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THE

LOOLOGIST:

POPULAR MISCELLANY

Or

NATURAL HISTORY.

SECOND SERIES.—VOLUME THE ELEVENTH.

(OR THIRTY-FOURTH FROM THE COMMENCEMENT.)

ELON. DON.
JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, PATERNOSTER ROW.

M.DCCC.LXXVI,

«To me be Nature's volume broad displayed ;
And to peruse its all-instructing page,
Or, haply catching inspiration thence,
Some easy passage, raptured, to translate,
My sole delight.”
THOMSON.

“Full Nature swarms with life; one wondrous mass
Of animals or atoms organized,
Waiting the vital breath, when Parent-Heaven
Shall bid his spirit blow.” »
Id.

“ Reader, our companionship ends here. Should the author have persuaded
thee to follow in his footsteps, to tread the paths which he has trodden, to gaze
with an inquiring and delighted eye on those things which he has gazed on,—
itisenough. He bids thee affectionately—farewell!”

Epwarp Newman, in ‘ Grammar of Entomology.

PREFACE.

Ir has been the custom in Prefaces to the ‘ Zoologist’ for the
Editor briefly to summarise the principal work in Natural
History recorded in the pages of the volume; but the author of
those pleasant words, after long and faithful service, has at
length been called away to his eternal rest. There can be no
more appropriate Preface to this, the Thirty-fourth volume, and
the last with which he was connected, than some record of a
long life heartily devoted to the cause of Nature.

Epwarp Newman was born at Hampstead on the 18th of May,
1801. His ancestors became members of the Society of Friends
at the rise of that sect in 1646, and several of them suffered
imprisonment on account of their faith, yet they have always
remained stedfast to their tenets. His parents, George and
Ann Newman, had four children, all sons, of whom Edward
was the eldest. Both father and mother had a taste for Natural
History, and early inculeated it in their children. One of his
brothers writes :—‘‘Edward’s love for Natural History was
born with him, and this natural taste was fostered by both
parents. Our father encouraged us by daily conversation to
observe all natural objects: he knew the notes of all the birds of
the district, and imparted the knowledge to his children. I well
remember him telling us at the breakfast-table that that morn-
ing he had heard the chiffchaff for the first time that year, or
seen the whitethroat; and we used to record such events in our
little note-books. White’s ‘Natural History of Selborne’ was
the beloved book of the family; that and ‘ Bewick’s Birds’ were
referred to almost daily. Our mother taught us the names of
all the wild-plants as they came into blossom, and encouraged
us to collect and study them.” ‘To these books may be added
‘Bingley’s Quadrupeds,’ which was also a great favourite. He
himself writes:—‘‘I had a very, very early predilection for
butterflies; I may say even from my nurse’s arms,’ And

lv PREFACE.

evidence of early work in Natural History appears in a minute
memorandum-book, inscribed in large capitals on the first
page :—‘‘ Botany. E. Newman,” without date, but written
in pencil; at so early an age that each letter is formed
separately, and occasional pages are devoted to ‘ pothooks and
hangers.” The following is an extract:—‘‘Of the geranium.
The class is Monadelphia. The colour is various, being some-
times white, in others scarlet; its leaf is round, but ragged;
there are peppermint-scented and pencil-blossom. There are
many other geraniums, but I do not know their names.’ Then
follows a list of the Linnean divisions :—‘‘ Dodecandria, Icosan-
dria, Polyandria (many), Didynamia (4), Tetradynamia (6),”’ &c.

In the year 1812 he was sent to a boarding-school at Pains-
wick, in Gloucestershire, of which Oade Roberts, a member of
the Society of Friends, was master, where, in addition to being
initiated into classical studies, his love for Natural History
was developed. On ‘10th mo. 29, 18138,’’ he writes home to
his mother :—‘‘I take great pleasure in botanizing, but there
are not so many flowers as there were when I first came here to
school; but still I find some. I shall have great pleasure in
showing thee my botanical copy-books when I am at home.”
This is written in a small neat hand, very different from that
in the memorandum-book mentioned above. On ‘‘2nd month
8rd, 1815,” he is still at Painswick, and writes to a relative :—
*T could not give Helen much information with respect to
lichens and mosses, as I have only yet studied the first classes ;
but Iam now beginning to study the class Cryptogamia, though
the snow has been on the ground ever since I returned.” One
of his schoolfellows, a cousin, writes :—‘‘ We were both initiated
into a love for Natural History, which continued to interest us
in after years; in his case eminently so. * * * What particu-
larly impressed itself on my mind was the neatness and accuracy
of Edward's drawing of a beetle,—so superior to what any of the
rest of us could accomplish.”

