On a Rat chased and killed hy Jackdaws. 327 



brugh assumed the form of a perfect triangle, which seemed 

 to add considerably to the brightness of the orb as it shone 

 out in a cloudless sky. The evening was calm, without a 

 breath of wind, and this triangle maintained itself round the 

 moon, clear and distinct, for about eiglit minutes, when it 

 very gradually resumed the usual circular or brugh form. 



As I had not previously seen this lunar phenomenon, and 

 believing that it may be of rare occurrence, I have thought 

 it worth noting, and hope it may be of interest to members 

 who are astronomically inclined. 



On a Eat chased av d killed hy Jackdaws. By the Same. 



When coming up by the side of Galawater, one day in 

 July, I observed a Rat scudding, as fast as its legs could 

 carry it, across the narrow haugh which divides the railway 

 from the river. It was being hotly pursued by two Jackdaws, 

 and instinctively conscious that its only safety lay in plunging 

 into the river, was making strenuous efforts to reach it. Its 

 intentions, however, of reaching the water were completely 

 frustrated by one of its nimble pursuers administering a 

 deadly peck, and instantly rising in the air ; the other bird 

 repeated the attack in a similar manner, and alternately, 

 for a few seconds, did the two Jackdaws continue to rise 

 in the air and dart down again on the unfortunate Rat 

 until it was killed, when they quietly surveyed their prostrate 

 victim. Thereupon half-a-dozen other Jackdaws, which had 

 witnessed the battle from an adjacent chimney top, at once 

 flew down ; doubtless not only to congratulate the victors, 

 but also to assist in disposing of the prey. 



