Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/413

Rh signification it is often used by old writers ; for instance, by Chaucer, who writes "bribours" for thieves (see 'The Frere's Tale,' Aldine ed., ii. 248). In a parliamentary Roll of Edward the Fourth's time (Rot. Pari. 22 Ed. IV., n. 30) mention is made of persons who "have stolen and bribed signetts," i.e, cygnets. The word no doubt is an old hunting term borrowed from Norman times, and when it is remembered that the first thing a deer-stealer would do would be to cut up the stolen animal and distribute it amongst his fellows, to lessen the chance of detection, it seems clear that when Falstaff is made to say, "divide me like a brib'd buck," he meant "cut me up and distribute me as you would a stolen deer." — ]

— With reference to the remarks under this head at p. 837, I may mention that, according to Canon Tristram,* the falcon used in the Sahara for the chase of the Gazelle is the Saker, Falco sacer. I do not think that any of the jerfalcons would live in Africa, and have never heard of their being brought there. — (Northrepps Hall, Norwich).

— A Seal was killed, on September 9th, at Leiston, in this county. It was shot while lying on the end of the Minsmere Sluice, which drains a large stretch of marshes here, and runs out some distance to sea. It is a young animal, and in good condition, weighing just thirty pounds, and measuring forty-one inches in length. It is being preserved by Mr. T.E. Gunn, of Norwich. The man who shot it saw one on the beach near this place some eight or ten years since. — (Blaxhall, Suffolk).

— Some of your readers who study the habits of birds may be interested to hear that we have had in this district for the last two or three years what I believe to be two migrations of the Woodcock — one the usual winter migration, the other what I will call a summer or larger flight of birds that arrive in April or a little before that time to nest, and which leave with their young about the latter part of August or in the first week of September, as is the habit of Snipe in one or two localities that I could name. Robinson, in his 'Natural History of Cumberland and Westmoreland' (1709), alludes to something similar in respect to the Swan when it used to nest in this district. He says: — "There come every year a number of Swans to winter upon this water (Bassenthwaite Lake), and in the spring they breed upon the little islands in the water, or in the sedge growing by the side of it, and as soon as the young brood take wing the old ones carry them into southern rivers." The migratory habit of birds is a very interesting study, and particularly that of the wading and swimming class ; and having been a wild-fowl shooter

'The Great Sahara,' p. 63.