On leaving school, in the year 1817, he went to Godalming,
in Surrey,—his mother’s birthplace,—to which rural town his
father, formerly in business in London as a manufacturer of
morocco-leather, had removed on his retirement. The family
house is just outside the town, at the corner of the lane

PREFACE. ivi

leading to Hatch. The father, however, seems to have been
by no means tired of commercial life, for he again entered into
business—this time at Godalming—as a wool stapler. This
step was probably taken by the good man solely for the sake of
his son, in order that on leaving school he might begin a
commercial career under parental supervision. For ten years
father and son continued in the wool trade; but the study of
* Nature—for which the neighbourhood of Godalming offered
great opportunity—proved a strong counter-attraction to the
younger man. He was not energetic in the routine of
business, and it is to be feared that his absence from duty
was frequent; nevertheless, he was far from idle. Indeed,
idleness was foreign to his nature; not only at this period, but
throughout life, idleness was in his opinion a positive crime.
He held that no man need ever be without work. He knew
scarcely any rest: if when he came home there were an interval of
only a few minutes before a meal, out would come books, papers,
and insect-boxes, and he would at once be deep in scientific work.
He was generally in bed by ten o'clock at night, but up again in
the very early morning; until his later years he was seldom in
bed after six o’clock, and in summer-time he would often be up
and at work by five, four, and even three o'clock. After 1840
the greater part of his writing was done before breakfast ; he
would also write from about seven to nine in the evening; but
the greater part of the work was done in the uninterrupted
quiet of the early morning.

It was in this spirit of industry that he wandered away from
business at Godalming, and sought more congenial pursuits in
the lanes and fields, the woods and commons, of the beautiful
county of Surrey. Whether shooting blackcock on Hindhead,
climbing old hollow trees for owlets, or wandering about the
lanes with an insect-net, the mere present pleasure of the
occupation was not the principal charm. ‘ When the lengthen-
ing days give the first impulse to the feathered tribes to bend
their course northward for the breeding season, it is here that
I listen for the first notes of the chiffchaff; here I watch for the
blackeap, the nightingale, the willow wrens, the garden warblers,
the whitethroat; here, hour after hour, have I hunted for their
nests,—my object not being plunder, but information. Often

vi PREFACE.

have I covered my hand with scratches, from the prickles of
briars and brambles, in my attempts to gain a satisfactory view
of a nest and its contents, without causing any disarrangement,
well knowing how great was the risk of desertion if the parent
birds should discover anything amiss; and, when deserted, if I
knew not the builders, a nest was valueless. How well was I
repaid for bleeding hands, if I discovered but one point in the
history of a species. Eggs strung on bents are rife in all
country places; old nests are easy to be seen when the leaves
are gone; birds are plentiful in every hedge-row, and their song
is the burthen of the passing breeze: but to connect with
certainty each bird with its mate; to assign it the proper nest
and proper eggs; to learn the exact time of its arrival and its
departure ;—all this is a study, a labour, rarely undertaken, and
affords a pleasure akin to that which must be felt by a traveller
exploring countries where man has not before trodden.’ Let
the reader turn to the first chapter of the ‘ Letters of Rusticus,’
from which the foregoing extract is taken, and observe with
what microscopic, yet loving and living, detail the natural
features of the neighbourhood of Godalming are pourtrayed.
No words can give so true an account of these ten years spent
at Godalming as the ‘Letters of Rusticus.’ Extract after
extract might be quoted, all to the point, and of exceeding
interest ; but the short space which can be allowed to this brief
memoir does not permit.

It will be noticed that ‘Rusticus’ is here spoken of as the
actual work of Mr. Newman. This brings forward the once-
vexed question of the authorship of those charming ‘ Letters.’
To few besides the author’s near relatives has the secret
been divulged; even Edward Doubleday, his nearest friend
and second self, was kept in ignorance of the actual fact,
although he, in common with most naturalists, had a shrewd
suspicion. When the ‘Letters’ appeared in the ‘ Magazine
of Natural History’ and the ‘Entomological Magazine’ they
caused quite a sensation in Godalming. Written by one who
knew Godalming so well, who was so able a writer, as well
as so skilled a naturalist; yet no one was able to discover the
author. After much discussion they were finally attributed to
the late Mr. J. D. Salmon. The veil may now be withdrawn,

PREFACE. vu

revealing Mr. Newman as the author of the whole. Much of
the information on the birds and mammals of Godalming was,
however, gleaned from his kind friend and frequent companion
Waring Kidd, who, now in his eighty-eighth year, still lives at
Godalming ; and modesty prevented Mr. Newman from assuming
the authorship when the facts were not all his own. The
‘Letters’ having been once begun under a nom de plume
(‘Magazine of Natural History,’ 1832, vol. v. p. 601) it was
conyenient to continue the pleasant fiction. It has probably
escaped the notice of many that the last of these ‘ Letters’ were
published in ‘Chambers’ Journal’ in 1850, and were on the
house sparrow; mice, rats, weasels and stoats; feathered mousers ;
and squirrels. In one branch of his ‘‘ Observations,” viz., the
life-histories of insects injurious to agriculture, Rusticus was
a pioneer: no such work had previously been attempted; and,
great as is its value, few besides Mr. Newman and the late
John Curtis have ever ventured upon it. These chapters on
Economic Entomology were continued at irregular intervals
in the ‘Entomologist,’ the ‘ Zoologist,’ and the ‘ Field,’ until
towards the close of his life.

