OCCASIONAL NOTES. 253 
had he not dropped it, whereupon the mother took it up again and ran off 
with it.—Watter Stamper (Oswaldkirk, York). 
Goats gatinc Topacco.—Mr. Reeks mentions (p. 206) a case of a goat 
eating tobacco with impunity. I can confirm this statement. A goat 
’ belonging to Mr. Barr, yacht-builder, of Wivenhoe, was very fond of eating 
tobacco, and if a pouch was shown to him would follow the owner about 
until he had some tobacco given him. I have frequently given him half-an- 
ounce, and on one occasion I left my pouch, containing between two and 
three ounces, open within his reach, which in a few minutes he cleared 
without doing him the least harm.—A. H. Smux (7, Finsbury Circus). 
CaTTLe EATING Yew.—Apropos of the notes which have already appeared 
on this subject (pp. 177, 206, 207) it may be observed that Gilpin, in his 
‘Remarks on Forest Scenery’ (Sir T. D. Lauder’s edition, vol. i., p. 191), 
states that “Cattle and sheep eat yew twigs greedily, and with impunity 
when they crop them from the tree or bush. But these animals have been 
frequently poisoned by eating the clippings of a yew hedge which have lain 
for a little time. This can only be accounted for by the supposition that 
some chemical change takes place in the arrangement of the juices of the 
plant, which generates a poison not pre-existing in it.” Gilpin is mistaken, 
however, in supposing that the poisonous effects result only from cropping 
the living tree. In addition to the instances already cited (p. 177), I am 
reminded of an accident which occurred in Yorkshire a few years since, 
when three valuable horses were destroyed by eating the leaves of a growing 
yew tree, which they had been incautiously allowed to get at through the 
carelessness of a tenant in not repairing his fences.—J. E. Harrine. 
Notes FroM THE Istz or WicHt.—Though nothing rare has occurred 
here of late, Mr. Smith, the Newport taxidermist, has received a Little 
Bittern which was picked up at Brixton, in a dying state, on the 2nd of 
May last year. It is a male, in perfect plumage, 154 inches in length, 
and 213 inches in extent of wing. Swallows, this spring, were unusually 
late in appearing here, none having been observed till the middle of April, 
and no Martins till the beginning of May. Both species have become less 
numerous of late years, and few breed here now, though they are to be 
seen in countless numbers during the autumnal migration. Neither Chiff- 
chaff nor Willow Wren was seen till the first week in April. Several 
Swifts were observed on the 9th of May flying about the Carisbrook church- 
tower. Young Starlings were first seen on the wing on the 25th of May. 
How the young manage to fly up or creep up chimney-pots over three feet 
in height is wonderful, but their very powerful claws and sharp nails no 
doubt aid them in doing so. I may record here the strange death of a 
