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THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



Noctule Bat (iV". altivolans). — Still on the wing (December 3rd, 1880), 

 or at least what does duty for a wing. This is very late for this species to be 

 seen about, the evening, however, was very mild for the time of year. People 

 in Berkshire call this large bat the " Bat Rat," and the smaller sorts " Bat 

 Mice." 



Barn Owl and Snake. — I was once told by a young man that he had 

 once found the body of a large snake in an owl's haunt in a hollow tree, no 

 doubt taken there as food for the young owls. 



Greenshank [Z. glottis), — I have a specimen of this bird which was shot 

 in November, 1882, by the River Thames in our neighbourhood. It is not 

 often seen so far inland 1 believe. 



Sparrow and Humble Bees. — Saw (June 10th) sparrows chasing 

 with great perseverance the large humble-bees sailing along in the air, 

 beating them to the ground and pecking them fiercely. I wonder if they 

 ever get stung? Saw also two or three days later a sparrow beating a cock- 

 chafer against the ground, and refusing to leave it, but flew away with it in its 

 bill. Amusing birds are the sparrows. 



House Martin (H. nrbicaj. A pair of these pretty little twitterers made 

 their appearance this morning (May 28th), and soon began patching up a 

 nest, which had been nearly demolished the year before. Talking to an 

 intelligent old man this evening about the habits of the martin, he said that 

 any one could tell what sort of a summer it had been previously, by merely 

 noticing the colour of the martin's nest under the eaves. If the previous 

 breeding season had been a wet one, the nest was the colour of road-dirt, 

 from the bird getting its plaster from the wet road ; but if the summer before 

 had been dry the nest was almost black, from the bird being compelled to 

 use the dark-coloured mud of ponds and pools, instead of seeking its materials 

 on the highway. 



Wood Mouse (M, solvations).— k mouse of this species was killed in a 

 patch of beans in the allotment gardens to-day (March 22nd.) Many of the 

 beans had disappeared, rooks being suspected of the theft, but on this mouse 

 being killed a hoard of beans was discovered in its burrow close by. This 

 specimen was remarkable from being exactly the same colour as the common 

 mouse (M. musculus), that is of a grey-brown above, without a tinge of red 

 and greyish below. It had the usual yellowish mark between the fore-legs. 



Nightingale (D. luscinia). — Heard one of these splendid songsters sing- 

 ing a little, so late as this, on the banks of the river to-day (June 29th, 1872). 

 The harsh frog-like croak may also now be heard. Every time the bird 

 croaks it jerks or lifts its tail. 

 Standlahe, Own. 