In the year 1826 the wool business at Godalming was
abandoned. It had never been a very profitable concern; and
the parent, now past middle life, was desirous of freedom from
commercial occupation. The son had never taken to it kindly.

In the same year Mr. Newman came up to London, and
entered into a rope business at Deptford. To a nature such as
his—delighting in all the charms of a life in the country—the
change to Deptford would have been most distasteful, had it not
opened out further opportunities for the cultivation of friend-
ships and society among men of his own tastes. The rope
business was to a great extent managed by the foreman, who had
held the same post in the wool business at Godalming. It was
not allowed to become a drudgery, although to him commerce
was never congenial. Only one day in each week was entirely
devoted to its affairs; a small part of each of the remaining
days sufficed. At the rope-walk he hada large garden, which
he subsequently described as a place where everything grew as
it liked. A large plot of ground was sown with the common red
valerian, because of its attractiveness to insects; and here he

Vlil PREFACE.

would remain in one spot for an hour or more at a time,
mute and motionless, intently studying the habits of some
insect, until he had mastered the minutest detail.

At Deptford he had many friends; and of the friendships then
formed many ceased only with life itself. Francis Walker,
Edward and Henry Doubleday, John and William Christy,
Samuel Hanson, and Dr. Bowerbank, were perhaps the most
intimate. Not only amongst scientific men, but in the
Society of Friends, and indeed in the whole parish, did he find
congenial spirits. His keen wit, acute perception, his knowledge,
and genial manner, rendered him a general favourite; yet he
appeared all unconscious of the charm which he possessed.
No one could entertain a greater contempt for shallowness and
conceit, for a man possessing knowledge only surface-deep who
assumed to be an authority; in fact, for “humbug” in any
shape. He scorned to conceal his opinions for fear of giving
offence, and did not spare chastisement wherever deserved.
His pen was as powerful in caustic satire as in microscopic
description; and it was brought to bear with effect in parish
affairs, in which he took a keen interest. At one time a part
of Deptford was without gas, and, curiously enough, as it
seems to us in the present day, there was strong opposition to
its introduction. He worked vigorously for the cause of light,
and had the satisfaction of success.

During the period of his residence at Deptford he made many
excursions with one or other of his chosen associates. Birch-
wood, in Kent—for many years the place at which the annual
dinner of the Entomological Club was held, or, as he puts it,
‘duly solemnised’’—was frequently visited. In Wales, in
Scotland, and in Ireland, he also took long walking tours: in
all these rambles he was humbly studying Nature, and care-
fully adding to his already vast store of information. In 1826
his parents had removed from Godalming to Leominster, in
Herefordshire ; and thus a fresh country was opened out. It
was here that his first fernery was formed, a graphic description
of which is given in the Introduction to the ‘ History of British
Ferns.’

Notwithstanding his incessant and unwearying work in
Natural History, and that a great part of his life had been

PREFACE. 1X

spent in constant scientific study, there was no haste to rush
into print, for as he himself says, ‘‘ What is done prematurely
has most commonly to be done twice ;”” and it was not until the
year 1831 that his first paper was published. This appeared in
the ‘ Magazine of Natural History,’ then edited by J. C. Loudon,
and was entitled—-‘‘ Polyommatus Argiolus, Melitea Euphrosyne
-and Selene.’ His attention at this time and for some few years
later—until 1887—was principally devoted to Entomology ;
indeed, with the exception of the few short letters of Rusticus,
in the ‘Magazine of Natural History’ (1832 and 1833), on
birds, the whole of his published writings up to 1838 are upon
entomological subjects. It was in 1832, however, that he was
fairly broken to literary harness. In that year the ‘Entomological
Magazine’ commenced its career of usefulness: it emanated
from the Entomological Club,—a small body of gentlemen, who
met socially at each other’s houses on one evening in every
month. This, the oldest entomological society in the country,
was instituted in 1826 by Mr. Samouelle, author of the
‘Entomologist's Compendium;’ and he and Messrs. Davis,
Hanson, and Newman, were the original members. At this
time (1832) the Club consisted of the Rev. C.S. Bird, Messrs. W.
Bennett, J. S. Bowerbank, William Christy, jun., John Curtis,
A. H. Davis, E. Doubleday, S. Hanson, J. Hoyer, KE. Newman,
F. Walker, and J. J. Walton. Of these fathers in Ento-
mology all but two have passed away. It was not surprising
that such men should feel the need of a journal devoted to
their science. The ‘Introductory Address” is of consider-
able interest, and sets forth that the projectors anticipate no
profit, but have undertaken the work ‘with a disinterested
desire to promote the progress of a science to which they
confess themselves zealously attached.” Mr. Newman was
chosen Editor, and threw himself heartily into the work.
In the first volunie, out of sixty-three articles fifteen are
from his pen,—many-written under pseudonyms,—in addition
to elaborate editorial notices of new books. Amongst his
writings in this volume attention may be called to the
beautiful lines ‘“‘On the Death of Latreille” (p. 320), as well
as to the “Entomological Sapphics’” (p. 482), professing
to be translations from the Persian, Arabic and Greek, but in
b

x PREFACE.

