.218 
NATURE NOTES. 
NATURAL HISTORY NOTES AND QUERIES. 
Little Owls. — In the early spring of 1897 a pair of little owls {Athene 
noctiia) were seen about a farm in Hertfordshire, and roosted in an old barn. 
They afterwards nested in a hollow branch of a pear-tree and hatched two young 
ones, of which one died, owing probably to its falling out of the nest. The other 
young one is now frequently seen in company with the old birds. 
T. F. B. 
Seals on the Lincolnshire Coast.— The vicinity of the Wash, with its 
tortuous channels and dangerous navigation, has always been a noted haunt of 
the common seal. In hot weather, at ebb-tide, numbers may often be seen 
basking on the sands or wallowing in the shallow water at the edge of the 
banks. A remarkable capture of these graceful creatures came under the 
writer’s notice whilst at Boston last July. The skipper and crew — four, all 
told — of a local smack, for want of something better to do, undertook a raid 
through Boston deeps. Upon the Dog’s-head sand a large seal, apparently 
asleep, was observed. With caution the men landed, and surrounded the animal, 
which, after a fierce resistance, was partially stunned by heavy sticks and 
secured. Early the next morning a small herd of five seals, also in a state of 
somnolence, was sighted on the Knowle sand. These were carefully approached, 
and, being smaller in size than the first, were seized without much difficulty. The 
whole were carried alive to Boston and exhibited at a modest charge of two 
pence each for adults and one penny for children. Elated, doubtless, by the 
result — pecuniary and otherwise — the fishermen, a day or two afterwards, went 
out again to the Knowle sand, and, under similar circumstances, captured four 
more seals. Of these one was a very fine specimen, weighing considerably over 
three cwt. This animal fought desperately for a long time, but was at last over- 
powered and hoisted on board. Both in regard to number and size these are 
said to be record catches for the district. The fact of the men being able to cut 
off the retreat of the animals on each occasion is a rare event, for the latter are 
most timid, and their acute sense of smell, keenness of sight, and ready aptitude 
for avoiding danger are well known. It is to be hoped that this wholesale taking 
will not be repeated, for it would be a pity to drive the interesting seals entirely 
from the coast. 
H. CniPPERFIELD. 
Cock and Chicks. — I was much interested by a curious occurrence which 
took place amongst our fowls the other day. There was a brood of young chicks 
which had been recently deserted by their mother, and as the day was wet and 
cold the little ones evidently missed their accustomed place of refuge. Nothing 
daunted, however, they approached the “ sultan of the roost,” and getting 
behind him they gingerly inserted themselves under his feathers. To this in- 
trusion the cock in no way objected, but rather seemed to enjoy their company, 
as one by one they all found a place under his fatherly protection. I my.self was 
the spectator of a no less curious incident ; the same brood of chicks were 
wandering disconsolately about when another chick, about the size of a pigeon, 
took compassion on them, and, spreading out its wings and feathers, it allowed 
some five or six to get shelter under it, while the rest of the brood nestled up 
close to it, as if to gain warmth. I remember also that last year a fowl had a 
very poor brood and took a fancy to seven young guinea-fowls, which it alienated 
from their true mother and acted in every way as a true and devoted mother to 
them. It was very amusing to sec some chicks and some young guinea-fowls 
peeping out from under her feathers. These incidents are the very opposite to 
Avhat my experience has led me to exjiect, and I thought that perhaps they might 
•be of interest to the reiiders of Nature Notes. 
Fylton Rectory, Glos. A. C. Mackie. 
Partridges and Pheasants. — May I inquire what record we h.ave of 
partridges and pheasants h.atching? About the last week in July, as the harvest 
was commencing, a hen idieasant was found sitting near where the other was killed 
(see p. 198) in vetches grown for seed. A man took the eggs and placed them 
under a bantam fowl, but, owing no doubt to want of knowledge, they all die<l. 
About the beginning of the last week in .August, when I was gathering mushrooms 
