Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/197

Rh the river Waveney, a rather early arrival. Some thirty couples of these birds annually breed on the ronds by the side of this river, and the adjacent rough marshes between St. Olave's Bridge and Burgh Castle.

Wagtails. —A specimen of the Yellow Wagtail appeared on the marsh on March 29th. A large number of Pied Wagtails are now scattered about the district. Yellow Wagtails breed in quantity on the marshes. Grey Crow on Haddiscoe marshes, April 9th.

Wryneck.—I have only heard the Wryneck's note once during the past three years; the birds seem to have forsaken the district, though the reason why is not easily understood.— (Haddiscoe, Norfolk).

Frog attacked by a Rat.—Is it not unusual for a Rat to attack a Frog? My gardener was walking beside a hedgerow the other day when he heard a commotion and squeaking in the ditch. On investigation he saw a large Rat with a fair-sized Frog in its mouth. He then threw something at the pair, and the Rat allowed the Frog to escape, which hopped quickly away into a place of safety.— (Oakleigh, near Ascot, Berks).

[Frogs killed by Weasels are recorded in 'Zoologist' (1851), p. 3273, and ib. 3rd ser. vol. xii. p. 140. A more remarkable case of a Rat killed by a Frog is described in 'Zoologist,' 1849, p. 2471.—]

The Magpie-moth eaten by Birds.—Last spring my garden was visited with a regular plague of the gooseberry grub and moth; the leaves and fruit-buds were entirely eaten up, and the stems of the bushes were covered with the brightly-coloured grubs; while a little later the moths were all over the place. I caught them by dozens (both grubs and moths), and put them in my aviary, containing Greenfinches, Bramble-finches, Chaffinches, Yellowhammers, Redpolls, and Canaries, by whom they were greedily eaten; the moths were eagerly chased and caught, and so keen were the birds after them that I only remember seeing one escape out of the large numbers that were put in. I am told it is very unusual for birds to so readily devour this species. There is always plenty of food in the aviary, so it was not hunger, but simply choice.— (6, Rylett Crescent, Shepherd's Bush).

[This well-known moth, Abraxas grossulariata, generally known as the "Currant" or "Magpie" Moth, is usually reported as "protected" from the attacks of birds. Poulton, in his 'Colours of Animals,' speaks of the "slow-flying moth itself, with white wings rendered conspicuous by