PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 45^ 



tered, twisted, uplifted, and liollovved-out condition ; — what cliangos have 

 they witnessed, what a history unfolded, the dates of which no chronologist 

 can fix, and comiiared with whose youngest eras, his oldest are but as the 

 events of yesterday ! 



Business being now concluded, the meeting stood adjourned, as usual, to 

 the first Tuesday of the ensuing modth. 



tisallat);e0iis i^trtias. 



The Pine Marten. (Mustela Abietum.) — On the 0th of November I had a 

 fine specimen of the Pine Marten brought to me for preservation, which had 

 been found the day previous, in a trap on the grounds of Captain Fox, of 

 Girsby House, distant about seven miles from Louth. They are, I believe, 

 fiir from common in this part of the country ; I have, however, been informed 

 by the Rev. Geo. Jackson, of Reston, that one was taken some years ago, in 

 Burwell Wood, about four miles from Louth. — John Brown, Louth, Nov. 8th, 

 1854. 



Singular Capture of the Peregrine Falcon. (Falco peregrinus.) — On Thursday 

 last, a labourer at work near the coast saw a Peregrine Falcon strike down a 

 Gull, [Larus canus,) a few hundred yards from where he stood. He imme- 

 diately approached the spot with caution ; and so intent was the Falcon upon 

 her prey, that the man actually put his foot on her back, and held her down, 

 whilst he untied his garter, with which he secured his prize. The Peregrine 

 has been admirably stuffed by Mr. Bolitho, of Plymouth, in the attitude of 

 killing the Gull; and is now in the possession of W E. Matthevvs, Esq., of 

 Gnaton Hall, a few miles from Plymouth, near which place the capture was 

 made. — John Gatcombe, Wyndham Place, Plymouth, December 21st, 1854. 



Late Appearance of the Ring Ouzel. (Turdus torquatus). — Apropos to Mr. 

 Round's remarks, in the number for November, on the migration of the 

 Mountain Thrush, I maj' mention that I saw one at Herrington in this parish, 

 on the 13i/j of November, J 853. It must have been on its way southward, for 

 there is no natural habitat of these birds within a great many miles of the 

 place. First, I saw a bird flying to a neighbouring hill, and remarked to 

 myself how like its flight was to that of the Ring Ouzel, but thought it im- 

 possible it could he one. But, some hours after, I saw either the same bird 

 or a companion quite near to me, on a footpath at the bottom of the hill 

 beforenamed ; and a Ring Ouzel it certainly ivas. The hill is not unlike a south- 

 country down, such as those on which White used to see these Ouzels at 

 Selborne. When the bird hopped into an adjoining plantation, for a while 

 it kept turning round and round on a branch in an affected way, shuffling 

 its mngs much like a Turkey Cock. The only note it gave resembled the 



