3996 The Zoologist— May, 1874. 



still present and of a fair depth, — shows its original possessor to have been 

 about the size of a Shetland pony. Some smaller bones, perhaps referable 

 to tlie roe and hare, were found in the shell-marl associated with most of our 

 fresh-water shells. The absence in these deposits of any bones that can 

 with certainty be attributed to the sheep, the large size of the remains of 

 the deer, and the small size of those of the horse, besides the presence of 

 bones of the extinct ox, seem to imply that the age when these beds were 

 laid down, though, geologically speaking, only yesterday, was before the 

 dawn of History in these islands. — Henry M. Wallis ; Rcadimj. 



Piebald and Halformcd Rat. — About a fortnight since I saw a curious 

 variety of the common rat, the head, neck and shoulders of which were of 

 the usual brown colour, but from thence to the tail it was pure white. It 

 was also malformed, having but three legs which it could use, the fourth (one 

 of its fore legs) being completely concealed under the skin, and lying back- 

 wards from the shoulder, and adhering to the side of the body. On dissection 

 this limb appeared somewhat emaciated, but perfectly formed, with the 

 exception of the toes, which were not quite perfect. It was a fine animal, 

 quite fat, and appeared to have enjoyed perfect health. It was caught 

 in Plymouth. — John Gatcomhe ; 8, Lower Dunijord Street, Stonehouse, 

 Plymouth. 



Common Buzzard in the Isle of Wight. — A female buzzard, in perfect 

 plumage, was trapped at Wooton on the the 2ord of December, 1873. — 

 Henry Hadjicld. 



An Osprcy canning off Young Chicliens. — In the spring of 1871 a railway 

 porter, near Tuubridge, had no less than eleven young chickens carried off 

 by an osprey. His wife happened one day to hear a great commotion among 

 the poultry in the garden, and, rushing out of the house, was just in time 

 to see a large hawk flying off with one of her chickens in its claws. On 

 her husband's return she informed him of the circumstance. The same 

 thing happened several times, the bird returning twice and even thrice 

 a-day for his unwonted meal. At last the man determined to try and kill 

 the aggressor ; so, accordingly, he boiTowed a gun, and as evening drew on 

 he awaited his unwelcome visitor. Nor had he long to wait, for the old hen 

 soon made him aware of the enemy's approach by her loud and continuous 

 cackling, as she gathered her remaining young ones under her wings. So 

 intent was the osprey on his prey that he never noticed the porter, who, as 

 the bird made his final stoop, let drive, and stretched it dead beside its 

 intended supper. The next day he took the bird to a gunsmith in Tun- 

 bridge Wells, who sold it to a lady staying there, at the same time 

 informing her of the circumstances connected with its capture. Being 

 rather incredulous, she drove over to see the porter himself, who cor- 

 roborated the gunsmith's statements. I saw this bird a short time ago. 



