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NOTES AND QUERIES. 

MAMMALIA. 
Natterer’s Bat (Myotis nattereri) in Buckinghamshire.—Although 
Natterer’s Bat is probably not uncommon in Buckinghamshire, it 
has hitherto escaped notice, and it may be well to record its occur- 
rence in Hockeridge Wood, Berkhamstead. At about eleven o’clock 
on the evening of Aug. 28th, 1912, I captured a male which was 
flitting about inside a hut in the depths of the big beech-wood.— 
CuaAs. OLDHAM (Kelvin, Boxwell Road, Berkhamstead). 
AVES. 
Notes on the Habits of Sturnus vulgaris.—It used to be a fairly 
common sight in Yorkshire to see Starlings perched upon the backs 
of sheep, but I have not often seen them on cattle. I am, however, 
quite sure that the habit is not so prevalent as was formerly the 
case. Many years ago a series of articles appeared in the now 
defunct ‘ Leeds Mercury Supplement’ upon ‘Ornithology in Relation 
to Agriculture.” I was responsible for the one upon the Starling, 
and particularly drew attention to this habit. The articles were 
afterwards published in book form, and were reviewed by the late 
John Cordeaux. He rather ridiculed my statement, saying he had 
never observed this habit. A day or two afterwards I was going to 
the Bempton Cliffs with the late John Farrah, F.L.5. -We had not 
travelled far when Farrah said: ‘‘ Look! that upsets Cordeaux’ 
ideas, and bears out your statements.” There were seven or eight 
Starlings perched on sheeps’ backs, and all of them industriously 
searching for “ticks” or other insects. In this district they have 
increased enormously of late years, but I have not heard of any com- 
plaints of their doing any damage to crops or fruit. They, however, 
usurp almost every likely hole for nesting operations, and Wood- 
peckers have had a sad time. I frequently find perfectly open nests, 
owing to the inability of the birds to find suitable holes in the neigh- 
bourhood.—R. Fortune (Harrogate). 
Dark-throated Quail in Northamptonshire. — Three years ago I 
recorded the occurrence of a brown-throated Quail in Oxfordshire 
