Birds. 1777 



seen and chided for being out, instantly bounds off to the stable, to associate with, and 

 seek protection from, an ancient crony in the character of a staid and demure Scotch 

 terrier, an inseparable and submissive companion of Mistress Puss's. But these aerial 

 excursions up the trees put the whole feathered tribe in the utmost commotion, and 

 the scream or shriek of the poor mistletoe thrush as she glides away from her ill con- 

 cealed nest, — the chink-chink of the frightened chaffinch, — and the chattering of the 

 little angry jenny-wren, show something is sadly the matter amongst them. Yet the 

 mistletoe thrush has hitherto sat through all disturbances, and I have no doubt, if she 

 has not already, will very shortly hatch her eggs : but then will come her most anxious 

 time, for her young ones' lowly cradle is unfortunately under the very eyes of Madam 

 Puss, and how to lure away in safety her little brood into the surrounding bushes 

 without encountering an untimely visit, either up the tree or on the ground, 

 from Grimalkin, must be a sore question of daily contemplation and annoyance to the 

 poor mother-bird, as she sits patiently fulfilling her lone but fondly endured maternal 

 duty, and yet, with fifty other places out of which to choose a safe retreat to build her 

 nest in and rear her young, she has chosen this one alone, of especial danger and con- 

 stant solicitude ; a contradiction in the usual course of nature which man daily either 

 follows, or sets the example to. — W. H. S. ; Hatton Hall, April 14th, 1847. 



Early Arrival of the Sand-Martin. — A sand-martin (H. riparia) was killed at 

 Kidderminster, in Worcestershire, on the 24th of March last. This very early guest 

 was given to me the same day, and is in my collection. The weather had been very 

 mild and warm for a few days previously, but the subsequent return of winter checked 

 the arrival of many of our spring visitors. — W. F. W. Bird ; 5, Verulam Buildings, 

 Gray's Inn, May, 1847. 



Capture of the Bohemian Waxwing in Bedfordshire. — On the 23rd of Ja- 

 nuary last, a very beautiful male Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrula) was shot 

 at Luton, in Bedfordshire. He was an adult bird, and in very good plumage. The 

 weather was at that time very severe, and the ground covered with snow. When 

 first seen, he was feeding on the berries of a mountain ash, in a garden close adjoin- 

 ing the street, and though a crowd of boys gathered round, he evinced no fear or shy- 

 ness, and did not move till he had been pelted with stones. He then flew to a 

 neighbouring laburnum-tree, where he was killed. He was shown to me the next 

 day, and has been preserved by Mr. Cooper, of Radnor-street, St. Luke's, in whose 

 possession he remains. — Id. 



Capture of the Little Crake in Norfolk. — A very fine adult male specimen of the 

 little crake, or olivaceous gallinule (Crex pusilla) was killed on the 30th of March last 

 on the rands, or wet marshes, adjoining the large sheet of water at Heigham, in Norfolk, 

 and is now in my collection. I need hardly tell your readers that this bird is very 

 rare in Britain. My specimen corresponds very nearly with Mr. Yarrell's description. 

 — Id. 



Occurrence of the Purple Heron near Lydd. — A splendid specimen of the African 

 or purple heron (Ardea purpurem) in the most perfect plumage, was shot at Lydd, in 

 Romney Marsh, March 29th, and is now in my possession : I obtained a young bird 

 from the same locality, in September, 1838. — F. Plomley ; Maidstone, Kent, Apil 

 17th, 1847. 



