Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/200

1366 think, be added to their food with perfect advantage to the health of both parent and oOspring. — Henry Oxley Stephens; Old Market Street, Bristol, April 6th, 1846.

Cattle mouthing bones. — Although much has been said in the ' Zoologist ' on the subject of cattle mouthing bones, I am induced to request a place in this interesting magazine for the following extracts from a volume of unpublished correspondence be- tween the celebrated naturalist, G. Montague, F.L.S., M.W.S., Sec, and Robert Anstice, Esq., F.G.S., &c., a venerable man, and an excellent naturalist, who died at Bridgewater in April last, aged eighty-seven. Mr. Anstice, in reference to the diflferent kinds of food which Col. Montague had tried with the cormorant, wrote as follows:—"The instances you mention of the versatility of some birds in this respect are wonderful, and bring to my recollection the great change of manners and accom- modation to circumstances, especially with respect to food, which I have had occasion to observe in some animals on ship-board ; a sheep picking a bone of salt beef is no un- common sight there." Col. Montague, in reply, says:—"Speaking of the change of diet in some animals, it is not surprising that all quadrupeds should show a fondness for milk through life, but that birds should so readily like it, in so many instances, is extraordinary. The circumstances of sheep picking a bone of salt beef, is produced by the flavour of salt. In America the Indians sport most in the neighbourhood of salt springs in what they term licking places. This love of salt will readily induce cows and sheep to eat salt dried fish, and it is no uncommon diet in some of the most nor- thern climes, in lieu of vegetables. I have seen my own coavs take bones from my dog-kennel." The letters from which the above extracts are taken were written in 1814, not long before the close of Col. Montague's life. If the above should be ac- ceptible, I shall probably furnish more to the 'Zoologist' from the same source. — W. Baker; Bridgewater, April 14th, 1846.

Habit of the Raven. — Being of opinion that any anecdote tending to illustrate the manners, habits, or dispositions of animals can never be unacceptible to the editor of a magazine where all interesting and curious facts relative to natural history are re- corded ; I therefore venture to relate what I consider to be a surprising instance of memory in one of the Corvidse family. In the year 1836 when I was at Llandilo academy, one of my schoolfellows, while we were taking our usual half-holiday walk in Dynevor Park, climbed up a lofty elm-tree and captured three young ravens which were just about leaving their nest, two of them were given away, but one we kept in our play-ground, where we erected a shed and a perch for him about three feet from the ground ; we had him several months, but when he became quite familiar and a general favourite, his existence was terminated by a stone hurled at him by one of the town boys whilst pluming himself upon the wall. This bird, after he had satisfied the cravings of his not small appetite, used to conceal the remaining pieces of food under several loose stones which were close to his shed, and when hungiy, repeatedly have I and other boys watched him going straight to the place where he concealed his first morsel, and so on to each stone in rotation. I was amused at the time, but it now as- tonishes me. For this lengthy notice I crave your pardon. — E.J.R. Hughes; Catherine Street, Whitehaven, March 12th, 1846.

Rooks building on house tops. — Two pairs of rooks have built their nests, and are now rearing their brood of young ones, between the chimney-pots of two houses in