7274 Birds, 8^c, 



A Tom Tit in Difficulties. — Last evening, as I and a friend were on our way to 

 Dulwich Wood, on entomological thougbts intent, we saw at a gas-lamp — not a 

 moth — but a blue tit {Parus cceruleus), hanging back downwards in the space left un- 

 glazed at the bottom. In our humane endeavours to rescue it from its dangerous 

 position we only frightened it completely into the lamp, where it kept flying into and 

 resting above the flame, till at last it managed to get out where it got in, no doubt 

 considerably singed, if not burnt. What can have induced this bird to fly to a gas- 

 lamp at that time of night? It could hardly have chased a moth there, as I fancy it 

 is of strictly diurnal habits, and it could scarcely have selected the spot for a roosting- 

 place before the lamp was lighted, as it would certainly have been scared by the lamp- 

 lighter. I fancy that, having been at roost near the lamp, the attraction of the light 

 had proved too much for it. — Robert McLacUan ; Forest Hill, October 20, 1860. 



Occurrence of the Little Bittern near Taunton. — On the 20th of August last a spe- 

 cimen of ihe little bittern was shot as it rose from a bed of rushes on the river Tone, 

 about half a mile below this town. It is now preserved, and in the possession of Mr. 

 Haddon, the person who shot it. — W.F.Dewey; East Reach, Taunton, October 

 15, 1860. 



Occurrence of the Surf Scoter near Scarborough. — I have great pleasure in 

 informing you that a fine mature specimen of that extremely rare duck, the surf 

 scoter {Anas perspicillata), was shot by myself, on Monday, the 25th of October, on the 

 rocks at Gristhorp, near Scarborough : it was swimming with another duck of its own 

 size and colour, and, in all probability, of the same species. — Alwin S. Bellj 

 11, Crown Terrace, Scarborough, November 2, 1860. 



Prognostication of an Early and Severe Winter. — Quantities of wild fowl have 

 already been seen off our coast, besides many other indications of an early and severe 

 winter. — Id. 



Natural-History Notes from Bengal. By E. A. W. Tayler, Esq. 



The following extracts from the letters of my friend Edward A. 

 Wood Tayler, Esq., of Bamundie, Bengal, who is a most accurate 

 observer of nattire and a keen sportsman, will be interesting to your 

 readers, as they contain truthful remarks on the habits of certain birds 

 and animals. 



R. H. T. Gilbert. 



Kensington. — — — 



" Bamundie, near Kishnaghur, Bengal. 



" I am in perfect health, and India seems the very place for me, but 

 remember that I never touch a drop of anything but water, and whilst 

 other fellows are obliged to lie down to get rid of the effects of the 

 beer, &c., imbibed, at tiffin, I take my gun and go cruising about 

 under the mango tops. About here there is not much jungle, and yet 

 now and then you fall in with a leopard, but it is no end of a place for 

 birds, and I never before saw such beauties as one sees from day to day 



