NOTES.
71
Squirrels Killing Small Birds.—Mr. Edward E. Barclay, of "Cedar
Lawn," Leyton, Essex, writes as follows to "The Field" :—"I have just heard
from an eye-witness an account of a squirrel catching and killing a full-grown
thrush. The squirrel had been feeding with some birds on some scraps thrown
out of a window, when suddenly it pounced upon the thrush, and, after a short
struggle, in which they both rolled over together, killed it by biting it about the
head and neck. Unfortunately, someone came up at the time and the squirrel
ran off, leaving the thrush dead on the gravel path. Would you kindly tell me if
this is of common occurrence, as I have never before heard of squirrels catching
and killing birds." The Editor of "The Field" replies as follows:—"The
question whether squirrels kill and eat small birds has often been discussed, and,
from the evidence adduced, it would appear that, although they are not strictly
speaking carnivorous, they do at least occasionally catch and kill small birds." I
may remark on the above that when Mr. R. W. Christy and myself were with
William Lines, the Boreham House keeper, on March 16th last, he levelled his
gun at a squirrel we saw in a lime, and we had to beg hard for his life to be
spared. This was done, but under protest, as Lines assured us this harmless
little fellow (as considered by us) was destructive to his young partridges and
pheasants, and he told us that he had shot squirrels in the act of carrying off
young pheasants from the coops in their mouths.—Edward A. Fitch, Maldon.
Rabbit Pursuing Weasel.—On April 17th, while walking alone in a retired
field, I was suddenly startled by the appearance of a rabbit in full pursuit of
a weasel, and I watched the chase carefully for nearly a minute. The distance
apart was perhaps six feet at the time I first saw them, but the rabbit gained a
little on the weasel ultimately. The latter made for a ditch at the first outset
and climbed the opposite bank, the rabbit following exactly in its track. The
weasel then ran obliquely, to a hedge at right angles to the former hedge, the
rabbit following, and I lost sight of both for an instant. Almost immediately
the weasel reappeared, having doubled back, and ran off with incredible speed
down a furrow, uttering its peculiar chirruping squeak all the time. The
rabbit I saw no more. I may add that neither animal was conscious of my
presence. The weasel was in the utmost alarm, and evidently regarded the
business in a very serious light. I may also note that the rabbit hunted by
sight, otherwise it would certainly have been attracted by the weasel's cries
after doubling back on its course. The occurrence, so far as I am informed,
appears to be a very uncommon one, and can only be accounted for by suppos-
ing that the weasel was a little too intrusive in "Madam Rabbit's" domestic
affairs, I am told that a rat with young will drive a ferret with impunity. I
know of two well-authenticated cases of blackbirds pursuing cats. In one
instance the bird had young, and the cat was caught prowling in suspicious
proximity to the nest. The other instance was in mid-winter, and was,
perhaps, the result of hunger. I may add that weasels are rare here, more
so than stoats, but neither animal can be accounted common.—F. French,
Felstead, April 18th, 1888.
Capture of a Badger in Essex.—On Friday morning Mr. Robt. Partridge,
of Stratford St. Mary, was walking round his meadows when his collie dog found
and tackled a fine bitch badger. They fought for several minutes, and at last the
dog collared the badger tight, and the latter was secured, and is now in the
possession of Mr. H. N. Dunnett. Stratford St. Mary is 3 1/2 miles from Manning-
tree railway station.—"Essex County Chronicle," June 15th, 1888.
The Hoopoe.—A fine male specimen of this exceedingly rare and beautiful
bird was found at Willingale on Friday, the 20th inst. It was wounded in the
wing, and no doubt had been shot at. It has been preserved by Mr. Scruby, of
Ongar, at whose residence it may be seen. A female Hoopoe was shot in the
same neighbourhood about 30 years ago by Mr. P. Matthews, of Envills Farm,
Little Laver, who still has the bird by him.—"The Essex County Chronicle,"
April 27th, 1888.