2016 The Zoologist— February, 1870. 



present in the great majority of individuals. It always exists in the 



adults in summer plumage, but is sometimes absent in specimens, 



apparently perfectly adult, in winter plumage. Its presence does not 



seem to be amenable to any very general or constant law : since it 



may be very evident in very young birds, not yet fully fledged, and 



again absent in apparently mature specimens, as just stated. In 



winter specimens it is frequently interrupted and irregular, wanting 



the sharpness of definition which it has in all cases of adult specimens 



in summer vesture. 



Dimensions: Adult.— Length (average) 18-00, extent about 2700, 



wing 775, tail S'oO, difl'ercuce between outer and inner feathers 1*25; 



tarsus r25; middle toe and claw 2*00, outer toe the same, inner toe 



1-40; chord of culraen 180, its curve 1-50; rictus 225; gonys -75 ; 



nostrils to tip '85 ; greatest depth of bill (just anterior to nostrils) -90 ; 



greatest width of the corneous portion -.30. Young. — Length 1500; 



extent 2200; wing 700; tail 300; tarsus I'OO; chord of culmen 



]-00; rictus 175; gonys '60; greatest depth of bill -60; greatest 



width -20. 



(To lie continued.) 



Cats killing Squirich. — In the iiiiiiil)ers of llie 'Zjulogisl' f(ir January and .Marcli, 

 1869 (S. S. 1057 aud 1 1'29) tbis quesiiuii is discussed. Ii may not be amiss to nienlion 

 (bat ibe fact of the domestic cat killing squirrels in India is of very frequent occur- 

 rtnce. The Indian species, the palm squirrel (Sciurus Palmarum), is somewhat 

 smaller than the English one, but probably more active and vigilant: it neverlhelcss 

 frequently falls a prey to the cat, to whom noihing seems to come amiss. I was once 

 living in a house where it was considered necessary to keep a cat; but the animal 

 soon gave up its legitimate calling, and tuok to living upon squirrels, which were more 

 numerous than the rats, easier caught, anil affurded doubtless better food. On 

 several occasions I witnessed the cat in the act of "stalking" and taking the poor 

 squirrel. These animals are to be fouml in considerable numbers in every suitable 

 locality, and in some parts of India they actually infest the house — so much so that 

 I iiave seen live or six caught of a morning in a circular wire rat-trap having three 

 entrances. The cat, on the occasions referred to, would watch the squirrel in the act 

 of feeding under a tree (one at a distance from the others, and sulhciently removed 

 from buihlings would be selected), and by dint of hiding behind tufts of grass and 

 bushes, and taking advantage of the inequalities of the ground, would manage to get 

 the tree between her and the S(|uirrel, and tlien with a pounce would carry oflF the 

 Tictim, to be devoured at leisure in the garden. 1 have frequently baulked the cat thus 

 in the act of "stalking," and seen her renew her endeavours almost immediately. 

 I could relate other instances in proof of the partiality cats have for squirrel's flesh, 

 more particularly for their young — Andrew Anderson; 1, Union Place, Trinity, 

 Edinburgh. 