reality emanating from his genius alone: entomologists have
not often been also poets. Mr. Newman continued to contribute
freely in succeeding volumes, writing under various pseudonyms
—<‘Corderius Secundus,” ‘‘E. N. D.,”’ ‘‘ Rusticus,” and others,—
as well as in his own name. The five volumes of the ‘ Entomo-
logical Magazine’ give the reader a more intimate personal
acquaintance with him than any of his books or subsequent
writings. It was, perhaps, a feature in his journalism that he
and his readers became at once acquaintances, and after a while
actual friends; indeed, many who made his friendship through
his writings never saw him, yet have felt his loss as keenly as
though they had been constantly in his society. In addition to
the members of the Club the following well-known scientific
men were amongst the contributors to the magazine :—Messrs.
Babington, Dale, Douglas, Haliday, Hewitson, Shuckard,
J. F. Stephens, Swainson, Waterhouse, Westwood, and Yarrell,
all of whom were more or less personal friends. Edward
Doubleday was Editor of the second volume, Mr. Newman of the
other four.

It was in 1882 that Mr. Newman’s first important publication
appeared,—a demy 8vo. pamphlet of 56 pp., entitled, ‘ Sphinx
vespiformis: an Essay ;’ with the motto :— ‘

* All are but parts of one stupendous whole,
Whose body Nature is, and God the soul.”
This clever attempt at classification created a considerable stir,
and met with strenuous opposition.

In the year 1833 he was elected a fellow of the Linnean
Society; and in the same year he took an active part in
establishing the Entomological Society of London, which
Society may be said in great measure to have sprung from
the Entomological Club, then of the respectable age of seven
years. He was elected a member of the first council; Mr.
Kirby, honorary President; and Mr. Children, President.
During the succeeding years, in addition to editorial work, he
wrote occasionally in the ‘ Magazine of Natural History,’ and
contributed various papers to the above Societies.

In the year 1835 the ‘Grammar of Entomology’ was pub-
lished; a most useful little book. ‘The author supposes his
reader utterly ignorant of Entomology, and endeavours to show

PREFACE. XI

him that it is the History of Insects, and the Physiology of
Insects, and the Classification of Insects, and the Art of
Preserving Insects.” This book soon went out of print.

In 1836 the laws and regulations of the Entomological Club
were codified; Mr. Newman was re-elected Curator, and Mr.
Walker, Secretary ; and an appeal was made for contributions
of insects and books. This appeal was most liberally responded
to, many gentlemen, Mr. Newman amongst the number, giving
their whole collection ; and other valuable donations of insects
were received. So liberal were the donations that the Club
had to choose between building a museum and paying a
curator, or disposing of all but the British insects. Eventually
the bulk of the collection was presented to the British
Museum. The second regulation is—‘‘That the Cabinet
and Library be open at the house of the Curator, 21, Union
Street, Deptford, on the Friday in every week during the
months of January, February, March, April, September,
October, November, and December.”’ This practice of throwing
open his house to naturalists on one evening in the week was
continued until 1841. From that year until 1849 the Club
cabinets were under the care of Edward Doubleday and of
Francis Walker. On Mr. Newman’s removal to York Grove,
Peckham, in 1849, he resumed the curatorship, and in 1856
the weekly assemblies. He always looked forward to the
company of his friend Mr. Jenner Weir on these occasions ;
indeed, it was in great measure owing to his kind assistance
in after years, when health was failing, that they could be
continued. In a letter to him, dated 8th September, 1856,
5.45 a.m., he writes:—‘I am re-arranging the Lepidoptera
belonging to the Entomological Club, and am doing this
solely for the purpose of assisting beginners, who are almost
daily applying to me for names. I purpose being at home at
six o’clock every Thursday evening for this especial purpose.
You will see that the Collection ought to be in better condition
than it now is, or I shall not be so useful as I could wish. This
idea is not new: I did the same thirty years ago, and continued
the practice for many years; but other cares intervened, and
the cabinets went to poor Doubleday, whose generous disposition
was not qualified for a curatorship, and under him the Collection

xil PREFACK.

became reduced to a mere skeleton,—he gave and lent to every-
one whatever they asked of him.” This one night in the week
was sacred to its purpose: no engagement—not even illness—
was allowed to interfere. It was always a pleasure to him to
afford information, especially to young men, and they would
avail themselves freely of the opportunity. Older naturalists,
too, would often come, and their company was a great
pleasure to him. In the earlier days this evening was no
great undertaking; but in later years it was almost more
than his powers permitted. He would come home weak and
tired, and needing rest ; or he may have been at home ill during
the whole week: but Friday evening always found him at his
post, ready to show the Collection, or patiently to name captures
even if of no great interest or rarity. Of the many young men
who were welcomed, few knew how a kind and courteous
manner sometimes -concealed bodily suffering. The Entomo-
logical Club is now in its fiftieth year; and, with the exception
of the eight years mentioned above, its Collection has always
been under his care, and much of his time was devoted to it.

