Birds. 3033 



Anecdote of the Song Thrush. — A person named Edwards, living in this neigh- 

 bourhood, found a thrush's nest with the young just ready to take flight ; he caught 

 two, but the rest escaped : the two were placed out of doors in a cage, and the old 

 birds continued to feed them. Fourteen days afterwards, Edwards found a second 

 nest with five young ones ; one of them was killed by a cat ; two others died ; and 

 the remaining two were put in the cage with the older ones, who, strange to say, being 

 now fully able to feed themselves, actually took to feeding their young and helpless 

 companions also, and continued to do so until they could feed themselves ; when all 

 four birds were put into separate cages. It is rather remarkable that the elder pair 

 would never feed the younger if they thought themselves observed, so that it was ne- 

 cessary to conceal one's self very carefully in order to watch this proceeding. — R. W. 

 Hawkins; Upper Brook Street, Rugeley , Staffordshire, December, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Chiffchaff in January. — My friend Mr. Croker, of Bavry, has 

 just brought me a specimen of the chiffchaff (Sylvia Hippolais), which he shot yester- 

 day, at a farm about a mile from Torquay : the bird appears to have been in good 

 condition, and was singing on a tree when it was shot. Perhaps it may interest some 

 of the readers of the 'Zoologist' to know that this bird has been met with at such an 

 unusual time of year. — Robert Battersby ; Torquay, January 11, 1851. 



Occurrence of the Black Redstart (Sylvia Tithys) at Lewes. — A female specimen of 

 this bird was shot in a chalk-pit near this town, last month. — J. B. Ellman ; Lewes, 

 December 12, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Black Redstart near Lewes. — On the 20th of November a hen 

 bird of the above species was killed in a chalk-pit near this town : it is now in my 

 possession. — C. Potter ; Lewes, December 23, 1850. 



Blackcap Warbler in Winter. — In the ' Zoologist ' (Zool. 2985), there is a notice 

 by Mr. Briggs on the occurrence of the blackcap warbler in November, which has 

 brought to my recollection an instance still more conclusive as to the fact of its occa- 

 sionally remaining here all the winter, which occurred at Duddingstone some years 

 ago. The bird in this instance was a female, which used to come constantly to the 

 crumbs before the dining-room window, along with the blackbirds, sparrows and tit- 

 mice. I remember its coming almost daily during the months of January and 

 February, and have little doubt that it survived till the woods and fields were green 

 again, and it was rejoined by its relatives from the south. Mudie mentions several 

 instances of its occurrence during winter in the southern counties of England, and 

 there is a notice to the same effect in vol. i. of the ' Zoologist,' page 76. — R. F. 

 Logan ; Duddingstone, near Edinburgh. 



Occurrence of the Continental Crested Lark near Penzance. — I was informed yes- 

 terday of the capture of another example of this rare lark in this neighbourhood, 

 which is the third instance of its occurrence in the county. I examined the bird after 

 it was mounted by Mr. Vingoe, and it corresponded with the two individuals which I 

 reported to you some time since as having been captured between this place and Ma- 

 razion.— E.H. Rodd; Penzance, October 25, 1850. 



Anecdotes of a Raven. — When out shooting a few days since, I observed an old 

 man apparently in conversation with some other person: on reaching him he informed 

 me he had been talking with Mr. Crowther's raven, which was perched in an elm- 

 tree near him, keeping crows from a wheat-field ; I called to the bird by his name, 

 Taff (which I previously knew) ; he immediately answered " Halloo,'' in a very deep 

 and hoarse tone : this was about a mile from Mr. Crowther's house. A few days after- 

 IX. I 



