28 



THE ZOOLOGIST. 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



MAMMALIA. 



Courage in Putorius nivalis. — Collectively, the Weasel is known for 

 its fearlessness and ferocity. The following incident, told me recently 

 by Col. Mure, of Caldwell, is interesting as throwing light upon the 

 boldness of a single animal. He was crossing an open space of 

 ground when he sighted a Weasel, and immediately gave chase. 

 Gradually he overtook it, till when about fifteen feet from it the 

 Weasel turned right round and made straight for him, screaming as 

 loud as it possibly could. Such an incident gives one a trifle more 

 respect for a solitary Weasel. — T. Thornton Mackeith (The Hall, 

 Caldwell, Renfrewshire). 



AVE S. 



Phylloscopus sibilatrix. — This (Jan. 9th) morning, when walking 

 by the River Wye, my terrier disturbed a Warbler from a strip of 

 gorse on the bank. I marked it down, and, sending the dog in front, 

 it turned the bird back, flying past me within some six feet, and 

 settling in a gorse-bush not more than five yards distant. As it 

 apparently listened to locate its disturber, I had a fair view of it, and 

 am convinced it was a Wood- Warbler. It then turned, hopping 

 through the bush, and, coming through the top of it, flew past me 

 again within a few feet, continuing along the top of a high hedge 

 near, and I lost sight of it behind some trees. I searched this hedge 

 and those adjacent, but did not see it again. Its plumage was very 

 bright. The wood on the other side of the river is a resort of the 

 species each spring. I am aware that the Willow- Warbler (P. tro- 

 chilus) has been known to winter in Cornwall, but this was un- 

 doubtedly P. sibilatrix. — A. B. Farn (Breinton Lodge, near Here- 

 ford). 



Nesting of the Nightingale (Daulias luscinia) on the Borders of 

 Staffordshire and Shropshire. — It is with much pleasure that I can 

 record an instance of the Nightingale nesting in Shropshire, within 

 one mile of the Staffordshire border and not more than ten miles from 