In 1837 he ‘abandoned the rope trade, and wrote to a
relative as under :—‘ I am wholly without any definite prospect
as regards business, having entirely given up my own, which
was a very small affair. * * * Iam very indifferent as to
any business engagement, as it is always so great a tie, and
cannot be abandoned for any length of time without something
like a dereliction of duty: moreover, I think that the opportu-
nity for enjoying life will with me shortly expire, and I am
desirous, while blest with strength and health, of visiting the
country, and breathing the air of mountain-wilds unchecked by
the necessity of returning on a certain day.”

In the foregoing a record will be observed of that melancholy
which, not only at this period but throughout life, at times
beset him: it was not often of long duration, nor had it any
real cause. Only a short time before, he had written :—

“To me long life-time, though to thee forbidden,
Perhaps may be granted.”
Thus showing that the erroneous idea that his life would be
short had only recently been entertained.
Jt will be seen that he had already paid a visit to Wales:

Se

PREFACE. X11

this was just prior to the letter, in company with his friends
John and William Christy; and of this visit he wrote in the
Introduction to the ‘ History of British Ferns.’

He was now freed from the cares and restraints of business ;
but no great journey was the result. Having begun to work at
ferns he became fairly engrossed with his subject, as was always
the case with everything he undertook. But still he was only
studying, not writing, or at least not publishing ; for, as has
been already observed, he never published until his subject had
been thoroughly grappled with and mastered. His first paper
on ferns appeared, it is true, in 1838; but it was not until 1840
that the ‘History’ appeared, although the first edition only
reached to 104 pages.

In June, 1839, he went to Ireland, whither he had made an
excursion with his friend Wiliam Bennett a year or two
previously. Starting alone from Newry, knapsack on back, he
went northward, and so round the entire coast, until the tour
finished at Dublin, in August. Throughout the whole trip he
had paid especial attention to ferns, and collected a mass of
information concerning them. But every natural object, in
whatever branch, was of interest to his cultivated mind; and
in the ‘‘ Notes on Irish Natural History’’ (1840), entomological,
ornithological, and botanical observations, generally, are to be
found.

December of the same year found him still without a business,
but working hard at the ‘ Ferns;’ not only writing the letter-
press, but drawing the illustrations; for the whole of the beautiful
drawings which illustrate it—figures, tailpieces, and landscapes
—are the product of his careful pencil. Especial attention should
be called to the fern scutcheon, with the motto, ‘‘ Elegantia et
Humilitate,” on the title-page. The book was published early
the following year, and was soon out of print. It was printed
by George Luxford, the printer of the ‘Magazine of Natural
History,’ which Mr. Newman was then temporarily editing, and
thus they were associated. The ‘Ferns’ having gone off so well
there was inducement to publish other books. Mr. Luxford was
a botanist and of literary ability, and therefore somewhat of a
congenial spirit. Mr. Newman was about to be married, and in
want of a business. ‘The idea, therefore, occurred to effect a

X1V PREFACE.

partnership, and print his own books. This was done; and he
once more commenced business—this time as a member of the
firm of Luxford & Co., Printers, Ratcliff Highway, at the sign
of the ‘ Bouncing B.”’ On the accession of an entomological
partner the “‘B” received an insect shape, and was used as a
trade-mark. Next year, however, Mr. Luxford was bought out
of the business; and the printing-office was removed to Devon-
shire Street, Bishopsgate, where Mr. Newman conducted it until
1870, when he retired from business in favour of his son.

In June, 1841, the ‘ Phytologist’—a monthly botanical
magazine—was started, and was conducted with great spirit for
some years: Mr. Luxford was editor; but Mr. Newman wrote
frequently, and was responsible for the work. It was never
commercially successful; and on the death of its editor, in
1854, it came suddenly to an end. Dr. Trimen, writing in
the ‘Journal of Botany,’ remarks :—‘‘ The thanks of British
botanists are due to Mr. Newman for the possession of that
valuable repertory of the progress of their department for
thirteen years.”

After his marriage, Mr. Newman resided for two years in
Wellclose Square, being then a near neighbour of Mr. N. B.
Ward, whose beautiful, ‘‘ closely-glazed”’ fernery, in one of the
worst parts of London, was a constant delight. The ‘ stitching
parties” at Mr. Ward's brought together many botanists.

