568 Queries and Anstvers, 



between the ripening of barley, in the same park, this and the last season ; 

 the length of time between earing and ripening, and the mean temperature 

 of the periods, being exactly the same ; last year, too, it should be recol- 

 lected, the fall of rain in August was excessive. The ifordeum nudum 

 (Vol. III. p. 442.) ripened simultaneously with English barley in the same 

 field. It should also be remarked, that both earing and ripening were 19 

 days later this than last year; the seeds were also later in being sown. 

 Wheat that came in the ear on the 30th of June was cut ripe on the 9th of 

 September, a period of 7 1 days ; mean temperature of that period 56'5°. 

 The coincidence between the ripening this and last year (Vol. 11. p. 483.), 

 under similar circumstances, would lead to the inference, that, under a 

 temperature of 56*5°, a period of about 70 days is requisite to ripen wheat, 

 from the time the ear appears, with abundance of moisture in the soil. 

 China wheat (Vol. III. p. 442.), which came in the ear on the 12th of July, 

 was cut on the 30th of September, a period of 80 days : mean temperature 

 of that period 55*5°. This beautiful and promising wheat, the seeds of which 

 were kindly distributed by Mr. Loudon, was so severely attacked by yellow 

 gum or rust that the seeds are much shrivelled : this, however, should not 

 prevent another trial. Wheat from England always suffers by rust with us 

 the first year after its introduction, but seldom after. The Bocc6nf« quer- 

 cifolia was in flower on the 5th of September; white Beurree pears ripe on 

 the 30th ; Elruge nectarines beginning to drop. In the moors, game has 

 been plenty ; the partridge seems to suffer by moisture. They are so few 

 and weak, that many sportsmen are determined not to kill any for the 

 season. — A, G. Sept. 1. 



Art. II. Queries and Answers. 



The Long'tailed Titmouse. — Some time ago, when my brothers and my- 

 self were seekers of birds' nests, we found one of the long-tailed titmouse 

 (Parus caudatus), about two miles fnom home, containing young ones half- 

 nedged. Being anxious to rear them, we hit upon the plan of catching the 

 old ones, and giving them the trouble instead of ourselves. We accordingly 

 set lime twigs near the nest, and caught six old ones of the seven of which 

 the colony consisted, and brought them away in triumph : but the old 

 ones would not eat in confinement j and all died but one, which we allowed 

 to escape, in the hope that it would come back and feed the young ones. 

 This it did, and, by the most unwearied exertions reared the whole brood, 

 sometimes feeding them ten times a minute. Never having seen this habit 

 stated in any Ornithology y I am not aware that it is generally known to 

 naturalists ; but it is right to say that I have only found one nest of the 

 species since, and this my avocations would not permit me to examine. I 

 am not aware whether the fact I have stated was an exception to the general 

 habits of this bird, or whether such is invariably the case. Some of your 

 correspondents will, no doubt, be able to give an answer to this. — T. G. 

 Clithero, April 17. 1829. 



The Wren's Nest. ---Mr. Jennings and yourself, in opposition to Montagu, are of opinion 

 (Vol. I. p. 344.) that the wren never lines its nest with feathers ; like the knights of the gold and 

 silver shield, both sides are right. It is true, that many wrens' nests may be found which have 

 no feathers, but did you ever find either eggs or young ones in them ? As far as my observ- 

 ations go, the fact is, that the nest in which the wren lays its eggs is profusely lined with feathers : 

 but, during the period of incubation, the male, apparently from a desire to be doing something, 

 constructs as many as half a dozen nests in the vicinity of the first, none of which are lined ; and, 

 whilst the first nest is so artfully concealed as to be very seldom found, the latter are very fre- 

 quently seen. The wren does not appear to be very careful in the selection of a site for the cock 

 nests, as they are called by the schoolboys in Yorkshire. I have frequently seen them in the 

 twigs of a thick thorn hedge, under banks, in haystacks, in ivy bushes, in old stumps, in the loop- 

 holes of buildings, and in one instance in an old bonnet, which was placed among some peas, td 

 frighten away the blackcaps. — T. G. Clithero, April 17. 1829. 



