OCCASIONAL NOTES. 135 
Puenacity oF THE Moornen.—Moorhens are very pugnacious birds, 
and are always fighting amongst themselves ; but I was perfectly surprised 
a few days ago, when going to pick up a wounded one, to see it come at me 
“open-mouthed,” and repeatedly fly up and peck my legs.—C. MarruEew 
Prior (Bedford). 
Hartequin Duck ar Finey.—During my stay at Scarborough, I 
purchased of Mr. Roberts, the well-known naturalist, a Harlequin Duck 
which he told me was shot at Filey about ten years ago. I mention this 
occurrence, as this duck has been killed on so few occasions in this 
country, and I have never seen this specimen mentioned in any book on 
Natural History —J. Wuiraxer (Rainworth Lodge, Mansfield, Notts). 
[The recorded instances of the occurrence of this duck in a wild state in 
this country are mostly doubtful. In several cases subsequent examination 
showed that the birds in question were young Long-tailed Ducks, and in 
one instance a so-called Harlequin Duck proved to be a female Scaup. 
See Professor Newton's remarks on this subject in ‘The Ibis’ for 1859, 
p. 162.—Ep.] 
Grey Crow 1n YORKSHIRE IN SuMMER.—When staying at Scarborough 
last summer, I went to see the sea-fowl breeding at Flamborough Head, 
and when standing on the cliff a Grey Crow flew past. This was on the 
15th June, at which date I was much surprised to see a Grey Crow so far 
south—J. WHITAKER. 
Manx SHEARWATER IN OXFORDSHIRE.—It may be as well to put on 
record the occurrence of a bird of the above species, at Chipping Norton, in 
the winter of 1872—73. Two other examples are said to have been caught 
there (see Morris’s ‘ British Birds’). It was brought to Banbury to be 
stuffed, and is now in my possession.—C. MarrHew Prior (Bedford). 
HyBERNATION OF THE SLtow-worm.—On March 2nd a man in removing 
part of a hedge-bank found four young Slow-worms of two different sizes all 
coiled up together into a ball. They were in the earth in the centre of the 
bank, about a foot from the surface. ‘The man noticed no leaves or grass, 
or any kind of nest, nor any hole communicating with the surface, though 
there probably was a small passage. Three of these reptiles were alike in 
size,—three and one-eighth inches long by one-eighth of an inch in 
diameter. The fourth was about six aud a quarter inches long, and about 
a quarter of an inch thick. No full-grown Slow-worm was found.—F'ranx 
Noreare (Sparham, Norwich). 
