MISCELLANY. 
163 
The Garden Fauvet ( Ficedula hortensis) near Scarborough. —This bird 
may be considered scarce in our neighbourhood. I shot one in a plantation near 
the Museum in the Spring of 1833. I was attracted by the singular beauty of 
the song. In order to obtain this specimen I was obliged to watch for a consider¬ 
able time before an opportunity could be obtained for firing at it. The foliage 
had become thick, and the bird confining itself to the tops of the trees, I soon 
found it to be very restless, not remaining more than a minute in the same place, 
threading backwards and forwards, yet never leaving the situation in which it 
was first found more than fifty yards. Diligent search has been made since 
then, with a view to procure othdr specimens, but hitherto without success.— 
Patrick Hawkridge, Scarborough , Aug. 7, 1837. 
The Sibilous Locustell ( Locustella sibilans) near Scarborough. —I place 
this species on my list of Scarborough birds on the authority of my friend Mr. 
Williamson, who has met with it in Raincliffe Wood, near this town; and 
the Cricket-like note was distinctly heard in Dr. Murray’s garden in May last. 
—Id. 
Mode of Feeding, etc., of the Hooded Crow. —This bird—which is rather 
numerous on our coast in Winter—has a very amusing and ingenious method of 
breaking the shell of the Mussel, &c., in order to come at the unfortunate 
inhabitant, perfectly regardless of Mr. Martin’s Act for the Suppression of 
Cruelty to Animals. The Hooded Crow rises to a great height in the air with 
the shell-fish in its bill, then dropping it on the hard surface below, when the 
bird rapidly descends to secure the morsel from the eager beaks of its brethren, 
which, seeing their companion soar aloft, keep a strict look-out for the shell it is 
about to drop, in order if possible to seize the prey.—I have often seen this end 
in a downright battle.— Id. 
Cross between the Hooded Crow and the Carrion Crow. —There are 
instances of the former bird remaining with us during the Summer. A female 
Hooded Crow once paired with a Carrion Crow on one of the trees at Hackness, 
where they reared their young. The young birds varied in plumage, some 
resembling the Hooded, and others the Carrion, Crow. I believe both old and 
young birds are now in the Scarborough Museum.— Id. 
The Rook building on Chimney-tops. —The Rook is capable of forming a 
great attachment to particular spots for breeding. Within the last few years 
several of these birds built their nests on the chimney-tops of some lodging- 
houses on the cliff at Scarborough. The few stunted half-grown trees are 
perfectly crammed with their nests; and from the windows of the lodging-houses 
being much above the tops of some of the trees, they present a curious and 
interesting spectacle during the breeding season. The larger trees between the 
summit of the cliff and the beach afford somewhat better accommodation.— Id,. 
