MISCELLANEOUS.

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 374, 6 October 1874, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

Greenstone, tho scene of the recent rush in Westland can boast of a real " Claimant." A miner, now working in lliat locality, not only maintains that his name is Sir Roger Tichborne, Bart., but likewise attempts to substantiate the same by exhibiting the tattoo marks oubisarm?, and speaking very indifferent French, He appears thoroughly acquainted with the names of the Tirhborne family, and is at present so demonstrative in detailing his own history and in denouncing the imposition of any other claimant than himself to the title, that it is not unlikely an examination will shortly be made, with a view of despatching him to England, or elsewhere nearer hand. — TaranaM News. As if to show how little trust can he put in popular sayings, there is the whole weasel family, None should (according to the maxim of shyness and tameability going together) he so untameable as stoats, weasels, and ferrets. To " catch a weasel asleep " is an expression of the common belief in the native wildness and watchful timidity of this family of animals. It is a popular delusion, however ; weasels have little natural fear of man. St John (the author of the most delightful of all books on Natural History next to White's " Selborne ") mentions how a stoat, surprised in cover, will turn round to look at a man with apparently as much boldness as a lion or tiger, hardly stirring to get out of the way. In the New Forest, the present writer had an opportunity of witnessing similar fearlessness in weasles. About eight or ten of them,halfgrown, with one of the old ones, kept in my sight as I stood under a tree for four or five minutes together, either playing or hunting in company within a yard or two of me, giving their curious little half clog-like barks, and every now and then stopping to look at me. Yet the weasel is easily tamed, and well repays the trouble of taming him. Perhaps no small animal is so gentle and affectionate as a weasel. A young one, sold to me by a village boy for a penny, and reared very easily on bread and milk, would op to sleep inside my slerve or pocket, evidently liking the warmth, and he would wake up when candle-light time came, galloping round and round the room, and over the chairs and sofas, with little inarticulate sounds of pleasure. Somotimes he would disappear for an hour or two in a rathole, and after sundry rattling noises and squeaks behind the wainscot would reappear, very dirty nnd dusty, licking his lips, and with specks of blood on his face ; for, in spite of Ins graceful, gentle ways, and nurture upon an innomit broad and milk diet, he had a terrible thirst for blood in his heart. The tamest weasel, if lie could gain access to a poul-try-house full of sleeping cocks and hens, would creep up to the roosting birds and murder every one of them before morning, nol to satisfy his appetite for chicken, but for blood — every animal of his race having rooted in him that " gasto de matar" which Me Spaniards are proud of ascribing to themselves — a delight in the mere act of killing. I will give one more illustration of the utter fallibility of popular «ayings. '"As wild as a hawk" is commonly and yet quite erroneously said. No kind of hawk whoso habits I have studied is wild, in the sportsman's sense of being difficult of npproach, or of avoiding tho presence of man.. The peregrine falcon will hover over the grouse-shooter and his dogs upon the moor, sweeping down upon the wounded birds and carrying thorn off before his very face. A sparrowhawk in hot chase of a yellow-hammer once passed within a yard of my head as I wns riding nlong a lane in Monmoutdshire, struck down his quarry in tho field next the lane, nnli stood over it for several minutes within twenty yards of me, while I watched him through a gap in the hedge. I have seen a large hon kestrel, for an hour together nt dusk, hawking for cockchafers on a lawn near a house, and at times passing so near the two or three person! present that the rustle of her wings was distinctly audible Dawks should accordingly be untameable, but everybody who has reared a nrstling knows that they enn be tamed with perfect case. Tho hawk tribe — I speak of those kinds only which I have myself had in captivity, kestrels, merlins, sparrow hawk* nnd peregrines — although so essentially animals of prey, have none of that delight in slaughter for its own sake which, as we have seen, marks the wcoB°l family. A hawk, his appetite saied — and a good mcnl will suffice him for a day or two — will look with perfect indifference at the plumpest bird iluiioring within a foot of his perch. — The New Quarterly Jllrtr/azinefor July.