18 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
A pair which were formerly in the Zoological Society's Gardens, bred m 
August (see ‘ Zoologist,’ p. 1901). Three young ones taken in Norfolk in 
January were about six or eight weeks old, and therefore born in November 
(* Zoologist,’ 1851, p. 3022). A well-known sportsman and naturalist, the 
late Mr. Lloyd, of Scandinavian renown, informed us that in Sweden the 
Otter pairs in February or March, according to the mildness or severity of 
the season. The latest contribution that we have seen to the natural 
history of the Otter, and a very instructive article withal, is from the pen 
of Mr. Thomas Southwell, of Norwich, and may be found in the ‘ Transac- 
tions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society,’ 1872—73 pp. 79— 
90. On page 84 a tabular statement is given, showing the various periods 
of the year in which, in fourteen instances within the writer's knowledge, 
young Otters have been found in Norfolk. The result of Mr. Southwell’s 
‘experience is that the Otter produces her young ones from December to 
February, is not double-brooded, and that the number of young is from one 
to three, rarely exceeding the latter.—EKD. ] 
Rappirs Breepinc above GRounp.—In the last edition of ‘ Bell’s 
British Quadrupeds’ it is stated (p. 344) that “on moors where the soil is 
very wet, Rabbits often refrain from burrowing, and content themselves with 
runs and galleries formed in the long and matted heather and herbage.” 
An instance has recently come under my notice in which a Rabbit was 
found breeding above ground in a field of turnips, and in a flat form, like 
that of a hare. The form contained four newly born young, and before 
they were discovered the old doe was unfortunately shot. This was near 
Amesbury, in Wiltshire, and the circumstance was reported by an eye- 
witness, Mr. W. Southam, in ‘The Field’ of the 2nd December last.— 
J. E. Harrine. 
OccuRRENCE oF A SourH American Ratt 1n Witrsuire.—On the 
20th of October last I received a communication from my friend the Rev. 
Arthur Morres, vicar of Britford, near Salisbury (an ardent and an accurate 
ornithologist, on whose judgment I knew I could rely), giving me parti- 
culars of a strange bird (which he had seen in the flesh in the shop of Mr. 
Foot, birdstuffer, at Bath, on the previous Tuesday) which he could not 
identify, and upon which he asked my opinion: at the same time he 
enclosed a small feather, to show the prevailing colour of the plumage. It 
had been shot on the western borders of the county, between Trowbridge 
and Bradford, and had been taken to Mr. Foot for preservation on 
Saturday, October 14th. From the description given it was evidently a 
Rail, very like a Moorhen in shape, and was generally of a bright chestnut 
colour, with crimson legs. It measured fifteen inches and a half in length, 
and the beak from tip to gape was two inches. But I cannot do better than 
quote Mr. Morres’ own description, of the excellence of which Professor 
Newton subsequently expressed his unqualified approval :—« Legs and 
