52 The Field Naturalist's Quarterly Feb. 



these spots is due to the deposit of lime left by the de- 

 caying char a. 



Without experience of the occurrence, one would hardly 

 credit the rapidity with which the ice on the broad breaks 

 up, nor the noise which it makes in doing so if there be a 

 wind. I have helped to shove a boat across the broad on 

 the top of the ice in the morning, laid in a " wake " for fowl 

 all day, and at nightfall come back in open water, a sudden 

 rapid thaw with wind and rain having set in meanwhile. 

 The great sheets of ice running before the wind crashed 

 against and then drifted under or over one another, their 

 accumulated weight striking against the steam-driven posts, 

 knocking these far out of the perpendicular. It was just the 

 day for wild-fowling, and we started with high anticipations ; 

 but the unexpected as often happens in sport as in other 

 things, and we gained but little reward for our risks of 

 exposure and hard work. My note-books bear witness to 

 the fact that almost invariably when I have expected most 

 sport then I have had least success in number, variety, or 

 rarity, in the bag ; whilst on the other hand, my red-letter 

 days — few and far between, I own — in five and twenty years' 

 experience have generally come when least expected. The 

 glorious uncertainty of finding a rare plant, securing an 

 uncommon insect, landing a heavy fish, or killing cleanly 

 when one snaps trigger at a bolting bunny, adds considerable 

 zest to the pursuit of collecting specimens, whether for the 

 cuisine or the cabinet. 



Records of Observation. 



Notes on Shropshire Fauna. 

 By H. E. Forrest. 



The recent floods on the Severn and its tributaries led 

 to some curious results. The otters' " holts " in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Cressage were submerged, and their tenants 

 driven forth into the light of day. One took refuge in a 



