MISCELLANEA. 155 
ing; and offer some problems well worthy of solution. Why 
had not these seeds previously germinated? Perhaps because 
they were too deeply buried in the ground. But if this be so, 
at what depth do seeds cease to vegetate, and what is the influence, 
which acting on the germ, keeps in abeyance the vital energy 
stored up within?—Alfred Merle Norman, Sedgefield, January 
@, 1862. 
Delicacy of the iungs of birds. —A few years ago I observed, 
five or six birds lying dead at the mouth of a disused Coal Drift, 
the upper surface of which had partly fallen in. These birds 
had alighted upon the broken edges of the Drift and been over- 
powered by Carbonic Acid Gas, which must have been escaping 
from the old workings— William Green, jun, Durham, April, 
1862. 
Notes on the Rough-legged Buzzard.—A well marked specimen 
of Buteo Lagopus was shot at Fenham Flats, about the 21st of 
November, 1861, and was sent to Mr. R. Duncan, for preserva- 
tion.—Thomas John Bold, Feb. 25th, 1862. 
Curious habit of the Shrew.—A friend of mine, when shooting 
by the Ouse-burn, saw some object apparently struggling on the 
rocky and shallow bed of the burn. At this he fired, and on 
picking up his game, was considerably astonished to find that he 
had killed a black shrew, and a small fish. Probably the fish 
had been too strong for its captor, as they were apparently roll- 
ing over and over in the water and doing battle with all their 
energy.—T. J. Bold, April, 1862. 
