Birds. 3453 



habits. Until now I always considered them affectionate one to another, and there- 

 fore placed them together in one pen, male and female. Sometimes a scuffle would 

 have taken place when they were fed, if each did not get a share ; but this was merely 

 for the food, which was given to them every evening. The food I give them consists 

 of scraps from the kitchen, and any rats or mice we may catch. Two ferrets I have had 

 for the last twelve months, and from them I anticipated young ones in season ; but to 

 my disappointment I found on the morning of March 9th, that the male had eaten the 

 female, and so completely had he devoured her that nothing remained but part of the 

 skin, the feet, the tail, and the skull without the least bit of flesh on it. I can assign 

 no reason for this unnatural circumstance, unless it had been caused by one of the 

 men in the garden putting in a live sparrow to them, on the previous night. If they 

 tore this bird to pieces between them, as they very possibly did, the female might 

 have got smeared about the head and neck with the entrails ; or the male might have 

 taken hold of the female instead of the bird, and having brought blood agreeable to 

 his taste, commenced eating the body. What most surprises me is, that the stomach 

 of one should be capable of holding another almost equal in size. I may here remark 

 that this ferret, although small, will kill rats as quickly as a dog, when he gets hold of 

 them. — James Donald, Gardener ; Knott's Green, Essex, March 18, 1852. 



Occurrence of the Fire-crested Regulus near Penzance. — I had an opportunity of 

 examining three males and a female of this species yesterday, which had been pro- 

 cured by Mr. Vingoe, of this place. There appears to have been a great accession of 

 numbers of this little bird in the western part of Cornwall, as I have heard of others 

 having been captured near Truro during the present winter. Mr. Vingoe, whose ob- 

 servations are at all times accurate with respect to the distinctive characters of birds, 

 informs me that he has observed in this species a much greater tendency to shyness and 

 concealment than in the common gold-crest, and that there is scarcely any opportu- 

 nity of getting a near approach to this bird, especially if it is closely watched. Ano- 

 ther character which Mr. Vingoe noted respecting this species, was that it affected the 

 higher branches of trees, whilst the gold-crest might be seen among low bushes, as 

 well as in more elevated positions. The white mark over the eyes extended more back- 

 ward in some instances than in others : all the specimens however exhibited the pro- 

 minent sulphur-green tint on the shoulders, which appears to be quite a characteristic 

 mark of the species. — Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, February 28, 1852. 



Note on the Chiff-chaff. — I may add that several chiff-chaffs were seen in the same 

 locality, and in pursuit of the same objects of food. — Id. 



Occurrence of the Kentish Plover near Penzance. — A male specimen of this rare 

 plover was captured to-day on the flat sands between this place and Marazion, in com- 

 pany with sanderlings. I have not hitherto noted this species as Cornish, and have 

 examined the specimen in the flesh. The weight rather exceeds H oz., and I observe 

 that although the feet and legs above the tarsal joint, are black, the tarsi are bluish 

 gray.— Id. ; April 17, 1852. 



Occurrence of the Continental White Wagtail near Penzance. — Two specimens of 

 this wagtail have been shot in this neighbourhood. — Id. 



Occurrence of the Lesser Tern near Mount's Bay. — An example of this elegant tern 

 in perfect summer plumage, was shot yesterday. — Id. 



