MISCELLANY. 383 



put into a box containing a Ferret Weasel and some young ones, as food for the 

 old female. Instead, however, of immediately killing and devouring the little 

 animal, the Ferret took it under its protection, and brought it up along with its 

 own offspring. The Kitten remains with them at present ; but from the confine- 

 ment of the place, and the overweening attachment of the old Ferret in keeping 

 it well covered with hay, it is in a weakly state, not being allowed sufficient air 

 and exercise. It grows up with the young Ferrets, and is now about the same 

 size as its companions. If the kitten is at any time taken from the box and 

 placed upon the ground outside, it is immediately fetched back in the mouth of 

 its foster-mother, and covered up in the litter along with the young Ferrets. 

 The Ferrets belong to Mr. Bower, of Rossington. — Cheltenham Chronicle (?), 

 Communicated by Charles Hanway, Esq., Alton Hall, Gloucestershire, Aug. 27, 

 1837. 



Capture of Whales in Orkney. — On the 21st of August there was an im- 

 portant capture of Whales, of the Bottle-nosed species, in Scapa Bay, near Kirk- 

 wall. A hundred and sixty were taken in all, varying in length from 6 to 22 

 feet each. The massacre was dreadful, and the whole scene had something of 

 the sublime and terrific in it. The bay was for a time metamorphosed ad literam 

 into a " Red Sea," and the shore presented the spectacle of 160 dead carcases 

 ranged along it. A sale of these monsters of the deep afterwards took place. 

 They were disposed of in lots, and brought upwards of £400. At Stromness 

 about 60 Wales, of the same species, made their appearance, some of which were 

 captured off the place, and a few were run on shore. We have been informed 

 that a number of the same description are ashore at Stronza. Some of them 

 were also seen off Scapa Bay since the first capture, but though hotly pursued 

 they got off. — Sept. 1. 



Black Variety of the Rabbit. — A variety of the Rabbit is taken at Nappa, 

 near Aysgarth, which we know by the name of the Nappa Rabbit. It is quite black 

 when young, and becomes of a blue-grey when full-grown. The fur is considered 

 valuable, which causes the proprietor of the warren to be very tenacious of the 

 breed. I only know of one other place in England where it exists. Whether it 

 is indigenous or not I cannot say. The skins are sent to London. — Thomas 

 Meynell, jun., Esq., in a letter to the Rev. F. 0. Morris. 



Singular Habit noticed in the Whin Cnxi^Sazicola rubetra). — We believe, 

 but are not certain, that the Whin Chat, both old and young, frequently makes a 

 rapid motion with one wing while the other remains quiescent. The tail is 

 moved at the same time. To ascertain the precise action of the bird during this 

 manoeuvre is difficult, on account of the rapidity of the movement. We first 

 noticed this circumstance at three o'clock in the morning of July 1, when com- 

 paratively few birds were in action. An old Whin Chat was perched on the top 



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