Mr. Newman having now settled down to a business more
congenial than either of the former ones,—namely, printing
books on science,—he gave up his former country wanderings,
and went to work in earnest. But although thus closely oceupied
he was by no means debarred from his scientific studies. In
1840 the ‘ Entomologist’ had been commenced, taking the place
formerly occupied by the ‘ Entomological Magazine,’ Mr. Newman
being Editor, and contributing freely. In 1841 he published the
‘History of Insects,’ of which he says :—‘ This little book was
observed as a caterpillar, in 1835; in 1837 it disappeared, and
remained concealed as a quiescent and lethargic pupa, until,
roused by the genial influence of the present spring, it has-
burst its cere-cloths, and assumed the ornamented wings of a
‘gay and volatile butterfly.”’

At the end of 1842 the ‘ Entomologist’ was discontinued ; but

PREFACE. XV

with January, 1848, commenced the ‘ Zoologist,’ of which the
founder lived to conduct an uninterrupted series of thirty-three
annual yolumes,—a circumstance probably without parallel in the
history of journalism throughout the world. He would often look
at the row of red volumes on his bookshelves with a quiet pleasure,
not unmixed with a certain pride. The following extract from the
Preface to the first volume gives, in his own words, an idea of
the character and scope of the journal:—‘ The attempt to
combine scientific truths with readable English has been
considered by my friends as one of surpassing rashness; and
many have been the kind and pressing solicitations I have
received to desist from a labour so hopeless; many the suppli-
cations to introduce a few Latin descriptions, just to give the
work a scientific character. In reply to my friends, I would beg
to instance White’s ‘Selborne.’ That most delightful of histories
is written in pure, plain, intelligible English, and has found
ample favour in the eyes of the public. White is now no more ;
but his mantle has fallen upon others: a multitude of observers
have arisen in the same field, and, what is more to my purpose,
have become contributors to the pages of the ‘ Zoologist.’
Nature herself is exhaustless; our field of observation is wider,
a thousand-fold, than White ever enjoyed; our capacity for
observation is certainly not less. These are the grounds I have
for hoping that the ‘ Zoologist’ will succeed.’”’ The practice of
writing Natural History in simple English, thus rendering it
interesting even to those not deeply versed in Science, was one
on which Mr. Newman strongly insisted. In the lists of con-
tributors to the pages of the ‘ Zoologist’ appear the names of
almost every British naturalist of note.

In 1844 the second edition of the ‘Ferns’ made its appear-
ance, the first having gone rapidly out of print. In the second
edition the work had increased from 104 to 424 pages. The
Equisetacee and Lycopodiacee were added, as was also such a
mass of additional information that the work was almost
rewritten, and hardly to be called a second edition, deserving
_to rank as a new book. From this time—with the exception of
the collected ‘ Letters of Rusticus’ (1849)—until the publication
of a third edition of the ‘Ferns,’ in 1854, he brought out no
new book, his time and thought being sufficiently occupied with

XY1 PREFACE.

business and with editorial duties. There is no volume of the
‘ Zoologist’ that does not contain numerous articles from his
pen: these are upon Entomology, Ornithology, and other
branches of Natural History; and many are of considerable
importance. With him it was not sufficient to work out only
one branch of a science, or even all the various ramifications of
that one science: with whatever he undertook he made himself
thoroughly familiar. He had taken up the study of Natural
History, and everything connected with it was of interest to
him,—whether Quadrupeds, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes, Insects, or
Plants; he was familiar with every branch of every subject.

In the year 1850 he read before the Zoological Society, an
ingenious paper proposing a new Physiological Arrangement of
Birds. The new system, however, met with slender support,
and considerable opposition.

An essay “On the Employment of Physiological Characters
in the Classification of Animals,” the result of most careful
thought, was published in 1856. These two papers are full of
information, and the reasoning is very acute. Some naturalists
are still of opinion that Mr. Newman’s views have been too
much disregarded by modern systematists, especially as to the
proposed division of birds into two great groups, viz. Hesthogene
and Gymnogene: the former containing those birds which
produce their young clothed with down, eyes open, and capable
at once of running and feeding themselves; the latter, those
birds which produce their young naked, blind, and helpless.

The ‘Insect Hunters,’ or Entomology in verse, appeared
anonymously in 1858: it was written for beginners, and gives
an insight into the hidden mysteries of the science in simple
language. The author discourses pleasantly to a young friend
on “The Four Stages of Insect-life:’’ ‘ Metamorphosis ;”
«The Scale Wings;” &c. There is a charming little poetical
Preface. Although anonymous, the author was at once suspected.
The book was quickly out of print; and a second edition, bearing
the author’s name, was published in 1860. In this appeared
several other poems, written at an earlier date.

