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NOTES AND QUEEIES. 



MAMMALIA. 



Longevity of Hedgehog. — For some time during the latter part 

 of last century my grandfather had in his possession an English 

 Hedgehog, which attained the age of twenty years. It disappeared 

 one winter; whether it died or escaped to the common is unknown. — 

 (Miss) M. Callaed (Dulwich). 



Distribution of Polecat and of Yellow-necked Mouse. — As I am 



making enquiries concerning the past and present distribution of the 

 Polecat in this country, I should be grateful to any of your readers 

 who could tell me whether it still occurs in their counties, and, if 

 not, when it was exterminated. I am also trying to work out the 

 distribution of the Yellow-necked Mouse, and should be equally 

 grateful for any information about it. — (Miss) F. Pitt (The Albynes, 

 Bridgnorth). 



AVES. 



Rare Nesting-site for the Goldfinch. — During the season of 1914 

 I found a nest of the Goldfinch built in a hazel bush about nine feet 

 up. This I am sure must be a tree rarely selected by this species 

 for nesting purposes. I have found them nesting frequently in yew, 

 lilac, medlar, maple, and fir ; uncommonly in laburnum, lime, ivy, 

 and gorse ; commonly in chestnut, sycamore, elder, elm, hawthorn, 

 plum, apple, and pear. Can readers add more species of trees to 

 this list? I have heard of nests in the common laurel and the 

 walnut, but I have not yet been fortunate enough to find one in 

 either. — Stanley Lewis (Wells, Somerset). 



Birds Travelling North in Autumn. — Anent the several notes 

 that have appeared recently in the ' Zoologist ' under the above 

 heading, I have had an idea for several years, which is developing 

 into a theory ; that is, that with many species of migratory birds 

 (and most species are more or less migratory), these birds, and more 

 particularly the young of the year, work a little northwards of their 

 nesting-places before undertaking the autumnal journey south. Also 



Zool. 4th ser. vol. XIX., March, 1915. K 



