 

 Bond, Frog Island, Leicester, February 24th., 1853. 



The anecdote related by Mr. Martin Curtler, of Bevere, Worcestershire, in a recent number 

 of "The Naturalist," of a Hare taking the water, reminds me of a similar occurrence many 

 years ago in the case of a Rabbit. It was in Ireland. Standing under a steep cliff, to the base 

 of which the tide nearly came up at high water, a Rabbit, seemingly disturbed by some persons 

 walking at the top of the cliff, dashed down it; and whether from choice, or impelled by the 

 necessity of its downward impetus, I know not, entered the sea and swam out a little way, 

 when it was captured by the servant who was with us— one of the best swimmers, by the way, 

 I ever knew, and my successful instructor in that art, in proficiency in which I have ever 

 since excelled. His method was a very simple one — ho took me out into deep water, out of 

 my depth, and tlien let me go — "sink or swim" — keeping near for fear of accidents. I struck 

 out at once, and was a swimmer ever after. Poor fellow — Geoffrey Connell was his name — he 

 is believed to have been afterwards one of the crew who were murdered in cold blood in the 

 most extraordinary manner by the captain of a merchant ship, who turned out to be insane, 

 and who has since been in an asylum. They suffered themselves to be tied down by him one 

 ]^' one, as if their own senses had taken leave of them, and he then deliberately cut their 

 throats. Another reminiscence of poor Geoffrey. — He had been out visiting one night at a 

 neighbouring gentleman's house, and coming home rather late found the gate locked, and tried 

 to get round the eud of the wall which extended to the cliff, but, missing his footing, fell down 

 on the beach and broke his leg, and there he lay, I believe, all night, till a boat coming by 

 in the morning, he hailed her, and was brought home by the crew on a shutter. — F. 0. Moiiris, 

 Nafferton Vicarage, Driffield, May 16th., 1853. 



The Sky-lark, (Alauda arvensis.) — Whilst at breakfast this morning a bird flew into the 

 room, and as a Robin is in the habit of coming about and into the window, I supposed that 

 it was him; but on going up to it, it being too frightened to move, I caught it, and found it 

 to be a fine Sky-lark, whether pursued by a Hawk I could not ascertain. This being an unusual 

 occurrence, I send you an account of it. — Fked. W. S. Webber, Mcrther, Truro, January 16th., 

 1853. 



Dates op the departure of the Hirundinid^ from the neighbourhood of Lewes, in Sussex, 1852. 



Swift, (Cypselus apus.)— Last seen August 20th.; wind, S. S. E. Fine. 



Sand Martin, (Hirundo riparia.) — October 18th., two were seen skimming over the Pells; 

 wind, N. E. Very fine and clear. 



Swallow, (Hirundo rustica.) — October 27th., near Offham; wind, S. W. Fail- but cloudy. 



Martin, (Hirundo urbica.) — November 6th., four seen hawking under the eastern declivity of 

 the South Downs, between Lewes and Offham; wind, S. W. Cloudy. 



ITie autumnal congregating of these amusing birds first observed on the 20th. of August. — 

 W. C. Unwin, St. Anns, Lewes, December 10th., 1852. 



Tlie Sparrow, (Passer domesticus.) — As some of the correspondents of "The Naturalist" seem 

 to consider it rather an uncommon occurrence for House Sparrows to build in trees, I may 

 perhaps be allowed to state that such is by no means the case. It is certainly true that these 

 birds generally prefer holes and crevices wherein to rear their young, but not uniformly even 

 in situations abounding ^vith their favourite breeding holes. I have seen considerable numbers 

 of nests in the trees in the gardens of Finsbury Circus and Finsbury Square in London, and 

 I think there is no doubt that these situations could not have been resorted to for lack of 

 suitable holes which there abound. In Finsbury Circus especially, the carved capitals of the 

 pillars of the London Institution, and of the Roman Catholic Chapel, afford a commodious asylum 

 for immense numbers of these little cockneys. I have also taken many nests when a boy from 

 the fir trees which surrounded a iarm-house, the extensive outbuildings to which being entirely 



