212 
NATURE NOTES 
Hedgehog. —A gentleman I know was attracted by the cries of a hen, 
evidently, as it proved, in dire distress. On reaching the spot he found that the 
bird had been seized by a hedgehog, who was rapidly devouring its “vitals. ’ 
The hen was too far gone to save its life and I need hardly add the hedgehog had 
to propitiate for the crime. If I did not rely absolutely on the truth of this state- 
ment I should never have believed it. 
Rhy/, F. L. Rawlins. 
September 15, 1901. 
Hedgehog and Toad. — A month or so ago I had three young turkeys 
killed by a hedgehog. Setting a box-trap baited with the remains of one of them, 
I caught the culprit next evening, my children subsequently keeping it as a pet. 
During its captivity (it escaped one night by lifting the lid of its box, which was 
heavily weighted), it devoured a great quantity and a great variety of food, from 
sparrows’ eggs to kittens : nothing seemed to come amiss in the meat line, frogs 
and toads being apparently equally relished. The latter seemed to have no evil 
effect. This somewhat surprised me, as I once had a young fox terrier so badly 
salivated by mouthing a toad that I was afraid it would go mad. It scratched 
its mouth with both front feet and actually “ wallowed foaming.” Dry earth, 
perhaps, would have been as good a remedy, but I put it under the pump, and 
subsequently washed its mouth well out with alum and water, and in a few hours 
It was practically all right again. 
Brunstead Rectory, Norwich, M. C. H. Bird. 
September 14, 1901. 
Vertebrates of Hertfordshire. — I am collecting notes respecting the 
vertebrates of Hertfordshire and should esteem it a favour if any Selborniaiis 
having any interesting particulars with regard thereto, would kindly favour me 
with the same from time to time. 
St. Albans, Herts. \V. Percival Westell, M.B.O.U. 
October 11, 1901. 
Provincial Name of the Heron. — Mrs. Hubbard’s note hereon in the 
October issue prompts me to send the following local and provincial names from 
my little “ Handbook of British Breeding Birds,” thinking they would interest 
her and other Selbornians; Hanser, harnsea, hearinsew, hegrilskip, hern, heron- 
shaw, heronswegh, jack hern, long-necked heron, and moll hern. 
St. Albans, Herts. W. Percival Westell, M.B.O.U. 
October 1 1, 190 1. 
Provincial Name of the Heron. — -Mrs. Hubbard’s interesting note 
leads me to see that there is more method than madness in the Staffordshire 
pronunciation of the word heron, viz., “yarn” — an even greater corruption of 
the French than “harnser.” 
Sidmouth, Will. V. Vickers. 
October 5, 190 1. 
Pigeon with Odd Eyes. — The note in the October issue regarding this 
reminded me to turn to my Diary for 1900, where, under date of July 15, there 
is the following entry : “Also noticed a fine ring dove which had been caged 
five years. He was in splendid fettle, but blind in one eye ; at least, one was 
black and the other yellow.” This bird was caged, as my entry states, and I took 
it for granted that the bird was, as I was informed, really blind. This may 
interest Miss Caroline E. Farley. 
St. Albans, Herts, W. PERCIVAL Westell, M.B.O.U. 
October ll, 1 90 1. 
Notes on Birds, &c., in Switzerland.— Gulls take their prey at the 
surface of the water in the mouth, but the osprey grasps the fish with his claws. 
Neither of these birds fly beneath the surface of the water, but cormorants, 
guillemots and the diving birds generally do : they have very narrow wings, and 
when flying in still air move the wings quickly, but much slower in water. 
Yesterday afternoon I paid a visit to the valleedela Tiniere, where two avalanches 
