MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 189 



was sitting on five eggs, which she hatched, and I believe she brought up 

 the young in safety. I never before met with an instance of a Thrush 

 making use of a deserted nest of any other species. — I remain, &c., J. C. T., 

 St. Peter's College, December 2nd, 1854. 



Emheriza calcarata. (Tem.) — A fine specimen of this rare visitant was 

 netted, at Postwick, on the banks of the Yare, January 19th, 1855. Its habits 

 in confinement were very interesting. It exhibited little of the shy timidity 

 which might have been expected from it, and soon became quite familiar 

 and confidant. All its movements upon the ground bore a striking resem- 

 blance to those of our Skylark. I believe it was a male, and the last time I 

 saw him, he was apparently in the enjoyment of excellent "health and 

 spirits," with John Sayer, a bird-preserver, in Norwich, whose work in his 

 avocation may fairly compete with that of the most renowned of his profes- 

 sion. 



" Owl's Crown." — The plant provincially known by this name, in Norfolk, is 

 the Filago Oermanica, (Common Filago,) — via Hooker and Arnott's B. Flora, 

 p. 233. This plant is quite a pest to the agriculturist in many parts of this 

 country, where the land is " light." The French graphically term it " L'herhe 

 inipie" for an obvious reason, when the arrangement of flowers is considered. 

 I have seen both Diatomacea and Desmidece very easily separated from 

 mud, by placing the gathering in a flat vessel, with about an inch of water, 

 and they will in a veiy short time rise to the surface, and may be swept off 

 with a camel's hair pencil. The latter should be placed in a strong light, or 

 in the sun, and in the course of an hour or two, will not only have risen, but 

 be drawn up upon the sides of the vessel, by the evaporation. 



My own limited experience, and inquiry of natui-alist friends, have led me 

 to agree with Mr. Fox, in his opinion as to Thrushes feeding upon the backs 

 of Sheep. I have not unfrequently observed young Starlings so engaged, at 

 a time when their plumage is so similar to that of the Thrush that at a little 

 distance, they might very easily be mistaken for the latter bird. — R. D., 

 Guestwick, Feb. 17th, 1855. 



Variety of the Corn Bunting. (Emberiza miliaria.) I have the pleasure of 

 communicating to you the occurrence, in this neighbourhood, of a very 

 beautiful variety of the Corn Bunting. {Emberiza miliaria.) The bird, which 

 I shot on an adjoining farm, about ten days ago, is of a fine primrose color, 

 slightly mottled with brown on the head and ear coverts. The feathers on 

 the breast have their shafts of a dark brown, which, contrasted with the 

 prevailing hue, present an elegant series of streaks. The under-tail coverts 

 are shaded from yellow to pure white ; while the tail itself is also white, with 

 the exception of two of the outer feathers, which are of the natural colour, 

 irregularly edged or tipt with white.. As a whole, the specimen is strikingly 

 pi'etty ; and being in very sound condition, it has a very handsome appear- 

 ance. — H. A. Rannie, Boyndie, Banff". 



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