NATURAL HISTORY NOTES 
195 
29. Blue Tit. — A pair of these birds have reared their brood in an old 
martin’s nest, and when nearly full-fledged the young fell to the ground. They 
were then placed in a box, where the parents attended to them until able to look 
after themselves. It is an uncommon occurrence for these birds to take to the 
nest of the house martin. 
Aiigust , 1903. Edmund Thos. Daubeny. 
30. Dropped Egg’S. — While walking over some sandy burrows at the sea- 
side, a friend of mine picked up two burrow ducks’ eggs, generally known as 
Shield ducks. As is well known, the burrow duck lays her eggs some few feet 
down the rabbits’ holes ; and the only reason I can assign for the eggs being 
where they were — some distance from any holes of any kind — is that the old birds, 
knowing the eggs to be addled, as we afterwards found out, much to our cost, 
placed them there themselves, by some means or other. 
14, Cross Street, Barnstaple. B. F. Cummings. 
August 8, 1903. 
P.S. — They may have been dropped there in just the same way as the starling’s 
eggs were, mentioned by W. Stapleden. 
31. Inclement June and the Swifts. — The arrival ot the swifts was 
later this year, and the sudden changes of temperature caused them much dis- 
comfort, and doubtless many perished. In this town for two or three nights 
several of them took shelter in a house, which they selected as being the highest 
in the row. The bedroom windows being left open till dusk, they flew in and 
remained the night. The swift’s feet are not suitable for perching, all the four 
toes being in front, so they remained on the carpet near the window. One diffi- 
culty they had to encounter when wanting to go out again, they slipped between 
the sashes and had to be released — a curious experience for the restless swift. 
There is an interesting note in “ White’s Natural History of Selborne,” by Rev. 
W. H. Herbert, in which he mentions having kept a young disabled swift for 
nearly a fortnight. It was not caged, but kept in an impromptu pen made of folio 
books and newspaper, and sometimes had its liberty in the room. It made a 
chirping noise all night, something like the singing of a kettle, or chirping of a 
cricket. It was eventually released and was able to join its companions ; but it 
lingered about the neighbourhood for some time. The birds I have mentioned 
uttered no sound, except that of distress when being extricated from the window. 
Teignmouth, Devon. Caroline E. Farley. 
NATURAL HISTORY QUERIES. 
3. Featherless Canaries. — A friend of mine who breeds canaries has 
two young birds, now about six weeks old, whose bodies are entirely destitute of 
feathers or down of any kind, with the exception of the quills on wings and tails. 
The skin is perfectly smooth, with no sign whatever of feathers to come. I should 
be interested in hearing whether any readers of Nature Notes have ever met 
with a similar defect among their birds, or can offer any explanation. 
Northgate House, Winchester. U. M. Langdon. 
August 9, 1903. 
4. White Cockroach. — Can any of your readers explain this phenomenon ? 
A white cockroach was found in our kitchen a short time since, and I was assured 
it was wholly white, but I did not see it, as it went the way of these all too 
numerous, but doubtless useful, scavengers, the cook’s foot being handy at the 
time. 
Teignmouth, Devon. Caroline E. Farley. 
5. Beeches. — A number of beech trees have died in these parts, for which 
no reason is given beyond that of being killed by the drought. Two years ago 
twenty or thirty in one row died, and close by a similar number. They grew in a 
light sandy soil, and apparently succumbed to the succession of dry seasons we 
experienced up to two or three years ago. They were not the victims of old 
age. Can any other reason be given ? 
August , 1903. Edmund Thos. Daubeny. 
6. Puff-ball, or Devil’s Snuffbox. — Owing to the wet season the 
above are very large (for this locality) this season. I picked one yesterday 25 
inches in circumference. 
