MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 
113 
over. There was certainly no evidence of the Larva of the 
Gamma Moth, or the Cranefly being brought for food, but 
there is no evidence to show that either of them are other 
than distasteful to the bird, which would not be the case with 
the Wireworm, which would closely resemble the Mealworm 
in appearance, and probably in wholesomeness. I think this kind 
of examination is well worth repeating, but it should be done with 
care. If any Wireworms are found in a nest, it should be carefully 
examined to the bottom, as many of the Wireworms creep through 
the nest. I am fully aware of the destructive habits of the 
House Sparrow, especially as regards the Crocus. The yellow 
flowers of this are especially attractive to the birds, but the purple 
kind are not much hurt. The birds only pick out the yellow 
stamens and pistils. 
I saw some years ago a marked instance of the affection of this 
bird for its young. At the hack of my house in London was the 
chimney of a mews in which a pair of Sparrows had built and 
hatched their young. The chimney had long been disused, but 
one day a fire was lighted in it, and volumes of black smoke issued 
from it. The poor birds were terribly distressed at this result, but 
the oropyr} was so strong that they made most vigorous efforts to go 
to the young ones. Flying into the dense smoke, they remained 
in it until, driven away again and again by the suffocating fumes, 
they had to retire on to the roof for a breathing space, panting and 
gasping for breath. It was wonderful to see the tenacity with 
which the efforts were renewed, until at last the poor young ones 
were suffocated by the smoke. — John Lowe, M.D. 
Great Bustard. — The following mention of a Bustard which 
may have been of Norfolk origin occurs in “ Memoirs of the Vernon 
Family .... compiled from the Letters .... at 
Claydon House by Margaret M. Verney. Vol. iv. London, 1899.” 
p. 188. 
“March 16, 1675.” 
“ There is much eating and drinking in Mun’s correspondence. 
Dr. Denton has a picturesque banquet. ‘All ye gang was hero 
last night drinking Sir Ralph’s health, and preying on a goodly 
formidable beast out o* ye Fens called a Bustard, well was more 
than a whole round table & bystanders could devour. When will 
‘ Barley yard or Knowle Hill produce such a Beast i ’ ” 