In 1858 Mr. Newman became Natural-History Editor of the
‘Field,’ and continued to hold that post until his death. The
Natural-History department of that paper, however, largely

PREFACE. Xvll

increased, and other editors were added. Amongst his papers in
the ‘ Field,’ those on economic entomology are of the greatest
value; and there can be no doubt that it will be long before his
‘‘life-histories’”’ are superseded. Amongst the master-pieces
are those of the goat-moth; gooseberry grub; turnip grub;
daddy-longlegs ; and pear-tree slug: these valuable contributions
were continued to within a month of his death, as a column ‘and
a half of the ‘Field’ for May 18th, 1876, is taken up with his
‘‘ Life-history of the Sandfly, or Simulium.” He wrote of these
papers :—‘‘ My object in penning these notes is to bring the
creature face to face to face with his victims; for unless we
know our enemy—his appearance, his ways, and his where-
abouts—all our attemps to compass his destruction must be
futile.” Before his time it was usual to consider all insects
found on plants as ‘blight,’ and to purchase some proffered
nostrum in order to destroy them. No one seemed to consider
it possible that some insects might be useful, seeing that others
were so obviously hurtful. The articles on the inmates of
the Crystal Palace Aquarium—popularly written, yet full of
information—are also worthy of considerable attention.

From 1858 to 1861 Mr. Newman was engaged on a series
of articles in ‘ Young England’ on Insects and Birds. At the
same period he acted as Natural-History Editor of the ‘ Friend’
for about two years, writing a column or two in each month’s
issue of that newspaper.

In March, 1861, Mr. Newman had the gratification of receiving
a Testimonial—consisting of scientific books—from about seventy
gentlemen, in “high appreciation of services rendered in the
promotion and diffusion of scientific knowledge.” Mr. Newman
had very properly refused to allow his own journal to be used as
a means for advertising the testimonial to himself, and by this
action many were led to believe that the project was distasteful,
and held aloof. The books, however, besides being of great use
and pleasure to the recipient of the testimonial, were highly
appreciated by his Friday-night visitors. A full history of the
transaction will be found in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1861 (Zool.
p. 7457), but modesty seems to have prevented it being indexed.

Mr. Newman’s writings had of late years assumed a more
ornithological complexion ; and in 1861 his small work, entitled

Cc

xviii PREFACE.

—‘Birdsnesting, being a complete description of the birds
which breed in Great Britain and Ireland,’ made its appearance.
Three years later, however, he was once more engaged on the old
favourite subject—the ‘Ferns.’ The price of his beautiful book
was necessarily comparatively high; and many low-priced fern
books, by other writers or compilers, had made their appearance.
In order to compete with these, a fourth edition of ‘ British
Ferns’ was published in 1864: it was of smaller size and
considerably lower price, and illustrated with steel-plates
instead of by woodcuts, as in the former editions. The Intro-
duction, as well as that to the former editions, may be noticed
as among the most charming of Mr. Newman’s writings.

The ‘ Zoologist’ had, since 1860, been growing more and
more bulky: double numbers were frequently resorted to, and
yet space could not be found for all the worthy communications
that were received. In order to cope with this embarras de
richesses, the ‘Entomologist,’ which had been merged in the
‘ Zoologist’ in 1848, resumed its separate existence in 1864. A
large part of the entomological communications at once went
over to it, and the difficulty was at once satisfactorily met.
From that time the ‘Entomologist’ has been steadily increasing
in public estimation; and its circulation is, for a purely
entomological periodical, unprecedentedly large.

Mr. Newman had long felt the want of a book of reference on
British birds. Montagu’s ‘ Ornithological Dictionary’ was a most
valuable book, but it was half a century out of date; it had long
been out of print, and was very scarce. The idea occurred that
what was a desideratum to himself must certainly be so to
others. The fourth edition of ‘ British Ferns’ being now com-
pleted, and the ‘Entomologist’ fairly launched, he at once
set to work. With the help of Selby’s ‘Illustrations of British
Ornithology’ (1833), Yarrell’s ‘ History of British Birds’ (1856),
the ‘ Zoologist,’ and the ‘Field,’ he laboriously brought the
work up to date, giving a reference to Yarrell’s figure of the
bird, and Hewitson’s figure of the egg. The editorial additions
are naturally very great, and are separated from the original by
editorial brackets. The ‘ Dictionary of British Birds,’ a demy
8vo, extending to 400 pages of small type closely printed, was
published in 1866.

PREFACE. XIX

On its completion, Mr. Newman made preparations for con-
tinuing the ‘ Illustrated Natural History of British Moths,’ which
was commenced in ‘Young England.’ Five numbers (80 pp.) had
been brought out by Mr. Tweedie, in direct contravention of
Mr. Newman’s wish, and without his knowledge: for these five
numbers, written at a much earlier date than the remainder and
not printed under his supervision, he ‘never would hold himself
responsible. It will be seen at once that they are incomplete,
and stand sorely in need of the care bestowed upon the rest of
the work. Mr. Newman was eventually induced to continue the
work, and having once consented he, as usual, laboured with
all his heart. The descriptions of the perfect insect and of the
larva are most careful and accurate, indeed almost microscopic.
The figures, of which there are more than eight hundred, were
drawn and engraved under his own superintendence. In all his
former works the woodcuts had been drawn by himself, and
engraved by Mr. Kirchner; but now the allotted span of life
was nearly reached, and his artistic powers had failed. The
engraver was the same, however; and the beauty and accuracy
of the figures are in great measure owing to his care and skill.
This book came out in monthly numbers, the last one appearing
in June, 1869, when the complete volume was published.

