NOTES AND QUERIES. 465 



that its food is much like that of the Moorhen, though, from its 

 constantly shifting its quarters, it may be possibly more varied. 

 It, however, never feeds on the water swimming like that bird, 

 but may be sometimes seen feeding along the edge. Both this 

 and the Spotted Crake are such extremely shy birds that it is 

 difficult to observe their movements except at brief intervals. 



The last bird I have on my list is the Grey Wagtail. I need 

 hardly say that it feeds chiefly on flies, and perhaps occasionally 

 aquatic insects ; but if it ever should catch a tiny fish, which I 

 doubt, why are not all the other Wagtails included in the col- 

 lection, their food and habits being so very similar ? Had the 

 Dipper, the Moorhen, the Spotted Crake, the Water Rail, and 

 the Yellow Wagtail been separately exhibited as aquatic birds, no 

 exception could have been taken ; but to include them amongst such 

 as feed exclusively on fish is, to say the least of it, misleading. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MAMMALIA. 



The Beaver in Norway. — From an interesting paper on the Beaver 

 in Norway, published by Herr Collett, of Christiania, — ' Nyt Magazin for 

 Naturvidenskaberne,' 18 Bind, lste Hefte (1883), — it appears that this 

 animal, formerly to be met with in many parts of that country, is now 

 only to be found in two rivers in the south. A colony was observed 

 near Porsgrund in 1876, but disappeared in 1880. The total number of 

 Beavers in Norway at the present is estimated by Herr Collett at one 

 hundred or thereabouts, and it is satisfactory to learn that he does not 

 think they are decreasing. It may be remembered that Mr. A. H. Cocks 

 furnished some interesting particulars on this subject in 'The Zoologist' 

 for 1880 (pp. 232, 497). 



Note on the Water Vole.- — In the parish of Northrepps there is a 

 small pond, overhung by an ash tree; on Sept. 28th a Water Vole was 

 observed gathering up the fallen seed-vessels of the ash, and carrying 

 them into his hole on the side of the pond. The animal was very tame, 

 and my informant observed him several times, in quick succession, repeating 

 this operation, which may perhaps be worth recording. I find that hillocks, 

 resembling mole-hills, but a trifle larger, are sometimes thrown up in 

 pastures by the Water Vole. — J. H. Guhney (Northrepps Hall, Norwich). 



