PROCEEDINGS 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



January 12, 1836. 



Williara Yarrell, Esq., iu the Chair. 



A NOTE addressed to the Secretaryby Sir RobertHeron, Bart. M. P. 

 was read. It referred to the ■writer's success in the breeding of Cu- 

 rassows in the lašt summer at Stubtoū. 



From two individuals in his possession, the malė of which is en- 

 tirely black, and the female of the mottled reddish brown colour 

 which is regarded as characteristic of the Crajc riibra, Linn., Sir R. 

 Heron has hatched in the lact year six young ones in three broods of 

 two eggs each : the eggs were placed under turkeys and common 

 hens. Respecting one of them no notes ■vvere made ; but the other 

 five were all of the red colour of the female parent. Ttvo of these, 

 ■vvhich •vvere at two or three weeks old very strong, being still in the 

 flower-garden, were killed in the night by a rat that had eaten its 

 way into the coop in which they were. Two others were sent to 

 the Earl of Derby, who wanted hens. The remaining one is now 

 nearly, if not quite, full grown ; and Sir R. Heron proposes to place 

 it with the old pair. 



" There is one gceat peculiarity," Sir R. Heron remarks, " attend- 

 ing the old pair. Their principai food is Indian com and greens, 

 both which they eat in common : but whenever any biscuit is given 

 to them, as an occasional treat when visitors are here, the malė breaks 

 it and takes it in his mouth ; waiting, however long, untU the hen 

 takes it out of his bill ; ■vvhich she does without the slightest mark 

 of civility, although on excellent terms with hira. This proceeding 

 is invariable." 



Mr. Yarrell, on behalf of T. C. Heysham, Esq., of Carlisle, ex- 

 hibited the egg, the young bird of a week old, one of a month old, 

 and the adult female of the Dottrell, Charadrivs Morinellus, Linn., 

 obtained on Skiddaw in the summer of 1 835 . Severai pairs were 

 breeding in the šame locality. 



He also stated that a specimen of the yrey Šnipe, Macroramphus 

 griseus, Leach, a young bird of the year, has been obtained near 

 No. XXXVII. — Proceedings of the Zoological Sociktt. 



