3298 Tue ZooLocist—NoveMBER, 1872. 
Wheatear, Whinchat and Stonechat—Feed almost entirely on 
insects: the first-named may often be seen sitting on the ears of 
wheat when in “shock,” from which, like the spotted flycatcher, it 
pursues and captures a passing insect, returning generally to the 
same “shock” of wheat. The stonechat during the winter and 
spring months often frequents sheep-folds, where the combined 
warmth of some hundreds of sheep probably induces some insects 
to creep forth to the surface of the land, which but for that would 
remain hidden in a semi-torpid state. 
In the above list I have not thought it necessary to mention a 
host of our summer migrants, almost the whole of which are 
entirely insectivorous, although the greater whitethroat, blackcap 
and garden warbler are remarkably good at ripe currants, and 
certainly have no objection to cherries. 
With regard to the “ Schedule” of wild birds (Zool. S. 8. 3282), 
why the hawfinch—a most mischievous bird in gardens—has been 
included, and the golden oriole—at least a very ornamental bird, 
that would breed here if protected, and adorn our woods and shrub- 
beries—has been excluded, appears to me to be an oversight; but 
I should fancy that the Schedule, as now worded, could never have 
been submitted to any practical ornithologist. What schoolboy 
does not know that lapwing and peewit are synonymous?! also 
dunlin and ox-bird? 
Henry REEKs. 
East Woodhay, September 18, 1872. 
Concerning Squirrels, Rats, Kestrels, Sparrowhawks, §c. 
By Joun SCLATER. 
On the 3rd of July I was taken to the nest of a song thrush, 
which contained two young birds and an addled egg: both birds 
were without the upper mandible; one had the under mandible 
entire, the lower had been removed in a jagged oblique direction : 
the point of the tongue in the first mentioned was taken off; in 
the latter it was damaged, but not shortened: there was also a 
large formation on the scapula of this bird. The boy who took me to 
the nest told me they were in this state when he first found the nest 
(shortly after they were hatched), and as I could not satisfy myself 
whether it was a cancerous formation, or that they had been attacked 
by some “vermin,” I resolved to bring them home and keep them to 
