2lS 
NATURE NOTES. 
the squirrel taking a flying leap into a small larch a little way ofif and from thence 
another into an apple tree hard by. A few days later I noticed the squirrel on the 
lawn some distance in front of the trees. I looked for the enemy, but she was not 
visible. Looking up a little while later I saw her, but the squirrel I saw not. 
She was running off with something brown in her mouth which I took to be the 
squirrel. A bird (a thrush, I think) was flying at her head screaming with anger, 
evidently trying to make her drop her burden. I ran out, but the cat was gone. 
For several weeks after that I saw no squirrel, but just lately another (and possibly 
the same one) has appeared ; and this morning I saw three, one quite a young one, 
gathering beech nuts under the trees at the top of my garden. The yellow cat 
has also disappeared since I pursued her one day and threw my stick at her. 
Would a cat be able to tackle a squirrel ? 
Lichborough Rectory, IVeedon, Northants. C. Browning. 
Butterflies and. Moths (p. 199)- — have been charmed by an unusual 
number of humming-bird hawk-moths this summer. We generally see one in 
ordinary summers, but this year three or four at a time have hovered over a bed 
of petunias, and one, I imagine the same one, for I noticed it day after day, 
seemed to have defective sight, for it would only go to white or nearly white 
flowers. 
North Moreton, Wallingford. M. S. V. 
During the second week in September red admirals simply swarmed here. 
Of the humming-bird hawk-moth I have only seen two specimens this year, the 
first early in September, and the second flew in at the open door of my office on 
October loth. 
Andover. Ernest F. Atkins. 
[The Rev. C. Browning writes from Lichborough, Weedon, that red admirals 
and humming-bird moths have been abundant there, the latter very tame.] 
A Monster Minnow. — Some time in September, 188S, in bright, fine 
weather, I was on the banks of the Nodder, a tributary of the Hampshire Avon 
about two miles above Wilton, where the stream joins the main river, trying to 
catch some dace, for which the stream is noted. For some cause unexplained 
nothing but minnows came to try my lure. After replacing several, it struck me 
that I could make a few contented in a small pool I had lately constructed in my 
garden at Ealing, consequently consigned some half dozen to a bait can and 
deposited them in the outdoor aquarium. In due course all died but one ; the 
single specimen lived and thrived, and was often admired. All went well until 
Saturday, July 30th, when I noticed her on the top of the water, evidently ill. 
On July 31st I found her dead, nearly five years after leaving her native stream. 
I immediately took a pair of dividers and found she was 4^ of an inch in length. 
On seeking an interview with Dr. Gunther at the Natural History Museum, he 
was much interested. After carefully comparing it with existing specimens he 
decided that my pet was f of an inch longer than any minnow the museum con- 
tained, and now it forms part of the national collection. 
Fenny mere, Ealing. Thos. Simpson. 
Swallows. — Can any one tell me whether it is a habit of swallows to depart 
in batches ? A large number left us on August l8th, leaving a few late broods 
behind, which last left on October 2nd, leaving about half a dozen still here. 
N'orth Aloreton, Wallingford. M. S. Y. 
A Friendly Robin. — There lived many years ago in Abergavenny two 
maiden ladies, sisters of Esquire Jones of Pyle. A robin took a great fancy to 
them, and whenever they walked out in the country it would accompany them the 
whole way and return with them. One of the sisters was a greater favourite than 
the other. If she went out the robin would accompany her at once. If it hap- 
pened to be the second sister, it would wait to see whether the favourite w'as 
coming, if not. Bob would go with the other sister, the favourite. The sisters 
after a time went to live in Clifton, and were in great grief at leaving Bobby 
behind, but he would not allow himself to be caught. On the way to Chepstow they 
were surprised to see Bobby flying along by the side of the coach. Arriving there, 
