The Zoologist — January, 1870. 1979 



the first fortnight in October, are the blackbirds: for every blackbird 

 found in this parish in the latter summer there is now fully four. 

 I put Ihera up from all sorts of odd places : on the Humber bank, the 

 sides of marsh drains, and on the higher lands, amongst the hedge- 

 rows and plantations, they swarm. Of these three species the missel 

 and common lli rushes do not remain in the district, but I do not- 

 observe any diminution in the blackbirds. 



Grayliuj Goose. — November 1. Observed seven graylags pitch in 

 one of our marsh pastures this afternoon, and in a favourable position 

 for stalking: to drop into the nearest drain was a matter of necessity: 

 a deep cold wade up this and along a cross drain, and a wriggle, 

 snake-like, across a dirty callle-trodden gateslead brought me to the 

 place. I found, however, to my sorrow, that the birds had shifted 

 their ground and walked to the middle of the field : the only chance 

 left was to match legs against wings, and by running rapidly towards 

 them trust to a long shot: this I did, and pulled at the gray-blue 

 shoulders of the hindmost only to hear the shot strike the feathers. 



Field/are and liedwing.— November 9. First observed. Like the 

 thrushes the redwings on their first arrival will often resort for some 

 days to the turnip-fields. 



John Cokdeaux. 



Great Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire, 

 November 26. 1869. 



Hedgehog and Rabbit. — I was ralber surprised lo see, in Mr. Gunn's " Notes on 

 the Mammalia of Norlolk," a most absurd tale about a hedgehog, given on the 

 authority of a gamekeeper. This harmless little animal is strictly nocturnal in its 

 habits.and from its structure is unable to spring at anything, and it could not possibly 

 retain its hold of a struggling rabbit if it ventured lo attack one, which I do not believe 

 that any hedgehog ever did.— Henri/ Doubleday ; Epping, November 15, 1869. 



[I quite agree with Mr. Doubleday that such tales ought uot to be giveu on the 

 authority of gamekeepers, who are the last people in the world lo observe accurately 

 or with unprejudiced eyes.— Edward Newman.'] 



OUer near Ipswich.— k friend assures me that, whilst travelling between Baalham 

 and Stowmarket, on Thursday, the 1 1th of November, he saw from the railway, which 

 runs for some distance close to the river Gipping, an otter : it was at some distance 

 from the bank, snuflBng about much in the manner of a ferret, and took no notice of 

 the train: having seen the otter before, in the West of England, he was not likely lo 

 be mistaken. This makes the third occurrence of this rare animal that has come under 

 iny notice during eighteen months. Two young ones were caught during a flood in 

 the locks at Great Blakenham, about seven miles from Ipswich, in July, 1868 ; and a 

 full-grown specimen was killed by some bargemen on the river at Sproughton, some 



