1366 Birds. 



think, be added to their food with perfect advantage to the health of both parent and 

 offspring. — Henry Oxley Stephens ; Old Market Street, Bristol, April 6th, 1846. 



Cattle mouthing bones. — Although much has been said in the ' Zoologist ' on the 

 subject of cattle mouthing bones, I am induced to request a place in this interesting 

 magazine for the following extracts from a volume of unpublished correspondence be- 

 tween the celebrated naturalist, G. Montague, F.L.S., M.W.S., &c, and Robert 

 Anstice, Esq., F.G.S., &c, a venerable man, and an excellent naturalist, who 

 died at Bridgewater in April last, aged eighty-seven. Mr. Anstice, in reference to the 

 different kinds of food which Col. Montague had tried with the cormorant, wrote as 

 follows : — " The instances you mention of the versatility of some birds in this respect 

 are wonderful, and bring to my recollection the great change of manners and accom- • 

 modation to circumstances, especially with respect to food, which I have had occasion 

 to observe in some animals on ship-board ; a sheep picking a bone of salt beef is no un- 

 common sight there." Col. Montague, in reply, says :— " Speaking of the change of 

 diet in some animals, it is not surprising that all quadrupeds should show a fondness 

 for milk through life, but that birds should so readily like it, in so many instances, is 

 extraordinary. The circumstances of sheep picking a bone of salt beef, is produced by 

 the flavour of salt. In America the Indians sport most in the neighbourhood of salt 

 springs in what they term licking places. This love of salt will readily induce cows 

 and sheep to eat salt dried fish, and it is no uncommon diet in some of the most nor- 

 thern climes, in lieu of vegetables. I have seen my own cows take bones from my 

 dog-kennel." The letters from which the above extracts are taken were written in 

 1814, not long before the close of Col. Montague's life. If the above should be ac- 

 ceptible, I shall probably furnish more to the ' Zoologist ' from the same source. — 

 W. Baker ; Bridgeivater, April 14th, 1846. 



Habit of the Raven. — Being of opinion that any anecdote tending to illustrate the 

 manners, habits, or dispositions of animals can never be unacceptible to the editor of 

 a magazine where all interesting and curious facts relative to natural history are re- 

 corded ; I therefore venture to relate what I consider to be a surprising instance of 

 memory in one of the Corvidae family. In the year 1836 when I was at Llandilo 

 academy, one of my schoolfellows, while we were taking our usual half-holiday walk in 

 Dynevor Park, climbed up a lofty elm-tree and captured three young ravens which 

 were just about leaving their nest, two of them were given away, but one we kept in 

 our play-ground, where we erected a shed and a perch for him about three feet from 

 the ground ; we had him several months, but when he became quite familiar and a 

 general favourite, his existence was terminated by a stone hurled at him by one of the 

 town boys whilst pluming himself upon the wall. This bird, after he had satisfied the 

 cravings of his not small appetite, used to conceal the remaining pieces of food under 

 several loose stones which were close to his shed, and when hungry, repeatedly have 

 I and other boys watched him going straight to the place where he concealed his Jirst 

 morsel, and so on to each stone in rotation. I was amused at the time, but it now as- 

 tonishes me. For this lengthy notice I crave your pardon. — E. J. R. Hughes ; Ca- 

 therine Street, Whitehaven, March 12th, 1846. 



Rooks building on house tops. — Two pairs of rooks have built their nests, and are 

 now rearing their brood of young ones, between the chimney-pots of two houses in 



