Birds. 1367 



George Street, situated in a very thickly populated part of the town of Hull. Had 

 this circumstance been stated to me by any casual observer, I should have thought he 

 had possibly been mistaken as to the identity of the birds, and that they were jackdaws 

 instead of rooks ; but as I have been very particular in observing them myself, I can 

 speak with perfect confidence, having on several occasions watched the old birds in the 

 act of feeding the young ones, and am therefore quite satisfied that they are veritable 

 rooks.— G. Norman ; Hull, May 19th, 1846. 



Habit of the Goldfinch and Canary. — I have discovered, or fancy I have discovered, 

 rather a curious habit in a goldfinch and canary entrusted to my care. They are fed, 

 amongst other things, on hempseed, of which they are particularly fond. On several 

 occasions I have observed each of them, after taking a seed of this kind into its bill, 

 throw it away without cracking it in the least. These rejected seeds were generally 

 very fine and large in appearance ; but when opened, I have invariably found that they 

 were rotten specimens. How did the birds know this? Perhaps some of your 

 correspondents can tell me. — George Lewis ; Cotham Hill Villa, Clifton, April 

 loth, 1846. 



Chaffinch, Quail, Ringdove, §-c. — No where, that I can find, is any notice taken of a 

 remarkable habit of this bird, namely, that of hawking in the air for insects of some 

 sort, in the same manner as a flycatcher. I have remarked this peculiarity often, and 

 have observed it more in spring than at any other season of the year. I hope some of 

 your other correspondents will endeavour to explain this habit. Quail : Three speci^- 

 mens of this bird have occurred to my knowledge this spring and winter ; one shot at 

 Topham in Cambridgeshire, at the end of January ; and two others obtained at a poul- 

 terer's at Bury St. Edmund's, in February or the beginning of March. Ringdove : 

 one or two instances of the voluntary attachment of this bird to individuals have al- 

 ready been recorded in the ' Zoologist,' I am happy in being able to add to their num- 

 ber. A young wood-pigeon, brought up from the nest, has formed a great friendship 

 towards a boy, whom it accompanies to his work in a garden, and what seems to me 

 rather extraordinary, devours whatever worms its master's spade may chance to throw 

 up. Water-rail : this bird, considered by some to migrate during the winter, (in this 

 part of the country at least) certainly stays the whole year through, for I saw two shot 

 on the 3rd of January, and its eggs are to be obtained in Norfolk every summer. — 

 ' Alfred Newton; Elden, April 2\st, 1846. 



Occurrence of the Crossbill at Knaresborough. — I received on Monday last two spe- 

 cimens of the crossbill (Loxia Curvirostra) which had been shot from a flock of between 

 thirty and forty, at New York, a place about twelve miles off. On the following day, 

 but four specimens were seen, but were too wild to be approached within gunshot. 

 They occurred in considerable abundance about eight years ago in this neighbourhood, 

 from which date, until the present, they have not been seen. If the foregoing com- 

 munication be thought worthy a place in the ' Zoologist,' the insertion will confer an 

 esteemed favour. — James Garth ; Knaresborough, April 27th, 1846. 



Young White Blackbird.— Mr. Clements of Birlingham, near Worcester, a few 

 days ago discovered a blackbird's nest in his garden ; there were three young ones, 

 two of which were of the usual colour, and the other was completely white. The latter 

 is now in the possession of Mr. Abell, of this city, and will be preserved for the Wor- 

 cestershire Museum. — Worcestershire Chronicle ; April 22nd, 1846. 



Ferocity of the Blue-headed Titmouse. — A curious incident having lately come un- 

 der my notice, for the truth of which I can vouch, you may perhaps deem it worth in- 



