MISCELLANIES. 
5:3 
A Robin Redbreast f Rubecula familiaris) with the Mandibles of the Bill 
CROSSED.—’A curious specimen of the Robin Redbreast has lately fallen into my 
possession, with the mandibles of the bill slightly crossing each other, in the man¬ 
ner of those of the Crossbills (Cruciro&traJ. In the plumage there is nothing 
remarkable. I doubt not, that in time the deformity would have increased, and 
perhaps eventually have prevented the poor bird from obtaining its food, for which 
purpose it requires a bill formed as Nature forms it for the rest of the species. A 
bill adapted only for procuring another kind of food (such, for instance, as the 
Crossbills subsist on), would be worse than useless; and the above-mentioned 
Robin Redbreast would have been starved to death, as not unfrequently has been 
the lot of birds whose bills have, from some unknown cause, grown to an un¬ 
natural size or shape. No birds appear more subject to these deformities than 
the Starlings, at least as far as my knowledge goes.—The curious specimen I have 
here noticed has been preserved by Mr. Hugh Reid, of this town, w^hom I have 
no hesitation in pronouncing to be unrivalled in his art, and to be excelled by 
no preserver of birds in the united kingdom.—F, 0. Morris, Doncaster^ March 18, 
1837. 
The Birds of Scotland in theWinter of 1836-7.—It is strange, that although 
the winter has been unusually severe in this part of the country, scarcely a single 
rare bird has made its appearance here. We have snow at present on the ground, 
and I can find nothing better than Fieldfare and Redwing Thrushes, and such¬ 
like. To-day, however, I shot two Reed Buntings, and saw a Grey Wagtail, of 
both which species it is very seldom that an individual is seen here in winter.— 
W. MacGillivray, 16, Minto Street^ Newington^ Edinburgh^ March 15, 1837-— 
Capture of the Jer Falcon (Falco Islandicus) near York. —A fine adult 
specimen of the Jer Falcon, one of the rarest of the British Falconidce^ was shot 
at Storthwaite, a few miles from this city, on the 15th instant, and is now in my 
possession. It is shot in each wing, but not wounded in the body. Like most 
birds of the family when captured, it sulked and entirely refused all food for the 
first four days; it now begins to eat a little, but will only feed on fresh killed 
birds. I am in hopes its life will be preserved.— Thomas Allis, YorJcy 2d Month 
21; 1837. 
Singular Locality for the Common Conger (Conger vulgaris^ Cuv.)— A 
little mine has lately been set on foot at Newlyn, near Penzance; and not being 
able to open their adit on the course of the lode, in consequence of a fish-cellar 
over it, the miners were compelled to drive in another direction to come on the 
lode, when they found a cavity in the earth about 18 feet in length, with water a 
