Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/296

1462 Hybrids between the Lion and Tigress. — I have just received a letter from Norwich, where one of my menageries is now open, stating, that one of the tigresses yesterday brought forth a litter of four cubs, whose sire is a descendant of the old lion Wallace. This is the second instance of such an extraordinary cross-breed ever taking place, al- though I have had lions and tigers living together in harmony many years ; indeed it is twenty years since such a birth has occurred, and by most naturalists it has been deemed an impossibility, and certainly is as rare as it is curious. — George Wombwell; 39, North Street, Pentonville, Jan. 9th, 1746. [From the Times newspaper].

Weasels hunting in packs. — The following remarkable anecdote was communicated to me by Mr. W. Withington, Curator to the Fairfield Mechanics' Institute. A game- keeper in the employ of Mr. Hume, of Medlock Vale, whilst taking an early stroll in the Avoods that border on the river, saw a hare pass near him, apparently much fatigued with long running. He stood on the watch, expecting to find some poach- er's dog in pursuit, and soon heard a faint cry or yelping which could not proceed from dogs. A large pack of weasels then came in view, in full cry after the hare, which they must soon have overtaken, as it was already exhausted. The chase was, however, stopped by the gamekeeper discharging both barrels into the midst of the weasels, when according to his own, probably heightened account, seventeen remained dead, and the rest dispersed. I might add, that weasels are exceedingly plentiful along the Medlock. — J.W. Slater; Fairfield.

Believing that every fact connected with the knowledge of the Cetacea, however trifling it may be, or appear to be, is worth record- ing, and having paid some attention to this branch of Natural His- tory, I have thought a few papers on those species which I have per- sonally observed might be agreeable to naturalists in general, and have collected accordingly all the information I could about them for insertion in the 'Zoologist,' beginning with the one commonly known as the "Toothless Whale of Havre."^

History. Only three instances, are, I believe, recorded of the appearance of this very rare species ; one was stranded on the 9th of September, 18*25, at Havre, in France, the second on the 21st of August, 1835, near the port of Ostend, on the Belgian coast, and the last on the 23rd of September, 184], on the shores of the Island of Scilly. All descriptions of it before 1836 were

I must again beg the greatest indulgence of my readers in favour of my English.