4824 THE ZooLoGist—MakCcH, 1876. 
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.—January 20th. One of these pretty 
little birds was shot in the vicinity of Plymouth, and another heard 
in the woods of Port Eliot, St.Germans. The cold weather seems 
to have greatly affected the young herons in this neighbourhood, 
so many having been lately killed and brought to our birdstuffers. 
Several redthroated divers have appeared in Plymouth Sound 
within the last week. 
Strange Captures of the Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon.—A week 
or two since I examined a fine adult male kestrel, which had been 
captured in the following singular manner:—A gentleman living 
near Plymouth observing a hawk intently engaged in tearing up a 
thrush which it had just killed, thought he would cautiously creep 
up behind it, and to his great surprise was thus allowed to come so 
close as to capture it by placing his stick on its back before the 
hawk was aware of his presence. It then began to show fight in 
the most determined manner, and was so much injured in the 
struggle that it had to be killed. The poor bird is now stuffed and 
under a glass shade with the headless thrush in its grasp. Such 
voracity is rarely met with in the kestrel; and, strange to say, the 
bird was very fat, and altogether in the finest condition. A large 
portion of the flesh of its victim, mixed with feathers, was found 
just swallowed. A very similar occurrence took place some years 
ago near Plymouth. A labourer at work near the coast saw a 
peregrine falcon strike down a gull (Larus canus) a few hundred 
yards from where he stood. He then approached the spot with 
the greatest caution, and so intent was the falcon upon her prey 
that this man actually put his foot on her back and held her down 
whilst he untied his garter, with which he secured his prize. The 
peregrine was admirably stuffed by Mr. Bolitho, of Plymouth, in 
the act of devouring the gull, and is now in the possession of 
Mr. W. E. Matthews, of Plymouth. 
JoHN GATCOMBE. 
Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Devon. 
Hedgehogs in Ireland.—tIn one of the late editions—if not the very 
latest—of Bell’s ‘ British Quadrupeds,’ it is stated that there are no hedge- 
hogs in Ireland. This is a mistake. There are plenty, at least in Leinster. 
Lately I kept some in my garden in boxes full of hay, and with holes to 
get in and out as they pleased. In summer they fed on snails and slugs; 
iu winter I gave them bread and milk. I never knew them to sleep more 
