214 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



therefore, seems to be an exception to the common rule. The bird weighs 

 three pounds and three-quarters. — C. W. Eothery, Greta Hall, near Keswick, 

 March 24th, 1855. 



Additional Heronry. — To the list of Heronries in England and Scotland, 

 commenced by J. Mc' Intosh, Esq., I beg to add another; the only one as 

 yet, I believe, recorded in The Naturalist, from Lancashire. It is situated 

 in " Rigg's Wood," Rawcliffe Hall, near Garstang, the seat of R. W. Fance, 

 Esq. The last time I saw the Heronry, (a year or two ago,) it consisted of 

 about twenty nests, built in the tallest trees. Two pair of Herons, also, 

 had a fancy to build every year in an extensive Rookery, situated a few 

 hundred yards from the Heronry. The sable community, however, — to pre- 

 vent custom giving possession, I presume, — invariably imposed a "chief" 

 upon the fishers, and collected it, in the shape of the materials that composed 

 their first nests; the execution of which met with considerable resistance ; 

 and not unfi-equently, a black " lord of the manor " might be seen beneath 

 the trees, rendered hors de combat by the powerful beaks of the Herons. 

 After the Herons' first nests had been thus destroyed, and the materials 

 appropriated by the Rooks to construct their own, they were allowed to build 

 and bring up their young that season, without further molestation. — J. P., 

 March 10th, 1855. 



Mildness of the Winter of 1854-5. — In the last week of December, 1854, a 

 Blackbird's nest was taken at Sneaton Thorp, with four eggs, and a Sparrow's 

 nest at Whitby, with five eggs. Jan. 2nd, 1855 : the Blue Titmouse was 

 darting at insects in the air, and Redbreasts singing, as in April. The 

 Missel Thrush is heard every morning ; and in any holly bush you can hear 

 the Blackbird recording — (as the birdcatchers call it) — practising those sweet 

 melodious strains, which anon will fill our woodland dales with enchanting 

 music. On the 3rd of this month, a large ripe wild Strawberry was gathered ; 

 and there was a bunch of fruit and flowers left, which is coming fast to 

 maturity. I took a berry of the same root, in November, 1854, the largest 

 wild fruit which I have seen. Primroses in bloom are getting quite common 

 on every sunny bank. In July of 1854, I had a male Montagu Harrier 

 brought to me in the flesh. It was shot on our moors ; and I had the 

 pleasure of seeing the female, a few days after, soaring in the air. I also 

 obtained three eggs from the person who brought the bird, which he had 

 taken from their nest. — John Braim, Sleights Bridge, Whitby, Jan. 10th, 1855. 



Otter. — An immense male Otter was exhibited in the Pontefract market, on 

 3rd of Third month. (March.) From the head to the tail it measured rather 

 more than four feet ! and weighed twenty-five pounds ! Its colour was very 

 dark brown ; the head and limbs very large, and the tail of great breadth at 

 the base. Mr. Wright informed me, that, going out the previous evening 

 with dog and gun, to shoot at some Wild Geese, his attention was arrested 

 by a fierce combat in a hollow tree which grew close beside the river Aire. 



