MISCELLANY- 449 



is given in the last part of the Society's Transactions, is described by Mr. Wil- 

 liams to be peculiarly adapted to the growth of the Persian varieties of the Me- 

 lon, as well as to fruits of that species generally, on account of the greater ven- 

 tilation carrying off a larger portion of the watery exhalations of the plants. 



A large silver medal was awarded to Mr. John Lee, for the Fuchsia fulgens ; 

 silver Knightian medals to Mrs. Marryatt, for the Hedychium Gardnerianum ; 

 and to Messrs. Chandler, for the Bignonia jasminoides ; and silver Banksian 

 medals to Mr. R. Buck, for Cannon Hall Muscat Grapes ; to Mrs. Lawrence, 

 for Gesneria rutila, &c. ; and to Messrs. Chandler, for Dahlias, this day exhi- 

 bited. The following was the Meteorological Report from September 5th to Sep- 

 tember 19th : — 



Barom — Highest, Sept. 19 30.144 



Lowest, Sept. 13 29.072 



Therm— Highest, Sept. 17 71° Fahr. 



Lowest, Sept. 5 39° Fahr. 



Total amount of rain, 0.G9 inch. 



CHAPTER OF MISCELLANIES. 



ZOOLOGY. 



The Red Squirrell (Sciurus vulgaris) a Carnivorous Animal. — A 

 friend of mine had in his garden an aviary in which he confined several of the 

 Fringillidce (or Finch family), with a pair of the Red Squirrel. Having several 

 times found one or two of the birds dead, which, from the wounds that were 

 apparent on the head and elsewhere, had evidently been killed by some animal, 

 he suspected that the Cat had seized them with her claws through the wires, and 

 therefore made the cage more secure from her attacks. Still the birds were des- 

 troyed, find my friend was considering in what manner the Cat could seize them, 

 when, on visiting the aviary a few days since, in the morning, he found the 

 Squirrels very busily engaged in eating one of their feathered companions. Still 

 he was doubtful whether the Squirrels had themselves slain the birds, and there- 

 fore left them in the cage for further trial. Their next meal consisted of two 

 more of the birds, which they devoured entirely, leaving the bones very tidily 

 picked. A second pair subsequently shared the same fate, when my friend, 

 thinking the game had lasted long enough, confined the depredators in another 

 cage. Now, although we must always reason very cautiously respecting the 

 habits of animals in a wild state from those of individuals kept in confinement, 



