Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/44

1210 near the River Dove, about a mile from this house, a male Snow Bunting (Plectrophanes nivalis), in its winter plumage. Both these birds are in my possession with a memorandum attached to each, of the mode and time of their capture. I need hardly add, that they are both very rare birds in our midland counties of Stafford and Derby. — Oswald Mosley; Rolleston Hall, near Burton-on-Trent, November 19th, 1845.

Remarkable habit of the Rook.— In the early part of January, 1843, whilst walking by the Serpentine River, I saw a rook flying to and fro over the surface of the water, it stopped several times close to the stream and at last plunged in, emerging almost immediately, and flew heavily away towards some high trees ; a boy threw a stone at it, when the rook dropped a fish, and after flying round and round returned to its former occupation. The prey proved to be a dace, and was bleeding from the wounds of the rook's talons; the boy, who was generally watching the cows in the Park, told me he had before observed the rooks fishing, especially in cold weather. — G.A. Thrupp; 1, Hyde Park Place, West, November 6th, 1845.

Cockatoo's laying eggs in confinement. — Mr. Leyland, of this town has a cockatoo (the large white crested), which has been in his possession above fifteen years. On the 29th of May, 1843, it laid an e^^ for the first time, and another on the 26th of June in the same year. In 1844 it laid two more, one on the 29th of May and the 3rd of August. This year it has again laid two, the one on the 4th, and the other on the 7th of April. The eggs are of a delicate white colour and are rather larger than a pigeon's. — Francis Richardson ; Halifax, October 22nd, 1845.

Anecdote of a Thrush. — This year during the breeding season, a pair of thrushes located themselves in a shed belonging to the Navigation Company, and forthwith proceeded to build their nest. It was placed on a shelf among some odd pieces of wood, and in it when finished, were laid four eggs, which after the usual period of incubation were hatched. The shelf on which the nest was built was not above five feet from the bench, at which three or four carpenters were continually at work. — Francis Richardson, Halifax, October 22nd, 1845.

Blackbirds hatched by a Canary. — Early in the spring of this year (1845), a hen canary of last year's brood, for whom no companion was found, had, by way of expe- riment, three blackbird's eggs placed in a nest she had amused herself by building ; she adopted her new charge, and sat assiduously until they were hatched, the only assistance she required being to have them occasionally turned for her, being unable from their large size to perform that part of her duty. The young birds she fed with egg and soft bread, but what was very remarkable, she several times carried them small worms, a food natural to blackbirds, but totally different from that of canaries, who always feed their young from the crop. It soon, however, became too great an undertaking for the little foster-mother to supply her family with food, they were there- fore fed by hand, and appeared to be thriving, but were one very cold night so thoroughly chilled, from the canary being frightened from the nest (probably by a cat), that they did not recover it, and soon after died before they were quite fledged. — George Fox, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Occurrence of Anthus arboreus in February.— On the 14th of February this year I obtained a specimen of the Anthus Arboreus, which is usually supposed to be only a summer visitor. — H.T. Frere, Aylsham.

Occurrence of Richard's Pipit near Newcastle. — A fine female of Richard's Pipit