MISCELLANY. 
329 
.supposed to proceed from the Jack-daw, without being able to observe any differ- 
.ence in the size of the birds overhead.—W. C. Hewitson, Bristol^ Oct. 10, 1836, 
in the Analyst^ No. xx., July., 1837. 
Situation of the Nest of the Swallow {Hirundo rustica.) —The places 
selected for nidification by the Swallow are very various. It is no unusual cir¬ 
cumstance to find the nest of this bird placed under the wooden 'bridges which 
commonly communicate from the drainage mills to the river in the fens. I have 
repeatedly found it in such situations. I once saw one in the cavity of a hollow 
tree. Out-houses, stables, &c. &e., are very general situations, and in such places 
whenever you approach very near the nest, or even only occasionally enter the 
building, the old birds are extremely vociferous. Still I never saw them assume a 
. menacing attitude as described in your interesting communication see (p. 273 , 
No. XI). This is a new feature in their economy.—J. D. Salmon, Thetfordy 
Norfolk^ July 11, 1837. 
An Osprey (Falco Halioitus) taken near Flamborough. —An adult male 
of this species once alighted in an exhausted state upon the rigging of a small 
vessel passing Flamborough Head. It was brought to Scarborough, and pre¬ 
sented to the Museum of that town by John Tindall, Esq.— Patrick Hawk- 
ridge, Scarhoroughy Aug. 7, 1837. 
Instances of the Capture of the Red-footed Falcon (Falco rufipes) in 
THE British^, Islands. —Since my notice of the four specimens killed in Norfolk, 
in 1830, which I believe is the first record of the occurrence of this species in 
England, a fifth example has been shot in the same county, in 1832, Two spe¬ 
cimens have been obtained in Yorkshire, and one in the county of Durham. An 
adult female specimen lived two years in the menagerie of the Zoological Society. 
A specimen is preserved in a museum at Devonport, which was obtained not far 
off; and Mr. Thompson, of Belfast, has recorded a notice of one that was killed 
in the^county of Wicklow in the summer of 1832.— Yarrell’s British Birds 45. 
Swarm of Flies. —On Monday evening a singular circumstance took place 
at Redruth. At about seven o’clock the main street of that town was visited 
by a shower of small yellow flies*, which fell so thick as to cause great annoy¬ 
ance to persons walking at the time. They bit or stung severely the faces or 
hands of those on whom they alighted, It is rather singular that the insects 
confined their movements to the High-street alone .—Plymouth Journaly July{f\ 
1837. 
The above account differs materially in many points from the plague of flies so 
prevalent, in the north at least, last year. Query, were they the Turnip fly ?— 
*“Fly” is a yet more comprehensive terra in Entomology than “ Sparrow” in the sister science 
of Ornithology 1—En. 
