1980 The Zoologist — January, 1870. 



time early in this spring: this is only three miles from Ipswich. I have heard it 

 stated ihat others breed in this neighbourhood, and ihe second occurrence I have men- 

 tioned seems to give some weight to the supposition. — H. M. Wallis ; Ipswich, 

 November 11, 1869. 



The Australian Wild Horse. — The wild horse of Australia will unquestionably at 

 DO distant date, like ihe mustang of the Soulh American pampas, occupy in vast 

 numbers the almost boundless plains of the interior. On the Suuih Australian border, 

 in Victoria, where some few years ago wild horses were comparatively few in number, 

 large herds are now to be found. During periods of continual drought these herds 

 travel immense distances in search of pasture, and on some stations detract consider- 

 ably from the value of the runs to the north-west. The neighbourhood of the mallee 

 scrub at the present season appears to be a favourite resort for wild horses. Feeding 

 on the plains in mobs of from fifteen to thirty mares with colts at foot, the sire, a 

 stallion whose progeny are usually of one colour, is most careful of his family, on the 

 slightest alarm leading bis charge at full speed under shelter of the almost impene- 

 trable scrub. Several successful muslorings of these steeds of the plain have been 

 made of late, we are informed, and Sdme of the colts broken in and sent to market, 

 but, from the cheapness of horse-flesh all over the colony, the speculation has not paid. 

 Many hundreds have been shot on the various stations, but apparently without 

 reducing their numbers. Wild cattle in the neighbourhood of the malice scrub have 

 also become a coniplete nuisance. On the sheep stations beef of excellent quality is 

 supplied all the year round as rations to the men employed. The wild cattle are 

 bunted like the buffalo on the North American plains, and are said to be gradually 

 increasing in numbers and spreading towards the Far North. The most astonishing 

 circumstance attaching to these wild herds of cattle and hor»es is that, notwithstanding 

 on the stations near their haunts sheep and other stock are dying very fast from the 

 effects of the drought, these denizens of the plain appear in excellent health and sleek 

 as moles. A most beautiful sight it is to see a large mob of wild horses startled on the 

 plains, galloping at full speed, their unkempt manes floating in the wind, the speed of 

 which they seem to equal ; their tails sweeping the ground — they present to the eye a 

 perfect embodiment of beauty and (vecdvm.— Adelaide Observer. 



Occurrence of ihe Common Kite in Cornwall. — A very fine adult specimen of the 

 common kite was obtained from the grounds of Trcbartha Hall, near Launceston, on 

 the I si of December. I have not heard of a specimen of this beautiful bird occurring 

 anywhere in the West of England for the last fifty years, although I have a vague 

 recollection of the species havinij (in my school-hoy ilays, at Buckpostleigh, near .^sh- 

 burton,in Devonshire) regularly bred in a large woodland, called " King's Wood," not 

 far from Holne Chase, on Dartmoor. JMy nephew saw this bird to great advantage 

 soaring with his forked tail in full relief against the sky : it had been observed feuding 

 on carrion for some days at the kennel ; and previous to this my nephew observed and 

 reported to me, a large brown hawk which he observed on the extensive moors in the 

 neighbourhood, and which he said appeared at a distance to be all tail: this no doubt 

 was the kite. — Edivard Ilearte Rodd ; Penzance, December '2, 1869. 



Hen Harrier in Suffolk. — An ailuil female was shot near Wangford on the lOlh 

 of October, and sent me for preservation. — T, E. Gunn; Regent Street, Norwich. 



