Birds, 



6009 



But to bring this long paper to a close, T apprehend (and I think 

 the facts narrated above will bear me out) that total innocence of the 

 meaning of the term sport," so essentially an English word, so ut- 

 terly known on the Continent, pervades all the out-door recreations 

 of the Germans, characterizes all their exercises in the field, and ac- 

 counts for the barbarous proceedings in their horse-racing, hunting 

 and shooting, wherein all they look to is the end aimed at, and to 

 attain which they consider all means lawful. 



Alfred Charles Smith. 



Yatesbury Rectory, Calne, 

 February 18, 1868. 



Occurrence of the Firecrested Regulus at Penzance. — Three instances of the oc- 

 currence of the firecrested Regulus have come to my notice during the past winter: 

 all these have been noticed in a warm sheltered valley, and they appeared to frequent 

 close hedgerows and ivy-clad pollards and bushes. The habits of this species appear 

 more close and retired than those of the common goldcrested Regulus : the latter 

 more frequently appears in large branched trees in open situations, whilst the fire- 

 crested Regulus seeks more permanent concealment. — Edward Hearle Rodd ; Pen- 

 zance, March, 1858. 



Occurrence of the Great Plover at Penzance. — Three examples of the great plover 

 have made their appearance during the last three months : the last I observed on 

 Thursday, March 4th, in good condition. I have mentioned before that all the spe- 

 cimens which have come to my knowledge, in this district, of this summer migrant, 

 have occurred in the tvinter months: the species is wholly (as far as I know) unknown 

 as a summer visitor in the western counties, and I never heard — nor do I know any 

 sportsman or naturalist, in this county or Devonshire, who has heard — the loud noc- 

 turnal whistle of this bird in the summer months. White, in his ' History of Selborne,' 

 appears to have been well acquainted with the bird in his neighbourhood. — Id. 



Note on Sparrows attacking Rats. — While sitting at breakfast one day, in the latter 

 part of last December, my attention was drawn to some ten or twelve house sparrows 

 which were fluttering about in a strange manner on the roof of an adjacent stable, at 

 a particular spot where a water-gutter joined the roof. I presently observed a large 

 rat emerge from the gutter on to the roof, when it was fiercely attacked by all the 

 sparrows, which surrounded it, drove it down the roof, and appeared to have entirely 

 got the mastery over it, when it suddenly made its escape by rushing down a water- 

 pipe which led from the roof into a drain at the foot of the stable. The sparrows then 

 resumed their post at the spot where this rat had first appeared ; and very soon a 

 second rat came out on to the roof, at the same place where the other one had first 

 shown itself: the second rat was attacked by the sparrows even, more fiercely than the 

 first, and it was not without two severe struggles and one vain attempt that it suc- 

 ceeded in gaining the same pipe in which its predecessor had taken refuge, the spar- 

 rows appearing much disconcerted at the escape of their enemy. — G. W. Guymer ; 

 Catton. The above was communicated to me (in substance) by Mr. Guymer, who is 



XVI. X 



