Birds. 1641 



is incidentally mentioned (vol. ii. p. 608), that " a snipe, slightly wounded in the 

 pinioD, which was kept in confinement for some time by Mr. Blyth, would eat nothing 

 but earthworms." Whether any other naturalist has succeeded in preserving the ani- 

 mal alive, I am unable to say. On Friday, the 30th of October, while some men were 

 out in the fields in this neighbourhood, amusing themselves with catching small birds 

 with a fly-net, they secured a full-grown snipe, which came into my possession on the 

 following day. The head was partially denuded of feathers, in consequence of the 

 bird having struggled against the bars of a cage, through impatience at being con- 

 fined. However, it made no effort to escape when held in the hand, and would even 

 stand quietly on the knee, drink water out of a glass, and fish up worms from the bot- 

 tom. I have now had this singular pet for more than two months, and, to all appear- 

 ance, it is perfectly reconciled to its novel mode of life. During the late continuance 

 of severe frost, there seemed every probability of its dying of hunger, as earthworms 

 were not to be procured, and, like the specimen noticed by Mr. Yarrell, it at first re- 

 fused to take any other kind of nourishment ; however, necessity soon prevailed, inso- 

 much that the raw flesh of the hare and rabbit, together with tripe cut into narrow 

 strips, have been taken into favour, but the ordinary kinds of butchers' meat are re- 

 jected. Earthworms remain decidedly the favourite article of diet, and of these it 

 consumes a quart in three or four days. The habits of this creature are surprisingly 

 familiar, considering its commonly supposed irreclaimable nature. During the night 

 it reposes quietly in a cage, standing on one leg, with the head under the wing. By 

 day, however, a desire to be enlarged is signified by an incessant striking of the bill 

 and head against its prison wires. When released, it flies about the rooms and pas- 

 sages, walks on the table, is pleased at being noticed by those about it, and is on terms 

 of great intimacy with a little spaniel lap-dog. No situation appears to accord so well 

 with the animal's ideas of comfort as a place on a stool before the fire. Thus accom- 

 modated to its liking, and especially if at the same time fondled with the voice and 

 hand, or enjoying the close proximity of its canine associate, it emits a subdued 

 whistling note, sometimes, but very rarely, varied with an approach to a twitter. The 

 food is usually given to it in a glass of water. Wherever the vessel is placed, all that 

 is requisite to secure prompt attendance is to scrape against the edge with a metallic 

 substance. In feeding, it has great difficulty in seizing a worm, or any substance of 

 similar form, that may happen to be lying on a flat surface.. After repeated unsuc- 

 cessful attempts, the morsel is at last got lengthwise between the mandibles, and dis- 

 appears. Strangers are readily distinguished from the people of the house, as shown 

 by an evident difference of manner indicative of alarm, manifested in their presence. 

 Should any one be too rude in his advances, the bird, in endeavouring to avoid him, 

 has a peculiar way of erecting the tail feathers and turning them all in the opposite 

 direction. It likes to be kept clean, and devotes frequent attention to the smooth and 

 orderly arrangement of the plumage. Although, in the opinion, at least, of Milne- 

 Edwards, the visage of the genus Scolopax bears the stamp of stupidity (ieur aspect 

 denote la stupidite), some of the foregoing circumstances indicate the possession of as 

 large a share of intelligence on the part of the present convert to civilisation, as most 

 of the feathered race are capable of testifying by their actions to our apprehension. 

 The specimen is now in the Earl of Derby's aviary at Knowsley. — C. Cogswell, M.D.; 

 Warrington, January 8th, 1847. 



Occurrence of the Scaup Duck near Godalming. — A fine specimen of the scaup 

 duck (Anas mart la) was shot on a large piece of water, close to Milford House, near 



