230 Birds. 



morning, and at three o'clock in the afternoon the survivor had found a 

 help-mate, who continued faithfully to discharge the duties of husband 

 and father until the destruction of the young birds at a later period. 



I have much pleasure in recording the following fact, which may, 

 perhaps, serve to assist in the promulgation of those humane and en- 

 lightened views so ably advocated by Mr. Waterton in his * Essays 

 on Natural History.' 



Some years ago a pair of ravens used to breed annually in Burton 

 Park, about four miles from Petworth ; disappearing from the neigh- 

 bourhood when their young were fledged, but always returning in the 

 ensuing spring. 



The head keeper, better acquainted, it would appear, with the ha- 

 bits of birds than persons of his profession are apt to be, afforded them 

 every protection. He had discovered that they were his best friends. 

 Not a hawk, or weasel, nor indeed any winged or four-footed animal 

 usually designated "vermin," were suffered by the ravens to approach 

 the wood in which stood the tree containing their nest. 



Although pheasants and hares abounded in the immediate vicinity, 

 neither these nor their young were ever molested by the ravens. Their 

 foraging expeditions were carried on at a distance, and their food con- 

 sisted almost entirely of young rabbits, and the decomposed flesh of 

 larger quadrupeds. 



This state of things was not to continue. In an evil hour the nest 

 was robbed. All the young ones were taken. The old ravens desert- 

 ed the place, and have never since returned to their former abode. 



A. E. Knox. 



New Grove, Petworth, June, 1843. 



(To be continued). 



Note on the Grey Wagtail. By C. Nicholson, Esq.* 



Kendal, June 29, 1843. 

 Dear Sir, 



I send you a letter, received about eighteen months 

 ago, from Mr. Nicholson, of Cowan Head, near Kendal, containing an 

 interesting account of a grey wagtail. In your fifth number (Zool. 

 136) you have published a somewhat similar statement; but as my 

 friend suggests a different interpretation to the one proposed by Mr. 

 Doubleday, I thought you might like to publish his letter. 



I am, Dear Sir, Very truly yours, 



Thos. Gough. 



* Cominunicatcd bv Thonias Goiifjh, Esq. 



