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Mr. W. H. St. Quintin,



himself. Only once have I seen any redwings, and very occasionally

a fieldfare. We have had no cold weather so far, but constant rain

and damp, and some gales. There are a few robins, but they do

not seem to be so friendly and tame as they are at home.


The other day some of my men were demolishing an outhouse

which had a thatched roof. Under the thatch they discovered a

curious little animal hybernating in a straw nest. It took half an

hour to waken up, and by that time was safely secured in an empty

tin. I do not know the animal and will describe it as best I can,

perhaps one of your readers could identify it/' It is about the size

of a small rat, colour on back rather darker than an ordinary rat;

underneath a dirty white; tail long and hairy but not bushy with a

distinct tuft with a grey tip; grey patches on the cheeks ; black

eyes and rounded ears, larger than a rat’s. It nibbled a little short¬

bread and then proceeded to go to sleep again. I moved it into

more comfortable quarters and gave it a good nest of hay. It tried

to bite me when I was moving it, but couldn’t bite through my

glove, although its teeth are pretty strong yellow rodent teeth.

It disappeared at once into the hay and has made no movement

since, so I suppose it has resumed its rudely interrupted winter

slumbers. I hope to bring it home if we both survive !



DEATH OF A TAME SNOWY OWL.


By W. H. St. Quintin.


An old favourite which has lately died here deserves a short

obituary notice. Snowy owls are not generally considered long lived

in captivity, why, it is hard to say, for some of the other Northern

owls thrive in well managed aviaries. Some of our members will

have heard of a female Eagle owl which died in Mr. Meade-Waldo’s

possession, whose age was known to exceed 70 years. And Ural

and Lapp owls have lived long in the same aviaries. But “Snowies,”

for some reason, are much more difficult subjects. I have found

them to be easily upset if they do not regularly have, what falconers

call “casting” (the skin, fur, and bones) with their prey, and



Perhaps the oak dormouse. — E d.



