MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS, &c. 337

It is only by the united observations of various persons, that we must expect to learn many curious facts in Natural history of which we are still ignorant.

ANON.

That the destruction of sparrows, and small birds generally is very injurious to those who have gardens and orchards I am strongly induced to believe. A proof of this has been sent to me by a correspondent, to whom I am indebted for much interesting information. He informs me that attached to his garden, is a fruit plantation of three acres, containing gooseberries, currants, raspberries, cherries, apples, pears, plums, &c., and that he never allows birds to be destroyed or their nests taken. The consequence is that he is never annoyed with caterpillars. He adds, that about two miles distance from his residence, there is "a small bird club," the members of which are bound to produce a certain number of small birds every week. Each year the caterpillars devastate the plantations, and last year an apple-orchard of more than ten acres was so infested, that the owner employed women to pick off every blossom in order to save the trees. It is hoped that a knowledge of this fact will induce persons to discontinue the wanton

destruction of small birds, intended, as they have been for the benefit of man.*

From information communicated to me, I have reason to be more convinced than ever, that both Herrings and Mackerel only perform partial mi

* A friend, (the Rev. J. Mitford) whose opinion is at variance with that advanced in the text, on the question as to whether some of the smaller birds are useful or injurious to fruit trees and vegetables, has sent me some twigs of the cherry, gooseberry, and Pyrus japonica, in which the blossom-buds, he says, are entirely eaten out by the Bullfinch; and he adds, that all the buds in one large bush of P. japonica in his garden are destroyed by them. His gardener, who is a very experienced and observant person, informs him, that he has seldom seen any birds but the Black Titmouse, in Autumn, feeding on caterpillars; even the Robin seldom, who prefers earth-worms and earwigs. His gardener has given the names of the birds that he considers the most destructive to the garden crops, and the particular nature of the mischief they do.

The Bullfinch.-All buds, cherry, gooseberry; after these, the apple.

The House-Sparrow-Gooseberry buds and peas.

Chaffinch. All vegetable seeds, as they come up in the Spring. Linnet. All seeds ripening in the Autumn, especially spinach and beet.

Hedge-Sparrow.-Draws out of the ground young onions and

leeks.

Thrushes and Blackbirds.-Ripe fruit of all kinds.

Norf. Nightingale.-Cherries, raspberries, &c. when ripe. The Jay. Strips off whole rows of ripe peas, and beans. These observations were made in a garden in the eastern side of Suffolk, and are here stated, as they differ from the opinion given in the Text, that their truth may be examined and verified, in other quarters.

grations, either for the purpose of depositing their spawn, or in search of food. In fact they may almost always be found where food is abundant, feeding on the lower grounds in winter, and removing to the upper grounds in summer.

Fresh water Fish in salt water, and salt-water fish in fresh water, living, breeding and thriving, have been seen in various places in Scotland; and also in a pond in Guernsey, which has been recovered from the sea by draining the neck of a narrow isthmus.

In a former work, I have given some account of a large Spider, found at Hampton Court, there called "the Cardinal." They are so large that when one was put into a tumbler, the legs reached over the edge of it. They are very swift in their motions, and hunt about for their food. They bite off the wings of moths, and unlike the common spiders, which suck the juices of their prey, they appear to eat the body. They may be heard distinctly when they run along the paper on the walls. They are always found in pairs—at least if one is caught, another is sure to be seen directly afterwards. They are most frequently seen in Autumn.*

* It is a general remark at Hampton Court, that the Cardinal spider makes its appearance previous to wet weather.

I am glad to find that the fact I have formerly mentioned of the Long Tailed Titmouse, or Bottle Tit, placing a feather occasionally across the entrance to the nest, has been corroborated by others. This feather is beautifully placed, probably for the purpose of adding to the warmth of the nest, and pretty firmly fixed amongst the lichens, webs and wool of which the nest is composed. The nest, which is a sort of ball, and lined inside with an amazing quantity of feathers, will sometimes contain from ten to fifteen young ones. It is somewhat elastic, and the labour bestowed upon it must be prodigious. I know nothing in the architecture of birds so really interesting and beautiful. The hole is so small, that it appears scarcely large enough to admit the old birds, and it is over this hole that the feather is placed, like a swinging door.

So sagacious are animals, that the cattle in Australia are never known to feed beyond that point in the prairies, which will enable them to get down in the evening to their drinking places. The Shetland and Orkney Cows, and even the ponies, observe a strict regularity in coming down to the shore, as soon as the tide is out, in order to feed on the sea-weed, moving off as the tide comes in, and repeating the same thing both night and day punctually.

It is a curious fact, that a gentleman in Wiltshire, who is a strict preserver of his game and fish has his ponds regularly visited by Herons on a Sunday, not a Heron is to be seen near them on any other day.

Shrew Mice feed upon frogs, and attack them with great energy.

Vast numbers of Frogs were found dead this Summer, (1843) by the side of a pond near Ascot heath. I heard of the fact too late to be able to procure any of them for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of their death.

The Rev. Gilbert White in his MS. memoranda says, "A colony of black Ants comes forth every Midsummer from under my staircase, which stands in the middle of my house; and as soon as the males and females (which fill all the windows and rooms) are flown away, the workers retire under the stairs and are seen no more. It does not appear how this nest can have any communication with the garden and yard; and if not, how can these ants subsist in perpetual darkness and confinement ?"

The dark colour of many wild birds must be a great preservation to them. The young of many