NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 
79 
of Inverness-shire and adjoining counties ; as also in Sulhcriandshire, whence Mrs. 
Blackburn received the dead young diver covered with down, mentioned in the 
book which was the subject of my review. Similarly, definite and further proof 
of the identity of the eggs taken by Mr. Edmund T. Daubeny’s friend in the 
north of Scotland, and shown to him five or six years ago, might excusably be 
desired by those interested in the subject without their incurring a charge of 
undue scepticism. Meanwhile, Mr. Howard Saunders assures me that, after 
investigating the matter, he is aware of no evidence that the great northern 
diver has bred on the Scottish mainland, and further, that there is as yet no proof 
that the bird h.as bred in the Shetlands. 
Bloxham, Oxon. O. V. A pun. 
Curious Habit of a Mocking Bird..— I have a northern mocking bird 
{Mimus poly^^lottus) which is very fond of settling on the hearthrug in front of the 
fire, stretching out one wing until the primaries touch the floor, and then, throwing 
back its head and half opening its bill, it will remain quite motionless for ten or 
fifteen minutes. I have another bird of the same species which never shows any 
inclination to behave in this way, and I should like to know whether a similar 
habit has been observed in any of our English thrushes. 
K. \V. A. 
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
A. M. W. — You evidently have not read the editorial note appended to the 
notice you refer to. 
M. A. P. — It is not easy to understand your question ; but of course a true 
parasite cannot be “grown in the ground.” 
L. B. S. — The moth is Antiilea brachiata, which appears in March and April, 
or earlier in mild winters. The c.aterpillar feeds on rose trees in June ; it is a 
common species. Please read Rule 4. 
D. A. H. — We are always willing to help our correspondents, but we think 
we ought not to be asked to name duckweed and Shepherd’s Purse, even when 
Cardamine hirsuta is mixed with the latter, as is the case w'ith your specimens. 
J. H. — We agree with you, and had your note been shorter would have 
printed it. 
G. C. G. — See Mr. Aplin’s note on p. 78. 
G. C. S. — We fear it is too true. 
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