Pugnacity of the Moorhen. — Moorhens are very pugnacious birds, and are always fighting amongst themselves ; but I was perfectly surprised a few days ago, when going to pick up a wounded one, to see it come at me " open-mouthed," and repeatedly fly up and peck my legs. — C. Matthew Prior (Bedford).
Harlequin Duck at Filey. — During my stay at Scarborough, I purchased of Mr. Roberts, the well-known naturalist, a Harlequin Duck which he told me was shot at Filey about ten years ago. I mention this occurrence, as this duck has been killed on so few occasions in this country, and I have never seen this specimen mentioned in any book on Natural History. — J. Whitaker (Rainworth Lodge, Mansfield, Notts).
[The recorded instances of the occurrence of this duck in a wild state in this country are mostly doubtful. In several cases subsequent examination showed that the birds in question were young Long-tailed Ducks, and in one instance a so-called Harlequin Duck proved to be a female Scaup. See Professor Newton's remarks on this subject in 'The Ibis' for 1859, p. 162.— Ed.]
Grey Crow in Yorkshire in Summer. — When staying at Scarborough last summer, 1 went to see the sea-fowl breeding at Flamborough Head, and when standing on the cliff a Grey Crow flew past. This was on the 15th June, at which date I was much surprised to see a Grey Crow so far south. — J. Whitaker
Manx Shearwater in Oxfordshire. — It may be as well to put on record the occurrence of a bird of the above species, at Chipping Norton, in the winter of 1872 — 73. Two other examples are said to have been caught there (see Morris's 'British Birds'). It was brought to Banbury to be stuffed, and is now in my possession. — C. Matthew Prior (Bedford).
Hybernation of the Slow-worm. — On March 2nd a man in removing part of a hedge-bank found four young Slow-worms of two different sizes all coiled up together into a ball. They were in the earth in the centre of the bank, about a foot from the surface. The man noticed no leaves or grass, or any kind of nest, nor any hole communicating with the surface, though there probably was a small passage. Three of these reptiles were alike in size, — three and one-eighth inches long by one-eighth of an inch in diameter. The fourth was about six and a quarter inches long, and about a quarter of an inch thick. No full-grown Slow-worm was found. — Frank Norgate (Sparham, Norwich).
