143 



ZOOLOGICAL NOTES. 



We have received from John Fothergill, Esq., M. R. C. S., of Darlington, 

 some extracts from a correspondence in the years from 1807 to 1813, between 

 the late William Fothergill, Esq., of Carr End, in Wensleydale, and the late 

 Charles Fothergill, Esq., a native of York. They are original papers on 

 subjects connected with Natural History, consisting of notices of some rare 

 birds; curious instincts in birds, quadrupeds, reptiles, and insects. Some sug- 

 gestions on Ornithological classification, with sketches of several excursions in 

 the pursuit of Natural History; and, occasional interviews with Naturalists. — 

 B. R. M. 



William Fothergill to Charles Fothergill, 1812. 



Periodical Mortality of the Shreio. — "Pennant has remarked that the Common 

 Shrew, {Sorex araneus,) is subject to an annual mortality in the month of 

 August, when numbers are found dead by the sides of roads, particularly 

 footpaths, in the latter part of summer. I can corroborate Pennant's testimony 

 from my own long observation, but I do not attribute the mortality to divsease. 

 Domestic Cats ramble in the night from one farm-house to another, and 

 from one village to another, in quest of their prey, or in pursuit of their 

 amours, and, though they will kill Shrews wherever they meet with them, 

 very few, if any, will eat them; and they are consequently found in the situations 

 where they were killed. That more are observed dead about the month of 

 August than any other part of the year is what we may naturally suppose, 

 as at that time, the young Shrews having left their nests, they are more 

 numerous; and the meadows being cut, and the aftergrass not arrived at its 

 full growth, they, not having so much cover, are more exposed, and more 

 frequently destroyed by the watchful cat, than at any other season. This 

 is the manner in which I have long accounted for the fact; whether I am 

 right or wrong will be discovered by future naturalists." 



Charles Fothergill to William Fothergill, July 18th., 1812. 



"Thy mode of accounting for the mortality amongst the Common Shrews, 

 at a certain time of the year, is satisfactory, and perfectly accordant with 

 my own view of the matter," 



Charles Fothergill to William Fothergill, January, 1809. 



^'The newspapers' account of one of old Bishop Pontopidam's Sea Serpents 

 of enormous size, being cast up on the shores of one of the Orcades, made 

 me wish I knew how to discover. the truth of this matter. The account 

 reminded me strongly of the report of a captain of one of our northern traders, 

 who assured me with all due gravity of countenance, that being ofi" the coast 

 of Shetland one fine summer's day, whilst standing near the helm, to his 



vol. IV. 



