7102 Birds. 



their former whereabouts. When it is remembered that carp are a 

 very close-grained and firm fish, thirty pounds weight of such delicate 

 repast might be deemed sufficient to save these young foxes from 

 complaining of being harshly treated and put on a fasting fare. 



William Henry Slaney. 



Hatton Hall, June 12, 1860. 



Parturition of Bears. — The fact that the parturilioa of bears occurs during hyber- 

 nation was mentioned long ago, I believe in Lloyd's ' Field Sports in the North of 

 Europe,' but it is many years since I saw the book, which it is now utterly out of my 

 power to refer to. Though the main portion of that amusing work consists of sporting 

 adventures, it is interesting also from the information it afifords on various points of 

 Natural History. — Arthur Hussey ; Rotlingdean, April 17, I860. 



The Common Bat (Vesperlilio pipisirellus) Flying at Mid-day. — I was extremely 

 surprised on Sunday last, Apiil 8th, whilst walking in the grounds of Downing College, 

 at mid-day, to have my attention drawn by a gentleman to a bat, briskly flying about 

 in the open glare of the then brightly shining sun. The bat appeared to be in pursuit 

 of some insects flying around a row of lime trees. Is this of common occurrence ? 

 If so, would one of the able readers of the ' Zoologist ' kindly inform me, as I am not 

 aware of a similar instance being recorded. — S. P. Saville ; Jesus Terrace, Cambridge, 

 April 13, 1860. 



[Many other similar instances are recorded in the ' Zoologist.' — E. iV.] 



A Bat Flying in the Sunshine. — On the 30th of April, being a bright clear day, 

 about two o'clock in the afternoon I was surprised by seeing a bat flitting up and 

 down the lawn in front of the house, apparently unaffected by the dazzling sun, which 

 was shining brightly at the time. T succeeded in obtaining it, and it proved to be 

 the common small black bat, which is, T understand, gradually becoming scarce. — 

 J. H. Bel/rage ; Musivell Hill, May 4, 1860. 



Birds of Amoy. — I have often observed the osprey flapping slowly along with its 

 heavy buteonine flight over the deep bay between the island of Amoy and the high 

 Pagoda-topped hill of Nan-tai-woo, and have on other occasions seen him silting erect 

 on some oyster-stone on the river sand-flats, but his shyness has always evaded approach. 

 Winter and summer a bird of this species is often to be met with. I can at last 

 announce with satisfaction the acquisition of a fine female. A Chinaman brought me 

 the bird, shot, as he informed me, at Quemoy. I took down the following notes from 

 the specimen while fresh. Length, 22^ inches. Wing from flexure, I9|^, extending 

 1 inch beyond the tail. Expanse, 62. Tail, 9. Bill from base of culmen to tip in a 

 direct line, H ; along the ridge-curve, 1^ ; cere, | ; edge of lower mandible, 1^; depth 

 at the base, ■^. Tarsi, 2,1. Mid toe, 2 ; its claw along the curve, 1^ ; outer toe, 1^ ; 

 claw, 1-^. Inner toe, 1^ ; claw, 1^. Hind toe, 1^ ; claw, 1^. Bill bluish black; 

 base of upper, and basal half of lower mandible, deep leaden blue ; cere also leaden 

 blue. Iris bright yellow. Legs pale bluish white, occasionally patched with a leathery 



