32 
NATURE NOTES 
Cumbrian Notes. — Our parish comprises a cold district near the Fells, 
and we are bounded on the south by elevations ranging from 1,900 to 2,100 feet 
above sea-level. We cover an area of some 22,000 acres, one-half of which would 
be moorland and fell, so that we have grouse, peewits and golden plovers in fair 
number, while at midsummer we are visited for a few nights by the black-headed 
gull. To us the kingfisher and nightingale, to name two birds that favour other 
localities, are visually unknown ; but against these defaulters we have that white- 
breasted, merry little bird, the dipper, which, though seen all the year round, 
never fails to charm. Outs is an inhospitable climate, and we have lately felt the 
full rigour of a northern winter in view of the fact that for a fortnight past our 
parish has lain under several inches of snow, and severe frost has borne the white 
coverlet company. 
Caldbeck, Wigton, RtcHARD Greenup. 
December 24, 1901. 
Hedgehog and Eggs. — About four years ago one of my daughters found 
that a strange hen had laid four eggs under the rhubarb leaves in our garden, and 
on the eggs she found a hedgehog lying. I was away from home, but when I 
returned the ne.xt day we went to see what had happened ; another egg had been 
laid, and as we came up the hen rushed out, apparently rolling one of the eggs a 
little away from the others : the ground was uneven. The eggs were all warm and 
perfectly sound and the hedgehog was lying on the top. 'I'o all appearance the 
hen had just been sitting on both hedghog and eggs, and neither she nor the eggs 
were injured, and the animal must have been there at least two days. Unfor- 
tunately we removed the creature and it returned to the shrubbery, but not to 
the eces. Can any one explain this ? 
M. S. You. NO. 
llEDCEMOc;. 
Communication between Animals. — A few days since I had a curious 
proof of this between two cats. We have a blue Russian cat, who apparently is 
vain of his good looks. A short time since an artist painted his portrait, and it 
is a striking likeness : it has just been hung, and rather low down on the wall. 
