56 
NATURE NOTES. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Chaffinclies and tlie Severe Frost. — On Sunday, January i, I took 
a walk over Southborough Common. It was a lovely bright sunny day, with a 
keen white frost covering every turf and blade of grass with glittering silver, but 
there was no wind, so that the still air did not feel so cold as it really was. All 
over the beautiful Southborough Common might have been seen hundreds, nay, 
thousands of chaffinches, hopping over the short frosty grass, not in flocks, but in 
little groups of two and three, more especially in spots where the sun’s rays had 
thawed the ground. There were both cocks and hens, seemingly in the propor- 
tion of about one cock to two of the latter. The writer was surprised at this, 
because though an old hen or two may always be found in winter lurking about 
houses and gardens, especially in cold weather, where they feed with the sparrows 
and other birds on the crumbs and bits thrown out to them, the cocks, with 
their pretty rich-coloured plumage, are more seldom seen, and never, as far as I 
know’, a lot at a time. It struck me at the time that these birds must be visitors 
from the Continent, flying before the cold and foretelling a sharp spell of bitter 
weather. This seems to have been the case, for two days after (Thursday, January 
5), the thermometer went down to 6 below zero in the immediate neighbourhood 
of Tunbridge Wells. It would be interesting to hear if other correspondents 
noticed unusual movements of birds before the late severe weather. 
Tunbridge Wells. R. M. Ewor. 
A Wasp’s Nest. — While repairing bell wires on the 14th of January in a 
dark attic, I discovered a nest, either a hornet’s or wasp’s, attached to a beam, 
the insects evidently entering through some holes under the eaves. On taking it 
down, which was no easy matter, it measured in depth 10 inches, 33^ inches in 
circumference at the widest part. It contains no less than seven layers of comb, 
and is altogether a very beautiful specimen of insect work, and by its appearance 
seems to have been unoccupied for a few' years. 
Windermere. JOHN Brown. 
A Strange Poaclier. — It is generally supposed that cats, although very 
fond of flsh, are the least likely creatures to attempt to catch any for themselves. 
Every one ‘must must be familiar with the lady-like way in which they step over 
the little pools of water or muddy parts they often meet with in their daily outings ; 
but from the following facts it will be seen that cats are not afraid of water after 
all. A friend of mine, whose house and garden are situated on the banks of the 
North Queich, one of the main feeders of Loch Leven in Kinross-shire, is in 
possession of a very fine large grey cat, which, like others of its kind, sometimes 
seems very much afraid at water. During the close season, large numbers of the 
famous Loch Leven trout come up the water to spawn, and a few of them are 
generally to be found passing up or down, or quietly lying still in the somewhat 
shallow' part opposite the garden. It is no uncommon thing for some people to 
“ take ” one or two of these “ lochies,” as they are locally termed, for they are very 
easily killed ; but as neither my friend nor any of his household was inclined to 
this sort of “ business,” he was much surprised to find, on several occasions, a few 
of these trout, more or less eaten, lying in his garden. All likely sources were 
thought of before the cat w'as suspected. A watch was at once set on her move- 
ments, my friend taking up a position within view of the supposed field of opera- 
tions. It was a clear, moonlight night, and the fish, as they ploughed their way 
up and down through the water, were easily discernible, their backs being more 
or less out of the water. Before waiting very long, the cat came and sat on a 
stone, close by the edge of the burn and over a foot above the surface of the water. 
A number of fish passed and repassed before one came within range, when the 
cat splashed into the water, and the ne.xt moment w'as standing on the bank, 
giving herself a shake, with a splendid fish between her teeth. .She went off, but 
soon returned to her former position, and after a short time secured another fish. 
Being now satisfied, my friend came from his hiding place ; he found the two fish 
on the grass, and at a safe distance a number of cats from the neighbouring par- 
lours, waiting for the prospective feast. 
Cupar, Fife, A.B. 
J. D. Milna. 
