MISCELLANY. 
301 
behind a gate-post, where his vigilant pursuers stood around him anxious to 
renew the attack. A person who was present, drove the Mouse from his retreat, 
when the hens again commenced the chase; but as they seemed to make cruel 
work of it, the Mouse was killed for them, when they all surrounded it, and began 
to make a meal of its flesh. It was amusing to see the chickens in this hunt, 
who, although they joined the party, were evidently quite afraid of their victim, 
for if he accidentally turned round between their legs, they jumped up and ran 
away backwards, apparently in a great state of agitation. Mr. John Jennings, 
jun., of Campsall, to whom the hens belong, assured me that this was not an 
uncommon scene, and that the hens always ate the Mice when they succeeded in 
killing them.— Edwin Lankester, Campsall , Yorkshire , March 20, 1839. 
Information on the Eggs and Nests of Birds. —With reference to the 
wishes of 44 G. F.” (p. 146), I much doubt whether an article on the general 
nidification of our British birds that could afford him the desired information, 
would be sufficiently interesting to the general readers of The Naturalist , as there 
must necessarily be a great sameness in the descriptions, since each locality must 
be described, which in some species is very various. The length of such a com¬ 
munication would, moreover, probably prevent its insertion in the pages of The 
Naturalist , which periodical is devoted to newer matter. I would recommend 
* 4 G. F.,” if he be not in possession of Hewitson’s beautiful British Oology , to 
procure the two last 8vo. volumes, price £l Is., of the letter-press to Selby’s 
Illustrations of British Ornithology , where he will find the desired information. 
As for the localities, &c., they are accurately described in my friend Mr. Yar- 
rell’s work, now publishing in parts, which ought to receive the support of every 
ornithologist desirous of possessing a complete work on British Ornithology.—> 
J. D. Salmon, Godaiming , Surrey , Feb. 19, 1839, in a letter to the Editor. 
BOTANY. 
44 The present Botanical System.”—-Linnaeus, the naturalist, and the 
founder of the present botanical system, died on the 11th of January, 1778.— 
Aldine Magazine , for February , 1839.—[We know not whether the advocates 
of the 44 natural system’’ will feel complimented by the information that the 
Linnsean is 44 the present system 9 of Botany; but, certes, it might puzzle any 
botanist, amid the number of arrangements in existence, to point out 46 the present 
system .”—Ed. Nat.~\ 
Beet-Root Sugar. — The Aberdeen Constitutional states that one of its corres¬ 
pondents has sent it a sample of sugar, made at Macduff, from Beet-root grown in 
Banffshire. It is retailed in London at 8d. per lb. The quantity is about a ton, 
but the manufacturer says that next season he shall be able to supply any quan- 
