NATURAL HISTORY NOTES AND QUERIES. 99 
caterpillars, and a nest of young blue tits hard by would be a valuable aid towards 
checking their depredations. The number destroyed by a pair of tits in a single 
day must be enormous. These little birds can often be induced to build about 
houses and gardens (especially if fed through the previous winter), by nailing up 
suitable nesting boxes in cosy, sheltered corners, out of the reach of cats. The 
entrance hole should be placed near the top, and be only just large enough to 
admit the tits. G. T. Rope. 
Some of my Pets.— Some time ago I had a pair of toucans. They were 
very interesting, and would eat almost anything ; I fed them on bananas, grapes, 
oranges, boiled carrots, raisins, figs, soaked bread, &c. When they arrived I put 
them into a large cage together, but the male bird would not allow his partner to 
Join him in his meals, so I had to separate them at first. I kept them in my study, 
but they got to smell rather unpleasant, so having then no other place, I was 
obliged to commit them to my stables ; there they lived for months in good health, 
and their plumage was grand, being orange, black, and carmine. 
Another of my pets was a pair of alligators. They were brought to me one 
day in a small birdcage b)’' a man who had brought them himself from Florida ; 
one of them (the female) lived six years, the male I have at present living in 
my study in a vivarium, with a terrapin and a slow-worm — the latter was born 
there. The alligator becomes torpid every November, and does not eat again 
freely until May. The terrapin and slow-worm wake up occasionally during the 
winter and feed. I have had the alligator more than nine years. 
Another pet is a lemur. This animal was sent to me two years ago. When 
it arrived, transferring it from one cage to another it managed to escape, and was 
caught with difficulty. It has become very tame, and will feed from my fingers 
on ripe fruit, bread, &c. Its fur is of a fine soft texture, silver gray, with dark 
ringed tail. It has for companion a tiny marmozeet. 
Ulborough, Nnuloii Abbot. R. M. J. Teil. 
A Bat in March. — On Tuesday, March 15th, at about 6.15, when stand- 
ing at an upper window, I observed what I at first thought to be a tit, but on 
account of its fluttering flight I had some doubts concerning its identity. As it 
passed within four feet of the window I discovered beyond doubt that it was a 
bat, which, from its slow flight, and feeble, undecided motions, appeared but 
recently awakened from its winter hibernation. I am sorry that my eagerness to 
compare data with Waterton deprived me of a further sight of the little fellow, and 
after the first glimpse I saw no more of him. I find that although Waterton 
observed a bat on the 3rd January, 1848, he considered the appearance of one as 
late as the 21st April of the following year worthy of his attention. 
Addiscombe, Croydon. C. h'. CA^tBUK.^■. 
Rooks Burying their Food..— In answer to R. C. C.’s question (p. 78), 
I should like to say that all the rooks I have been intimate with have done so. 
One I have had (like all German rooks and crows, he was called Jacob) always 
hid the remains of his dinner in the flower beds in front of the kitchen, and my 
little dog, who was not allowed meat at that time, used to watch him, and as 
soon as his back was turned (for he was much afraid of Jacob’s beak), he used to 
dig it out and eat it himself. My last rook got very troublesome by reason of his 
thievish propensities. His wings had never been cut, so he flew in at every open 
window and greatly annoyed our neighbours, so at last I took him up into the 
woods of the Heiligenberg near Heidelberg, and sat with him there till it was dark, 
and he had gone to roost on a tree, when I quietly stole away. As long as the 
daylight had lasted he had amused himself with hiding beetles, spiders, and such 
like treasures in the folds of my dress, as I sat quietly reading under the trees. 
A. J. 
E. P. — I. Trachelium croruleum. — 2. Potentilla norvegica.—T,. Carex 
strict a. — 4. J uncus squarrosus. 
J. E. P. (Melbourne). — We have forwarded your letter to the Rev. T. A. 
Preston, who will doubtless communicate with you. 
D. B. — The Everyday Book of Natural History, by James Cundall, would 
probably suit you ; we believe it is out of print, but a new edition is said to be in 
preparation. 
