390 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MAMMALIA. 



Occurrence of Tursiops tursio, Fabr., on the Sussex Coast. — An 

 apparently adult female of this Dolphin was cast ashore dead between 

 Bognor and Littleharnpton, Sussex, about the middle of last month 

 (September). In length from tip of snout to fork of flukes it measured 

 ten feet ten inches. Owing to the advanced stage of decomposition no 

 observations as to the external coloration were possible. The teeth 

 appeared to number twenty-two to twenty-three pairs ; they were 

 much worn at apex, and in many cases decayed and even holed 

 through. — H. L. F. Guermonprez (Dalkeith, Bognor). 



AVE S. 



Blackbird Laying Twice in the same Nest. — Bef erring to previous 

 communications (ante, pp. 235, 274, 312), two broods of Blackbirds 

 were some years ago hatched successively in the same nest in an 

 escallonia hedge in my garden here. They doubtless belonged to the 

 same parents, a pair which for a number of seasons utilized the hedge. 

 P. G. Balfe (Castletown, Isle of Man). 



Does the Blackbird Eat Snails ? — To this query, so simple at first 

 sight, I should immediately reply in the affirmative ; but after carefully 

 reading Mr. A. H. Meiklejohn's note (ante, p. 312) I determined to in- 

 vestigate the matter for myself, and not be led, rightly or wrongly, by 

 the many works consulted. That the Thrush does consume great 

 numbers of these tasty morsels I have had ample opportunities of 

 witnessing, but I cannot recall one single instance in which I had seen 

 the Blackbird doing the same ; and it was not until the beginning of 

 last month (September) that I succeeded in seeing a Blackbird in the 

 very act of devouring a snail, which was of the striped species (Helix 

 nemoralis). It was early morning, and while dressing, I chanced to 

 look out of the window overlooking the small garden at the farmhouse 

 where we were staying ; I saw a fine adult male Blackbird on the 

 gravelled path very busy with something on the ground, which looked 



