170 
were like cats’ teeth, and that I 
much doubted whether a cat could 
be caught sucking a cow, however 
fond it might be of milk. On 
this the old gentleman was rather 
wrath, and thought I was wholly 
ignorant of country matters. Speak- 
ing of cats taking milk, I remember 
many times seeing a cat of mine 
stand up on her hind legs when my 
cows were being milked, and seeing 
her divert the stream of milk into 
her mouth with her fore-paws before 
it got to the pail.” 
Tue following might well have 
called forth one of Gray’s classical 
sonnets, had the poet’s eye witnessed 
the incident. As I was sitting in 
my study one Sunday morning, a 
robin hopped near the window as he 
poured forth his song. The cat, 
who was inside the room, and some- 
what hidden by the ledge, sprang 
out and seized the songster. Her 
growls of satisfaction seemed to sing 
his requiem. For some cause or 
other, possibly to secure a better 
grip, she relaxed her hold, and the 
robin instantly flew off, perched 
upon my garden wall, and there 
finished his interrupted song. 
Wititam Bramurey-Moore. 
Gerrard’s Cross. 
In the summer of last year I met 
with a singular instance of tenacity 
of life in a rabbit. Walking" in the 
wood above Wycombe Park, my 
attention was attracted to a rabbit 
which ran out into the open glade 
pursued by my dog. It doubled 
again and again in a feeble way, 
and I hastened to the rescue, beliey- 
ing it to be wounded. I hastily 
secured it, folded it in my cloak, and 
carried it home; on producing my 
prize a piteous spectacle met our 
view. Thelittle creature had no eyes, 
and through the empty sockets we 
could see quite into the head, which 
appeared hollow and almost in a 
state of decomposition, while the 
body was plump and healthy, It 
appeared to me a singular incident, 
and worth recording. I should be 
glad to know if any of your corres- 
pondents have met with a similar 
one, and can explain the cause of it. 
High Wycombe. E. C. 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
Tue Sroar.—I once had a very 
good opportunity of observing one of 
these animals in West Wycombe 
Park. It was hunting about among 
some dead leaves very assiduously, 
and by remaining perfectly quiet I 
was able to watch it through my 
glass for a good quarter of an hour. 
On hearing the slightest sound, 
however distant, it would instantly 
pause, and rearing itself on its hind 
legs, peep round in every direction 
to ascertain the cause. [If satisfied, 
it would resume its search, but if 
another sound followed immediately, 
it darted into its hole. Here it 
would remain a minute or two, and 
then cautiously emerge, looking 
about to see if the coast was clear. . 
At last it settled itself down on a 
bank, and drawing its forelegs under- 
neath its body, it went to sleep. 
The Stoat is much commoner than is 
generally supposed, but being very 
retiring in its habits, and very timid, 
it is seldom seen. A very fine 
specimen was taken two or three 
years ago at West Wycombe, 
measuring 16 inches in length: it is 
now in the possession of Dr. 
Bowstead. 
Hy. Untyert. 
Scarcity oF CoMMONLEPIDOPTERA. 
—The Brimstone Butterfly generally 
so very plentiful round High 
Wycombe, seems to have been very 
uncommon during the last season. 
I saw more hybernated specimens in 
the spring than freshly emerged ones 
in August. Can any of your readers 
suggest a reason for this? Had the 
frosts of May anything to do with it? 
The Small Tortoiseshell and the 
Peacock have not been by any 
means so plentiful as formerly. 
A. 
[We should be glad to hear from 
other correspondents whether the 
same scarcity has prevailed in neigh- 
bouring districts. En.] 
Late Martins.—On Saturday, 
November 16th, I saw two Martins 
flying about over the Taplow road, 
near Maidenhead. ‘The latest date 
on which I have observed them in 
previous years was on November 15, 
in 1863, at High Ui tie a 
. MARSHALL. 
