256 
NATURE NOTES. 
on looking at the hole again, after the lapse of about an hour, I found it had been 
most carefully covered over again, and so beautifully done that it required a close 
examination to discover where the hole in the brick actually existed. There are 
several small holes in the brickwork, but this insect invariably went into the 
same one, and it was never accompanied by a companion. I am interested in 
knowing the name of this insect and its habits. Can you enlighten me ? 
Richmond. E. II. 
[Mr. Kirby says : “ Probably one of the so-called solitary wasps, or land wasps, 
but it would not be safe to attempt to give it a name without seeing the insect 
itself.”— Ed., N.N.'\ 
An Obliging Hedgehog. — A remarkable incident occurred here about 
the end of October. Dr. Lyndon had arranged to give a lecture on hedgehogs ; but 
though diligent search and inquiries had been made for some time beforehand for 
the purpose of securing a live specimen for the better illustration of the lecture, 
no hedgehog had been good enough to come forward. On the evening of the 
lecture, as Mr. Lowry was walking along the road on his way to the lecture- 
room, he heard in the darkness a sudden rustling in the dead leaves, and on 
ascertaining the cause he found a hedgehog, who immediately rolled herself into a 
ball — in accordance with the habit of the animal — and so proved an easy prey to 
Mr. Lowry, who at once wrapped her in his handkerchief. After having done 
this, he heard another rustling in the leaves on the other side of the hedge, and 
there found quite a baby hedgehog, which also was captured. The surprise of 
the lecturer and those assembled in the room can scarcely be described when Mr. 
Lowry, who arrived late, placed his recent captures on the table. The hedgehog 
and her offspring, who so obligingly presented themselves for the purposes of the 
lecture at the eleventh hour, somewhat touchingly illustrated the old adage, 
“ Better late than never.” 
Crayshott. F. C. 
Foxes and Badgers. — Is there any reliable information as to what age 
foxes attain in their natural wild life ? For instance, some have been known in a 
locality for hunting by some distinctive markings, colour, or even “ bob-tailed ” 
ones. I have a tame fox 6i years old. To day it broke through wire netting 
from confinement, caught a fowl almost instantly, and would have killed and 
eaten it had I not picked the fox up and put it back again. This is natural 
habit or instinct, as it was picked up when about as large as an ordinary rat. 
I have been much interested during the past spring and summer watching the move- 
ments of a family of seven badgers in a coppice. From appearances their 
burrows must have existed for centuries, either for badgers or foxes. 
J. IIlAM. 
Stock-doves (p. 236). — I should like to correct the note respecting the 
date. At the time I wrote “ to day ” it would probably be on or about July 8 
or 9. Although these birds have been known to breed in my wild bird boxes 
until November, they had no young after October this year. It appears from a 
letter dated Nov. 30, 1780, that Gilbert While did not know where they built. 
Their natural homes are in hollow trees, c-pecially pollard willows, and they 
build nests similar tp the wood-pigeons, in ihe open, with small sticks and the 
like. One nest a few years ago was lined w ith dry holly leaves, which must have 
been anything but comfortable for the young unfledged birds, or even, one would 
think, for the breast of the old one. 
J. IIlAM. 
Frogs (p. 239). — Dr. M. C. Cooke in his book on the Briti.sh reptiles gives 
instances of the climbing powers of frog- and toads, and on the authority of a 
Mr. Reeks says that toads are often found in the nests of small birds in hedges. 
Probably the frog whose habits are very like those of the toad has a similar 
penchant, 
Fyjield, Abingdon. W. II. Warner. 
A Curious Ash. — Those of your readers who were interested in Mrs. 
Brightwen’s chapter on “ Ada|)tation ” in Glimpses into Plant Life, and the 
account and drawing of the little .Scotch fir, defunct, which you reproduce on 
p. 230, may like to know of a little ash tree, now growing in a still more curious 
