68 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES, 



Gray Phalaropr, (Plialaropus lobatus.)— A bird of this species was shot at the mill-pond, 

 Bagshot, Surrey, by Mr. John Hears, Junior, on the 25th. of September, 1845, and sent to 

 me, and I preserved it, but very indifferently; and it has since been re-stuffed by Mr. John 

 Cooper, of Radnor Street, St. Luke's. This is the third specimen I have met with in that 

 neighbourhood, one of the two others formed part of the collestion of Mr. John Wheeler, of 

 Wokingham, but I do not know what became of the other. These birds are nowhere common, 

 and the Eed-necked Phalarope, {Phalaropus Hyperboreus,) still less so. — 0. S. Rouxd. 



Note on the Blue Titmouse, (Parus caeruleus.) — A Blue Titmouse always perched in the spout 

 of a pump on our premises at "Walsham Hall, which our gardener at last secured for me, at 

 my request, and I caged it ; and singular to say that it could never perch on the stick in the 

 cage, but always at the bottom, from which I concluded that always being used to sleep sitting 

 in the pump spout, it could do so only in that posture. It was remarkable a bird like tliat 

 should take to such a cold roosting-place, was it not? A very fine male specimen of the 

 Hobby Hawk has occurred here. Also I must tell you that not long since on the lawn at 

 Walsham Hall, a snow-white Rook was seen amidst a flock of the natural-coloured ones: it 

 was never seen again. — J. Wilkixson, Walsham Hall, in a letter to the Rev. F. 0. Moms, 



Anecdote of a Robin, (Erythaca rubecula.) — A few-weeks since a Robin had been living in 

 our greenhouse for a month, upon, I suppose the insects it found on the plants. Our gardener at 

 Walsham Hall, on heating the flue in the greenhouse, saw this Robin flying about, and upon going 

 out (it was a very cold night) the Robin flew out and lit upon the vine just outside, and 

 wanting to go home, he shut the door and loft the Robin perched on the vine. Next day he 

 looked for it on the vine, and it was dropped off the tree, and dead; it was from the 

 extreme beat of the greenhouse and the intense cold which killed him. Also during this 

 severe weather a Robin lived m our house, and although driven out nearly every morning by 

 the domestics, it would not quit us, and still lives with us partially though not so constant 

 during the thaw as when the frost bit him. — Idem. 



Early occurrence of tlie Stone CurUtv, (CEdicnemus crepitans,) oiear Hull. — As an instance of 

 the early occurrence of the Stone Curlew may be of interest to you, I write to mention the 

 fact that I have in my possession a specimen which was shot in the first week in February, 

 1852, at Roos, in Holderness. I believe it is very seldom that they are seen so early as that. 

 — T. W. Stears, Coltham Street, Hull, in a letter to the Rev. F. 0. Morris, January 23rd. 

 1854. 



Red-breasted Merganser, (Mergus serrator,) near Richmond. — A fine female Red-breasted 

 Merganser was shot near this town on December 12th., and was preserved by Mr. F. Ableson, 

 at whose house it may now be seen. — H. Smuiitiiavaite, Richmond, Yorkshire, January 16th., 

 1854. 



Little Auk, (Alca alle,) at Harrogate. — A fine specimen of the Little Auk was taken at 

 Harrogate on the 10th. of January. The bird was observed by a blacksmith running about in 

 his yard, and he easily captured it by walking leisurely to the bird, and taking it up in his 

 hand. This 'knight of the smithy' never before having seen so queer a little web-footed thing, 

 thought of his pump, and to plunge it into the trough in order that he might see if he was a 

 swimmer. Tlie Auk being placed in his trough instantly dived, came to the surface, shook 

 its feathers, and courted the ruffled water with its side as it might have done on the ocean. 

 The bird was fed and retained a short time alive by a person living at Harrogate, who pur- 

 chased it for two shillings; but as it was supposed to shew better in a stiff form incased, the 

 little stranger was deprived of life, and it is now set up and looks very well. By information 

 I received, the Auk became quite domesticated, and ran about the room in which it was 

 lodged, stopping at times to preen its feathers. It seemed a solitary little visitant to the bleak 

 region of Harrogate Common, far away from home; the severity of the weather having driven 

 it to seek food inland, in a country where ponds and lakes are not abundant. I have heard 

 of several Auks at difterent times being shot flying with other birds, but one so tamed by 

 starvation and cold as to accept the offer of a hand to its own destruction is worth remarking. 

 More winterly was that hand to it, poor creature, than the hard midnight frost fastening its 

 tiny feet to the frigid grasp of hyemal greeting— the earth-covering snow. — C. W. RoxiiEuy, 

 Harrogate, January 13th., 1854. 



