;M() .MISCELLANEOUS COMMtTNICATIONS. 



other small Birds. — The difficulty of entrapping the House Sparrow by 

 the usual means of catching small birds, has been alluded to by many au- 

 thors. I have, however, always found that I can catch as many as I wish in 

 trap-cages. I generally use wicker cages, made for the purpose, and have 

 taken as many as two dozen in a single day. Indeed, scarcely a day passes 

 that we do not take a dozen out of the trap, which is generally placed near 

 the pea-rows in the garden. It rarely happens that an old bird is caught, 

 though this is sometimes the case. Now and then a Kobin Redbreast gets in, 

 and does mischief by preventing the Sparrows from entering ; occasionally, 

 also, a Hedge Dunnock ( Accentor modularis), and Willow Warbler (Sylvia 

 melodia) are caught, the latter only when the cage is baited with fruit or 

 peas. With these exceptions, I am not aware of any other species being cap- 

 tured in these trap-cages.— J. D. Salmon. Thetford, Norfolk, July 28, 1836. 



[The most efficient means of destroying the House Sparrow, with which 

 we are acquainted, is by taking them at night with bat-fowling nets. We 

 have heard of two hundred being captured in this manner in the course of a 

 few days Eds.] 



The Mealy Linnet (Linaria canescens, Gould) The Mealy Linnet 



is closely allied to the Redpoll Linnet ( L. pusillaj, but is larger and stouter, 

 with a somewhat longer and thicker bill, and whitish rump ; but having no 

 sign of the pinkish tinge over the tail, so conspicuous in the Mountain Lin- 

 net. I have a live Mealy Linnet, a red-breasted specimen, but of course 

 not very bright at this time of the year (Dec), nor will it become so, judging 

 from analogy with the other species. It is very healthy, but has not yet begun 

 to sing. I have seen a specimen of it from Japan, and several from the 

 neighbourhood of Lake Ontario. It appears to inhabit more northerly dis- 

 tricts than the Redpoll Linnet, and is the species which Wilson describes 

 under the name of " Lesser Redpoll Finch," as the figure in the original 

 edition and the dimensions, he states, sufficiently testify. — Edward Blyth. 



Supposed " Cock-nests" of the Ivy Wren ( Anorthura troglodytes J. — 

 There has been much nonsense written about " cock-nests," as some have 

 been pleased to term them, hardly worth notice. I cannot imagine any na- 

 turalist believing that the male bird builds them, or that they are made for 

 the sake of concealment. I think we should find, on examination, that the 

 greater number of these afterwards deserted nests are built with an idea of 

 completion, but that this jealous little bird becomes dissatisfied with the si- 

 tuation ; and r.o bird is more easily caused to desert, though I know one in- 

 stance where the old bird allowed herself to be handled repeatedly while sit- 

 ting, and yet brought out her young. This little creature, besides its jea- 

 lous nature, is particularly liable to have its jealousy aroused, from being so 

 early a builder, when there is little covert, and from building often in low, 

 exposed situations. I have given some attention to this circumstance, and 

 feel assured that there is no peculiarity about it M. N. F. 



Facts relative to the Tits (Parus) The chattering notes of the 



Garden, Blue, Coal, and Marsh Tits, can scarcely be distinguished from each 

 other, but the first named species soon discovers itself by its *< pink, pinky 

 The Garden Tit is much less active and less ceaselessly in motion than the 

 other Tits above alluded to; a fact which becomes obvious when the species 

 are seen in company — Charles Liverpool, M.D. Bristol, Oct. 1C, 1836. 



Departure of the Willow Warbler (Sylvia melodia ) in 1836 The 



