MISCEI.LA.MEOUS NOTICES. 316 



His first impression was, that his dog was worrying a fox; when out backed 

 the Otter, fiercely snarling at the dog, and retreating to the water ; which 

 element he nearly gained, when the dog fastened on his head and held him. 

 The gun missing fire, Mr. W. beat the Otter upon the head till it appeared 

 dead ; and then, flinging it across his shoulders, proceeded to carry it home. 

 Suddenly the animal gave unmistakeable symptoms of returning animation ; 

 but another severe application of the gun barrel terminated its existence. 

 That evening it weighed twenty-six pounds ! It is almost needless to add, 

 that the dog was severely lacerated about the head. Mr. Wright told me 

 that, a few years back, he shot a " bitch " Otter and three " pups ; " and that 

 he occasionally sees individuals in a "beck" upon his farm. — C. E. Smith, 

 Ackworth School, near Pontefract, 3rd Mo. 15th, 1855. 



Anecdote of a Donkey. — In your Number for this month, your corres- 

 pondent, W. L. Bellowes, relates a very interesting instance of the commu- 

 nicative powers of the Horse. I was myself, a few years back, witness of 

 quite as interesting an exhibition of sagacity, almost approaching to reason- 

 ing power, in a quadruped of more humble character, whose qualities for 

 intelligence are generally held in much less estimation. Jn a visit to the 

 neighbourhood of Marshfield, in Gloucestershire, whilst riding slowly along 

 the old Roman Fosse road, now very little travelled over ; in deep contempla- 

 tion of the solitude around, the wild luxuriance of the trees and shrubs in 

 the hedges, tlie long grass, the Foxglove, Hemlock and other rank and wild- 

 growing plants, which almost choked the ditches ; my attention was arrested 

 by a Jackass, standing close to the side of a high barred gate leading into a 

 field, unmindful and unobservant of all about him, — in fact, the very per- 

 sonification of dulness. Can so stupid looking an animal, thought I, possess 

 the smallest grain of sagacity ? As I watched him, his head moved. (It is 

 necessary to remark, the bars of the gate were in a horizontal direction, and 

 pretty close together.) By turning it sideways, with some difficulty he forced 

 it between the bars ; then, turning it to its natural position, his neck looked 

 almost throttled between the bars immediately behind the head. Surely, 

 thought I, the poor creature will be strangled ; and was preparing to dis- 

 mount with a view of giving relief. When, lo ! after a minute's pause, he 

 dexterously lifts the gate over the latch, and pushing it forward, releases his 

 head in the same manner he introduced it ; and walked straightway into the 

 field, picking and choosing for himself. There was a system and tact 

 throughout the performance, conveying an idea that the beast knew well 

 what he was about, which greatly interested me at the time. — Thos. Fuller, 

 Bath, June 4th, 1855. 



Occurrence of the Bittern in Cambridgeshire. — In the earlier part of Septem- 

 ber, I saw a Bittern exposed for sale in a poulterer's shop in this town. I 

 piu-chased it, and sent it to Mr. Baker, Naturalist, &c., of this town, for 

 preservation He made inquiries for me, and ascertained that it had been 



