280 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



five eggs and the remains of a sixth, which had been broken probably by 

 being trodden upon by a sheep. The nest was deserted, the remaining eggs 

 being glued to the nest by the contents of the sixth, the spaces between the 

 eggs being occupied by a small growth of mildew. The amount of down in 

 this nest was much less than that in the first, but still there was quite 

 enough to surely identify the eggs by, the down being quite characteristic, 

 and wholly unlike that of the Common Teal. I have suspected that this 

 bird bred in Romney Marsh for some years, ever since having been told 

 by a former resident there that a pair or two of Garganevs generally turned 

 up at a certain spot about the 1st of May every year, but that so far 

 as he knew they did not breed. — N. F. Ticehurst (Winstowe, St. Leonards- 

 on-Sea). 



Little Crake in Shropshire. — A specimen of this rare bird (Porzana 

 parva) was shot in November, 1898, by Mr. Tatton at Petton Park, seven 

 miles north of Shrewsbury. It was lately recognized by my friend Mr. W. 

 H. Hodges. Subsequently Mr. Tatton lent me the specimen, aud I 

 exhibited it at a meeting of the Caradoc Club. Mr. Howard Saunders has 

 also seen it, and confirmed the identification. The occurrence is especially 

 interesting since no authentic records are knowu, I believe, for any of the 

 western counties north of Somerset. — H. E. Forrest (Shrewsbury). 



The Tameness of unmolested Birds.— In a letter received last month 

 (May 10th) from my friend the Rev. A. F. Day, S.J., he gives me some 

 graphic accounts of the confidence shown by wild birds to the inmates of 

 St. Benno's College, St. Asaph, N.W., where theology is the passion rather 

 than zoology, and where skins and eggs are presumably not collected. He 

 writes : — " Nearly all the Robins come freely on to the hand to take the 

 food that is offered them ; several will pick it out most dexterously from 

 between the lips. The general accomplishment of cock Chaffinches is to 

 catch fragments thrown up into the air, and one or two (at least) come on to 

 the hand almost as confidently as the Robins ; but now that nature's pro- 

 vision is plentiful we more seldom succeed with them or the other occasional 

 birds. The Hedge-Sparrows have lately taken to stepping on to one's 

 hands if lowered towards the ground, and it is with considerable assurance 

 for such modest little creatures. The Coal-Tits have never been shy, but 

 it was considered something of a triumph to get the Blue Tit to follow 

 their example ; and now there is even one Ox-eye (Great Tit) that does 

 likewise— him I had on my hand yesterday. Such are the main facts con- 

 nected with the St. Benno's natural aviary (I mean grounds). A short time 

 ago I had a Coal-Tit firmly perched on my fingers for what seemed at least 

 a minute, whilst excavating half an almond held between my thumb and 

 forefinger. If you don't believe above, come and verify it." — Ed. 



