112 MrsCEIXANEOUS NOTICK8. 



"But, bloom of ruins, thou art dear to me, 

 "Wlien, far from danger's way, th}' gloomy pride 

 Wreathes picturesque around some ancient tree, 

 That bows his branches by some fountain-side. 

 Then sweet it is from summer suns to be 

 With thy green darkness overshadowing me." 



5, Middle Street, Taunton, October 21st., lSo3. 



3JIisrBllniirnu3 JMim, 



Occurrence of the Rose-coloured Pastor, (Pastor Roseus,) near Glasgow. — 'My friend, W. C. 

 Alston, Esq., has politely sent mo for inspection two specimens of this beautiful bird, male and 

 female, which were shot in July last on his property, Rosemount, near this city. They had been 

 seen for some days frequenting the garden, and were in excellent plumage. It is a matter of 

 great regret that interesting strangers like these should be mercilessly destroyed on appearing 

 amongst us; for so long as such persecution continues, we can never hope to see their numbers 

 increase. Rollers, Waxwings, IIoopoc^s, etc., have been all killed within a mile of the city in 

 the same manner, and their murders duly recorded; while the same ends would have been 

 gained to science had the poor birds been allowed to live, and their appearance simplj' com- 

 mented upon. — II. CoLQUHOUN, M. D., 3, Kew Terrace, Glasgow, March, 1854. 



We quite agree with Dr. Colquhoun's remarks. We cannot even understand the temptation 

 to kill rare species of any zoological object in this country, if it be a well-known and common 

 species elsewhere. For our own part, were we shewn a largo series of either birds or insects, 

 rare as British, we should in all probability select continental specimens in preference to those 

 taken in this country, as they would undoubtedly be more valuable when captured within the 

 limits of their geographical distribution, than after having been tarnished by the fatigues of 

 emigration, or otherwise. The philosophic naturalist, if he collects birds, for instance, would 

 gladly receive an example of a species from any part of the world; or if that species were cos- 

 mopolite, he might wish a series from various parts to shew the variety of plumage produced 

 by difference of climate, etc. ; but as regards poor stragglers to our ungenerous shores, we believe 

 thev would excite no interest in him bcsyond a feeling of pity for their fate. 



The Red Grouse, (Tetrao Scoticus,) is the only bird in the British Islands which is peculiar 

 to their Fauna; and when its numbers, already rapidly diminished, become still more so by the 

 annual persecution to which it is subjected, we expect to see eager collectors taking the field 

 on the "12th.," vainly searching for the extinct Gor-Cock. — B. E. M. 



N'otes on the Tree Creeper, (Certhia familiaris.) — In April, 1852, a pair of Tree Creepers began 

 a nest in a wooden building erected in a plantation behind the cottage where I am residing, 

 but, as there was daily some one going into the place, they were scared away, and left their 

 nest unfinished: this, considering the natural shyness of the bird, was not to be wondered 

 at. They must, however, have built somewhere near, as I saw them constantly about the 

 plantation during that spring. The unfinished nest remained for the rest of the year just as 

 the birds had left it; I took no more notice of it until last spring, (1853,) when one day seeing 

 on the floor more twigs, etc., than I had previously observed, I looked up, expecting to find 

 that the old nest had fallen down, but, to my surprise, I found that it had been recommenced, 

 and was nearly completed. This time the birds did not take fright, but, after a few daily visits 

 from me, became quite accustomed to my coming in, and continued their work during my presence 

 without showing any alarm. On the 19th. of May there were six eggs in the nest, all of which 

 ■were hatched by the 5th. of June, the birds having commenced incubation on the 21st. of May. 

 The young left the nest on the 20th. of June, from which time I have seen nothing of them, 

 either old or young, except on the 4th. of September, when I saw one bird of the species, but 

 whether of the same family or not, I cannot say. The outhouse where they built is made of 

 overlapping deals; between one of these and the upright was tlie hole where they entered. A 



