NATURAL HISTORY MISCELLANY. 53 
How THE SCULPTURED TURTLE a insculpta Ag.) DEPOSITS HER 
EGGS. — [The following was given to me by Mr. Frank Gammons, of 
West Newton. I think it sisati interesting, and send it for publi- 
cation. — C. J. M 
I was passing through a cornfield in Weston, when I observed a turtle 
scratching about a hill of corn with one of her forefeet. I paused and 
watched her movements. She went to half a dozen or more hills, and 
seemed to try them, but for some reason they did not suit her; finally she 
came to one where she began to dig in earnest with both forefeet; turning 
around with her hind-feet acting as a pivot she continued to dig until she 
had formed a complete circle with the dirt thrown in the centre. She 
then reversed her position. by placing her forefeet in the centre and 
supporting herself by these alone, she with her hind-feet threw out the 
earth; at the same time turning around until the hole was about six 
inches deep and about thirteen inches in diameter. She then began to 
tread it down hard on the bottom. She then came out to the edge and 
between each deposit. Sometimes two would come out very nearly 
— | When she had finished laying she filled the hole by standing 
n her forefeet as before, and using her hind ones as shovels en 
dide one inch of earth was thrown in, she would get in and tread it 
solid. This continued until the hole wa 5 aise. when, after smoothing 
and treading carefully, she crawled away. She measured nine inches 
wide by twelve long. The soil where she dug was very sandy. 
ANECDOTE OF T PARROW-HAWK. — An old PA OEA once told me 
the following je ear € this bird and I can vouch for truth: ‘One 
on ng by my window looking over the ducit little town 
of D — —, my attention was turned towards a tame cat which was cross- 
ing the street, ce bearing a large mouse in her mouth, evidently a treat 
for her young. ut she came well nigh losing it, for a sparrow-haw 
came flying over, and seeing the mouse in her mouth, made a sudden 
swoop and tried to seize it with its Yo but us not succeed. "The 
hawk continued its : Qvod ntil they reached the opposite side of the 
street, when the eat we este under the adda and the hawk flew 
off into the ea wing LISON, De Wüt, Iowa. 
Hysprip FowrLs.— By chance I have had in my possession for two or 
three years a pair of hybrid fowls, bred from an ordinary dung-hill cock 
and a guinea hen. Not having had the means of ascertaining whether 
this is an isolated instance worthy of note, I have addressed these few 
lines to you, since if the case is worthy of attention I shall be pleased to 
give you any taii concerning them that is in my power. — WARD 
BaCHELOR, Wave 
[If not too si we ppl be pleased to have a description of the fowls. 
Will our readers inform us of any similar cases they may have authentic 
knowledge of. «] 
