106 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
in the category of the Rook’s food. I have repeatedly seen them eat acorns, 
but was under the impression that they eat all but the outside shell. 
Rooks and Carrion Crows begin to come to our walnut trees on or about 
the 28th September every year. ‘They wrench off the nut, and sometimes 
carry it to a great distance before they commence to eat it. They generally 
take it to the middle of some large field, and holding the nut down firmly 
by one claw, proceed to peck it open by aid of their powerful beak. It is 
impossible to make one drop the coveted morsel when flying over, however 
much they are frightened. I never saw them bury a walnut, as related by 
Mr. Jesse.—C. Marruew Prior (Bedford). 
CURLEWS BREEDING N&AR SatsBury.—I can quite credit the para- 
graph in ‘The Marlborough Times,’ mentioned at page 38, concerning 
the true Curlew (Numenius arquata) breeding occasionally on the Aldbourne 
Downs. One or two pairs have bred regularly on the downs some seven 
miles from Salisbury for many years past. My little boys taking a great 
interest in Natural History, I asked a friend, in the spring of 1875, to pro- 
cure for mea pair of the eggs of the Stone Curlew, or Thick-knee, which 
bird breeds annually with us. He did so, but they unfortunately arrived 
when I was away from home, and were broken. He very kindly sent me a 
second pair on May 25th,—rather late in the season for them,—and told 
me whence he had procured them. On making enquiries of a person he 
mentioned, I was told that they were not uncommon, and that some Curlew’s 
eggs could be obtained from the same downs if I wanted them, as one or 
two pair bred there every year. I was surprised at hearing it, but size 
and colour and shape of the egg were described so accurately that I was 
convinced of the truth of their doing so. Last year (1876) I asked the 
person to look out for me and procure me some; but this spring none were 
found, it being the first season they had missed breeding there. Upon this 
I referred to Meyer's book on ‘ British Birds and their Eggs,’ and asked the 
person to point out to me which eggs were meant when “ Curlew’s eggs” were 
spoken of; and the right egg was pointed out without the slightest hesitation. 
I have not the least doubt of the fact of these birds breeding on the downs, 
as the Thick-knee’s eggs are comparatively common about here, and could 
not be mistaken for the eggs of Numenius arquata by one who was per- 
fectly acquainted with the eggs of both species—A. P. Morrzs (Britford 
Vicarage, Salisbury). 
Variety or SanD Marrin.—This species breeds not uncommonly in 
several places in the neighbourhood of Ringwood, such as old gravel-pits or 
railway banks. Near one of the latter situations I have often sat for hours 
watching their untiring and happy motions and listening to their twittering 
notes. Last season, during their nidification, I noticed a peculiarly 
coloured individual flying amongst its darker relations—in fact, it seemed to 
be snowy white, and was consequently very conspicuous. On the 6th of 
