Birds. 2419 



I intend to subject some of these youngsters to a daily weighing ; perhaps we shall 

 be able to solve the problem — how many caterpillars and other larvae it takes for con- 

 version into a drachm of bird ? a rather interesting question to the stupid people in 

 this neighbourhood, who employ men to poison the birds on their farms. — C. R. Bree ; 

 Stowmarket, March, 1849. 



Occurrence of the Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia bifasciata) in Suffolk. — A specimen 

 of this bird was shot by the Rev. E. Rust, at Drinkstone, a few years ago. It was 

 one of a small flock which were feeding on fir-cones. — Id. 



Migration of the Common Partridge (Perdix cinerea). — On the 29th of November, 

 1848. — Some men, in a fishing boat off this place, saw a covey of partridges coming 

 toward them (as if from France) : one, more exhausted than the rest, fell in the boat ; 

 the rest reached the shore in safety. — J. W. Hulke ; 155, Lower Street, Deal, March, 

 1849. 



Inquiry respecting the Egg of the Common Fowl. — For many years I have been a 

 keeper of fowls, and paid considerable attention to their habits and history, but I 

 have witnessed some circumstances which I am not sufficient of an anatomist to ex- 

 plain. Most hens, in the habit of laying regularly for days together, will, upon their 

 removal to another place, generally cease entirely — for some time afterwards — to lay 

 at all. Others, laying almost daily, will, upon the appearance of more severe weather, 

 lay a smaller number of eggs, or perhaps cease, and upon the arrival of milder weather 

 again resume their laying. Now it appears that in both these cases the eggs must — 

 at the time of the fowl's cessation from laying — be nearly ready for exclusion. A fa- 

 miliar solution of the following questions would be of considerable zoological as well 

 as practical value. How long, under ordinary circumstances, is an egg in undergoing 

 the process of its formation ? Has the fowl the curious property of hastening or re- 

 tarding the progress of its eggs through the ovarium ? In how short a time before 

 the exclusion of the egg is the shell formed ? Of what materials are the shell, yelk 

 and white formed? — John Joseph Briggs ; King's Newton, Melbourne, Derbyshire, 

 March, 1849. 



Effect of Frost upon Fowls. — While talking to an old wild-fowl shooter the other 

 day, a common fowl came strutting towards us in an extraordinary manner, which at- 

 tracted my attention ; whereupon he informed me that during a severe frost its toes 

 were completely eaten off, which was literally the fact. Its appearance without claws, 

 and with only half a foot, may be imagined to be rather ridiculous. — J. B. Ellman ; 

 Rye, February 19, 1849. 



Occurrence of the Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa rufa) in December, and the Landrail 

 (Crex pratensis) in December and February. — I received a very fine specimen of the 

 bar-tailed godwit in the beginning of December — a late appearance for this bird. 

 Just before Christmas the landrail was shot near the coast, and about ten days ago 

 another was seen by the same person near the same place. — Id. 



Occurrence of the Great White Heron (?) in Romney Marsh. — A wild-fowl shooter 

 yesterday informed me that during the last moon he shot at a white heron, in the 

 marsh, while after wild-fowl ; but it was so shy that he could not get near enough to 

 kill it. He said it was as large as a common heron, and white all over. I at first 

 thought he was mistaken, and suggested it to have been a spoonbill ; but he says not, 

 as he knows that bird well, and is positive the one he saw was a white heron. — Id., 

 March 5, 1849. 



