Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/427

Rh but they have also a loud double note, "cher-wee," reminding one forcibly of that of an Ægialitis. Attempts are made frequently to bring up young birds from the nest, but they rarely succeed. A few live ones are to be seen in captivity, presumably adults captured by birdlime or in traps; but as a cage bird it is a failure. It occasionally drives the Red Bird, Pitylus cardinalis, from its nest, even after eggs have been laid, and uses it as a foundation for its own. This is somewhat extraordinary, when one considers the formidable bill of the victim; but the Blue Bird is a determined little fellow, and fortune favours the bold. A great number of "crawlers"—long scaly grubs, with no end of legs—are destroyed by these useful birds, who will sit patiently watching for them on a convenient twig, swooping down on the first comer, and bearing him off in triumph. They will also dart into the air after passing insects much like a Flycatcher, returning each time to their starting-point. They are very bold in pursuit of prey when they have young to feed, but always visit their nest with extreme caution should an observer be near. [Mr. Bartram believes that they do not migrate, but merely collect into flocks for the winter.—H.D.]

Sitta canadensis, Red-bellied Nuthatch.—One specimen only, in Mr. Bartram's collection, shot by himself near his house at Stocks Point.

[Certhia familiaris, Brown Creeper.—A male bird of this species was shot by Bendall, an old soldier of the 53id regiment, out of three or four seen in Devonshire Swamp, on November 24th, 1876.—H.D.]

Alauda arvensis, European Sky Lark.—Mr. Hurdis shot the only example of this well-known bird on June I2th, 1850. It had uo appearance of being an. escaped cage bird; and I do not see why a strong gale should not have driven it even to such a distance from its ordinary line of flight. Prof Newton, in his fourth edition of Yarrell's 'British Birds,' alludes to this specimen in describing the geographical distribution of the species, but seems inclined to doubt its being a genuine wild bird. It is possible that it may have been the Missouri Sky Lark, Neocorys Spraguei, recently ascertained to be by no means uncommon in the "Far West."

The bird, I believe, was presented to Major Wedderburn. A further examination might lead to interesting results. It is worthy of remark that this unfortunate bird was described to Mr. Hurdis Rh