336 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



seems a rather favoured spot. In 1878 Cornell shot a Sulphur-crested 

 Cockatoo, which must have come some distance. A year or so later he saw 

 a great bird iu the orchard which has remained in his thoughts ever since ; 

 and only last year a bird, which, from his description, I cannot make out to 

 be anything else than a Roller, came and stopped several days. He described 

 it as being much like a Jay in general appearance, but bright blue all over, 

 and with such a loud melodious, rattling whistle that he and his wife used 

 to hear it whilst in-doors. About the year 1871 a former bailiff shot a very 

 fine Little Auk. — Eonx. M. Christy (Chignal St. James, near Chelmsford). 



Bold Attack by a Partridge.— The other day, at Karlstad, as I was 

 walking at the edge of a pine wood, a cock Partridge, Perdix rubra, 

 attracted my attention, running backwards and forwards about ten yards 

 in the wood, calling to and being answered by the hen, which was apparently 

 about fifty yards off in some young wood. I stood still and watched the old 

 cock bird, who was evidently in a great state of excitement. He flew 

 towards me and alighted under a very small fir about two feet from me ; he 

 then ran a little way into the wood. I walked in the direction of where 

 the hen was calling. Before I had gone a dozen yards the cock twice flew 

 at me, and I had to ward him off with my butterfly-net. The hen presently 

 joined him, and they ran oil' into the wood together, but not very far, evidently 

 wishing to see if I had any evil intentions towards their family. I have no 

 doubt that the cock wished to divert my attention whilst the hen was 

 drawing off her young ones to a place of safety, though I did not see any 

 of them. I have frequently disturbed Partridges with young ones, but 

 I have never before experienced such a bold and determined attack on the 

 part of either of the old birds. — E. F. Becheb (Southwell, Notts). 



Birds fattened for the Table. — Are Teal (Querquedula crecca) and 

 Quail [Coturnix communis] kept and fattened for the table in confinement 

 in England? In Upper India both these birds are kept for a con- 

 siderable time after they cease to be procurable by the fowler, and furnish 

 a very welcome addition to the Anglo-Indians' dietary resources at a time 

 when variety in food is, if not necessary, at all events greatly appreciated. 

 Teal and Quail are hawked about the stations by native fowlers when the 

 birds are most numerous in the open country. The former are put in a 

 little pond well thatched over, and provided with side fencing to prevent 

 escape and the intrusion of destructive creatures as the Mongoose; the 

 latter are kept in a cool dark house or shed, and both are plentifully 

 supplied with millet or other grains of small size. The birds get very fat, 

 but must be eaten up before the rainy season has set in. — C. Donovan, jun. 

 (Myross Wood, Leap, Co. Cork). 



[Quail are certainly fattened for the table in England, and during the 

 summer months hundreds mav he seen in Leadenhall Market in cages with 



