350 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



perfectly quiet they allowed me to watch them for some time through a pair 

 of binoculars. The second Squirrel was particularly interesting in the fact 

 that it had a rich brown tail. I never before saw one of these animals with 

 a dark tail in iVugust.— W. Ruskin Butterfield (St. Leonards-on-Sea). 



Squirrels and Strawberries. — With reference to the correspondence 

 on the carnivorous propensities of the Squirrel, I may state that in ray 

 experience they are practically omnivorous. I have several times seen 

 them devouring young birds, but this summer a new phase in their 

 character appeared. At Sheriff Hutton Park, near York, where they are 

 encouraged, and have become very tame, such heavy toll was levied by 

 them upon the strawberries that Mr. Coates was compelled to give orders 

 to his gardeners that retribution was to be meted out to Sciurus vulgaris. — 

 Oxley Grabham (Flaxton, York). 



Whiskered Bat near York. — A specimen of this Bat was brought to 

 me by a boy who had knocked it down here the other evening. Vespertilio 

 mystacinus is very local in the county, and its occurrence is worthy of 

 record. — Oxley Grabham (Flaxton, York). 



Whiskered Bat in Co. Fermanagh. — A specimen of the Whiskered 

 Bat [Vespertilio mystacinus, Leisler), was captured here in June last by a 

 friend of mine. It flew into his room one evening, and after a long chase 

 he secured it. — Charles Langham (Tempo Manor, Co. Fermanagh). 



BIRDS. 



Food of the Great Titmouse. — Mr. J. Whitaker, in the most recent 

 issue of ' The Zoologist,' has directed attention to the Great Tit's capacity 

 for devastating rows of green peas, and I, to my cost, in a trifling degree, 

 can give his observations the fullest corroboration. To such an extent did 

 the species hereabouts during the summers of 1892 and 1893 take toll of 

 this very desirable garden produce, that for the last three years I have 

 discontinued growing it. I observe that neither in the fourth edition of 

 Yarrell, nor in Seebohm's 'British Birds' is there any reference to the 

 Great Tit's exceedingly marked partiality for this form of diet, and the 

 question consequently arises, Is the taste one of comparatively recent 

 development? The fact, too, that Mr. Whitaker in his lengthy experience 

 has never noticed this mischievous propensity previously to the present 

 summer induces the impression that it is not one of great antiquity. — 

 H. S. Davenport (Skeffington, Leicester). 



Blackgame in Merionethshire.— It may interest your readers to know 

 that last year Mr. R. E. LI. Richards shot a well-grown young Blackcock 

 on Cefn Creian, about four miles from Dolgelley. The last record I have 

 of Blackgame in this neighbourhood is five and twenty years ago, when the 



