Birds. 2021 



the plumage is very similar to its male parent, i may here also remark that a pair of 

 bullfinches have this year built twice in my aviary, each time selecting a quiet comer 

 for their nests, which they constructed principally of small twigs and hay. Both 

 broods were, however, suddenly deserted when half-fledged, in the same manner as re- 

 lated in two or three instances previously in the ' Zoologist.' The young birds in 

 consequence perished from cold, before any attention could be paid to them. — George 

 Fox ; Duncom.be Street, Kingsbridge, Devon, January 4, 1848. 



Curious Habit of the Rook (Corvus frugilegus). — It is a curious fact, that when a 

 rook, which is perched on a tree, caws, he elevates and spreads his tail like a fan at 

 every caw r , while if he vocalizes during flight the tail undergoes no change : of course 

 the tail is always in action during flight, but in what way does it assist the bird in 

 cawing while perched ? — Beverley R. Morris, A.B., M.D. ; York, January 18, 1848. 



Occurrence of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Picus minor) near H udder sjield. — 

 You will be glad to hear of the existence of the lesser spotted woodpecker (Picus mi- 

 nor) in our northern latitude. I yesterday shot a fine male specimen, consorting with 

 the commoner of the Parinse. It seemed to have been driven from its usual haunts by 

 a heavy fall of snow, which occurred a few days before. It was very tame, and allowed 

 me to notice its movements without apparent alarm. The Picus major is not unfre- 

 quent in our woods, but the little woodpecker I never expected to see so far north. — 

 Peter Inchbald ; Storthes Hall, Huddersfield, January 20, 1848. 



The Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) destructive to the Caterpillars of the Cabbage But- 

 terfly (Pontia Brassicae). — For two or three successive years my garden was visited by 

 a cuckoo, and I found the source of attraction to be some gooseberry -bushes, which 

 were laden with the caterpillars of the large white cabbage butterfly : to feast on these 

 he came regularly twice every day, and if interrupted, alarmed or driven away, he 

 would be seen to return. He always sung on his arrival before be began to feed, and 

 again after feeding before he flew away. The last year of his visiting my garden he 

 was much annoyed by a hedge-sparrow which had a nest close by : directly the cuckoo 

 alighted and commenced his " cuchoo," out flew the hedge-sparrow off her nest, and 

 attacked him furiously about the head : this took place several successive days, and 

 the hedge-sparrow always succeeded in driving the cuckoo away. — Alexander Pytts 

 Falconer ; Beclon, Christchurch, February 11, 1848. 



[Mr. Yarrell says that " adult cuckoos are most partial to hairy caterpillars," and 

 I have observed the caterpillars of the various species of Burnet moths to be ardently 

 sought by them. — E. N.~\ 



White Variety of the Swallow (Hirundo rustica) and Pale Variety of the Martin 

 (H. urbica). — Mr. James Watts, surgeon, of this town, has in his possession a white 

 swallow, shot in an adjoining parish about two years ago ; also a pale fawn-coloured 

 martin, shot at the same place the year following. — James B. Ellman ; Battel, Febru- 

 ary 11, 1848. 



Habits of the Stock Dove (Columba iEnas). — Although the stock dove is found in 

 this neighbourhood in considerably less numbers than the ring dove, it is by no means 

 a rare bird. It is smaller in size than the latter, and has a bluer cast of plumage, 

 from which circumstances it is usually called " the little blue pigeon." Although per- 

 haps many hundreds may be seen daily by a person repairing to our neighbouring 

 parks, yet, notwithstanding, a bird in the open country is rather a rarity, particular 

 seasons excepted. They seem particularly attached to gnarled oak trees, and on this 

 account the parks of Calke and Donnington are their favourite haunts. In frosts and 

 VI K 



