616 Quadrupeds. 



itself in the braids of their hair. Its sense of hearing was extremely acute, as it could 

 distinguish Mr. Thurnall's step long before he appeared insight, and would bound 

 upon the window-sill to watch for his coming. After having kept it for some months, 

 it unfortunately made its escape one evening, and the next morning was found dead 

 near the stable in which it was always kept. The cause of its death was never quite 

 ascertained, but as the night was very wet and cold, it was supposed that the exposure 

 to the air was more than it was able to bear, having been previously accustomed to 

 warmth and shelter. — C. Thurnall ; Duxford, Cambridgeshire, May 20, 1844. 



Note on hunting the Squirrel. To chase this beautiful animal from tree to tree, 

 formed a favourite amusement with the lower classes during the earlier ages, and the 

 practice is still kept up in some parts of this county. It is customary for the young 

 men of the village of Duffield to assemble in troops on the Waltes[?] Monday, and car- 

 rying with them horns and instruments calculated to make a great noise, to proceed to 

 Kedleston Park. Here they commence blowing them and shouting, and frighten the 

 poor animals until they drop off the trees and are taken by the hunters. After taking 

 several in this manner, they go back to Duffield, release the squirrels and commence 

 hunting them again in a similar way. It was said of Charnwood forest, in Leicester- 

 shire (using the language of an old tradition), " that at one period a squirrel might be 

 hunted six miles without once touching the ground," owing to the number of thick 

 woods, and the proximity they bore to each other. — /. J. Briggs. 



Note on the Black Rat. A young rat of this species (Mus Rattus) was trapped in a 

 dry bank in a field near some farm buildings, at Ley ton, Essex, on the 15th of May. 

 About twelve months since we caught another of this species near the same place ; 

 and several years back a third was killed on the premises. — H. Barclay; Leyton, Essex. 



Note on the Two-toed Sloth. It may be interesting to some of my readers to know 

 that a specimen of the two-toed sloth (Bradypus didactylus) has been for nearly a 

 month in the possession of the Zoological Society. It is kept in the giraffe-house, 

 occupying a spacious cage to the right of the ourang outang. During the day it is 

 extremely lethargic, lying on its back at the bottom of the cage, and holding the sides 

 of the cage, or the branches of its artificial tree, by the long claws of one or both 

 of its hind feet. The head is bent forwards on the chest, and the fore legs folded 

 over it so closely, that were it not for the stretched out hind legs, the animal would 

 seem little more than a living mass of long shaggy hair. I observed that the body 

 was in continual motion, not as with the regular process of inspiration and expiration, 

 but as though constantly acted on by some irregular convulsive movement, which gave 

 me the idea that its slumbers were painful or its position uncomfortable. The keeper 

 told me that at night it was more active, but I could not learn that it has ever shown 

 that activity which, since the publication of Mr. Waterton's ' Wanderings,' sloths are 

 supposed to possess in a state of nature. I need scarcely add, that the sloth is a na- 

 tive of South America, and that its being brought alive across the Atlantic, is a very 

 uncommon occurrence. I only recollect a single instance of this on record. It will, 

 of course, give me pleasure to add in a future number any particulars I can learn, and 

 I shall feel greatly obliged for any information on the subject with which my correspon- 

 dents maybe able to furnish me. Every incident in the life of so extraordinary a being 

 is worthy of note, and I trust those of my readers who reside in London, and who have 

 leisure, will not fail to pay him a visit, and record their observations in the pages of 

 ' The Zoologist.' A careful drawing for engraving would be a most acceptable pre- 

 sent. — Edward Newman ; Hanover St. Peckham, June 15, 1844. 



