NOTES ANt) QUERIES* 61 



measured the length of several successive leaps, and found them to be, in 

 inches:— 90, 46, 90, 45, 86, 42, 62, 44, 86, 47, 60, 120. The snow 

 being hard and frozen at the top, the animal did not sink into it, but left 

 two slight, but clearly recognisable, footmarks on its surface after each leap. 

 The measurements were made from one pair of marks on the snow to the 

 next pair, and not, as in the following measurements, from one mark made 

 by a hind foot to the next made by a hind foot. They are rough, but are 

 probably accurate to within an inch or two. The largest leap, 10 ft., will 

 compare very favourably with the measurements given by Dr. Shufeldt of 

 the leaps of the Mexican Hare, which he describes as a " big hare," and 

 therefore likely to make a longer leap than our own. Probably the Hare 

 whose leap I measured would have added another foot to her best efforts if she 

 had had a brace of greyhounds at her heels. I found that the length of 

 the leaps taken by a Hare when merely wandering about was about 30 in. 

 from the mark made by one hind foot to the next one made by that foot, or 

 much less if measured from a fore-foot mark to the next hind-foot mark. 

 This was also about the length of the dog's leap. The alternate nature of 

 the leaps is interesting to notice, long and short leaps seeming to follow 

 each other in regular succession. — G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton (Kil- 

 manock, New Ross, Co. Wexford). 



Hybernation of Squirrels. — Some months ago I searched through the 

 back volumes of ' The Zoologist,' and referred to Bell's ■ Quadrupeds,' to 

 ascertain the facts in reference to the reported hybernation of Squirrels, 

 but was unable to find any very definite statement. The habits of so com- 

 mon an animal must be familiar to many readers of ' The Zoologist,' and it 

 might be of interest to others, as it certainly would be to myself, if the 

 results of their observations on the subject could be recorded in your 

 Journal. That Squirrels are busy enough with the fir-cones in our woods, 

 in mild winter weather, is of course well known ; but have there been any 

 authentic records of actual hybernation in periods of severe cold? On the 

 morning of Nov. 28th, 1890, during sharp frost, I saw a Squirrel climbing 

 with its accustomed agility among the trees in a copse near here. The 

 temperature fell to 20° Fahr. the night before, and for several days pre- 

 viously we had hard weather with biting east wind. Will you kindly tell 

 me whether the hybernation of Squirrels is a point on which there is any 

 doubt, and, if so, would it not be worth while to invite your readers to give 

 their experience regarding it? — Arthur Lister (Highcliff, Lyme Regis). 



BIRDS. 



Occurrence of the Blackcap in Winter. — The occasional occurrence 

 in England and Ireland during the winter months of the Blackcap, Sylvia 

 atricapilla, has been from time to time noted in this and other journals, 

 but such instances have always been regarded as exceptional ; have been 



