114 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



the shore in October, 1890, and so many as fifteen is quite 

 unusual on any part of the east coast. 



AVICULTUEAL NOTES. 



Black-tailed Godivit. — Two pairs of Black-tailed Godwits 

 from Leadenhall Market, turned into an open-air cage in May, 

 soon became tame enough to be amusing, and, being pinioned, 

 were allowed their run every day. No matter how dry the grass 

 was these Godwits were continually boring for worms, but it is 

 difficult to see when they get anything, the action of swallowing 

 is so quick. They frequently stood on one leg, sometimes 

 scratching themselves with the other ; sometimes motionless, and 

 in that attitude appeared to sleep. They did not care for water 

 so long as they had sopped bread and finely chopped meat, which 

 they eat voraciously. Very vociferous over this food, it was most 

 comical to see them sparring like Ruffs, seizing one another by 

 the beak, and screaming with rage if one was thought to get more 

 than its share, which the females generally did. But the prettiest 

 action (when I longed to photograph them) was when, with spread 

 tail, lowered head, and scapular feathers raised, and the beak used 

 as a weapon, they menaced one another ; but no harm ever came 

 of it. One lived eight months, but the cold was too much, and 

 they are evidently not such hardy cage-birds as the Knots, which 

 stand frost well. After three months' diligent boring they con- 

 cluded there were no more worms in my enclosed garden, and 

 gave up boring, and never tried again, thus showing an amount of 

 instinct very near to reason. 



Common Crossbill. — The following are a few experiences with 

 caged Crossbills, which, unlike the shy Hawfinch, feed fearlessly 

 in the presence of anybody, and are consequently amusing to 

 keep and easy to watch. Restless and Parrot-like in action, they 

 climb about the wires of a large cage, never tired of testing its 

 strength and durability with their strong jaws. Cones are their 

 natural food, and they most dexterously push aside the scales by 

 a sideways lever-like motion of the mandibles in order to get at 

 the seed beneath, first bringing the points of the upper and lower 

 mandibles from their crossed position to be almost over each 

 other, an action which requires to be seen to be duly appreciated. 