Immediately upon the conclusion of ‘ British Moths’ (486 pp.
super-royal 8vo), the companion work was commenced,—
‘An Llustrated Natural History of British Butterflies’ (1871),
on which even greater care was evinced, as especial attention
was given to geographical distribution. These two works form
the text-book of British Macro-Lepidoptera.

‘ British Butterflies’ was written in Mr. Newman’s seventieth
year, and was his last complete work. Two years previously he
had retired from business, but by no means from labour. He
was at first actively engaged on the above-mentioned work,
and on its completion the ‘ Zoologist,’ the ‘ Entomologist,’ and
the ‘ Field,’ kept him fully occupied. He was often to be seen
at the Crystal Palace Aquarium, and the result of the visits is
to be found in various papers in those journals. In the year
1868 he had built an aviary in his garden, and this was a
constant source not only of recreation, but of study. There he
would sit, until the birds became so tame as to fly to him on his

xx PREFACE.

entrance and feed from his hand. In ‘‘Notes of my Bird Cage”’
‘(Zool. 8.8. 8157) will be found an account of his success in
breeding the little Australian parrakeet (Melopsittacus wndu-
latus): he possessed upwards of thirty at one time, all bred in
the aviary. A diary of the birds, after the manner of Gilbert
White, was carefully kept, and short notes frequently appeared
in the magazines. He had a great affection for all living animals,
and could not bear to see anything suffer, even for its own
good. He frequently visited the Zoological Gardens, always
intent on gaining information; and in his later years was
earnestly at work on a new classification of birds. One of his
friends writes, with reference to these visits to the Zoological
Gardens, and to the proposed classification of birds which he
did not live to complete, and of which but few fragments
remain :—‘‘ For forty years a visit to the Zoological Gardens
has been one of my greatest enjoyments ; but with Mr. Newman,
who was my frequent companion, the pleasure was very much
enhanced. He would stand to watch the movements of that
remarkable bird, the Caviama (Dicholophus cristatus); its
position amongst birds “was to him a puzzle, but he at last,
I am inclined to think, regarded it as a Raptorial bird,
as classified by Mr. Sharpe, of the British Museum. He
attached great importance to the mode by which a bird
progressed on the ground, and he exhibited almost a childish
delight when he first observed that eagles hopped. Natural
History was to Mr. Newman not only an intellectual scientific
study, but was also an absorbing passion.” He was at this
time devoting as much attention to Entomology as to other
branches of Zoology, making an especial study of the Gallflies
and their productions, of the Sawflies, and the Bees,—the latter
chiefly with a view to observations on the fertilisation of
plants by their agency. His ‘Collected Observations on British
Sawflies’”’ were laid aside for years, and their revision and
publication in the ‘ Entomologist’ was only commenced shortly
before his death. It is hoped that further instalments may yet
appear, containing his later views on a natural classification of
Insects,—a subject which had continuously occupied his thoughts
since 1834.

The end was now drawing near. In February, 1872, he had

PREFACE. XX1,

had a severe illness, from which, although unknown to all but
himself, he never entirely recovered: it preyed upon his spirits,
and lessened that mental grasp which had hitherto charac-
terized him. Towards the end of May, 1876, he again became
seriously ill; and although at first it was thought that with his
vigorous constitution he would overcome the disease, as he had
done previously, he became worse. Further surgical assistance
was called in, but to no purpose; and on the 12th of June,
1876, acutely conscious to the last, he passed peacefully away.
In his last illness he was patient, and without care or any
anxiety. He was interred at Nunhead Cemetery.

Mr. Newman was a Fellow of the Linnean and Zoological
Societies, of the Royal Microscopical Society, and of the
Zoologico-Botanical Society of Vienna; he was also an original
member and, in 1854, President of the Entomological Society of
London; an honorary member of the Entomological Societies
of France and Pennsylvania, of the Botanical Society of Edin-
burgh, and of several minor societies: but the only title on
which he set value was that of Academie Cesaree Nature
Curiosorum,—the Imperial Academy of Leopold Charles of
Austria, consisting of the forty most distinguished naturalists
known to the council throughout the world; each takes the
cognomen of one of the original members,—his was that of
‘«‘Tatreille.”” Membership of this learned body conferred the
title of Doctor, but he was too modest to use the title. Ostenta-
tion of every kind was distasteful to him, and he derided it in
others; indeed, he prided himself on the opposite extreme, and
his manner of life was especially simple and retiring.

The following extracts, from kindly letters written by Mr.
Cordeaux, Captain Hadfield, Mr. Frederick Smith, and Dr.
Bowerbank, may fittingly be appended to this memoir, and are
but types of many. In writing this sketch of a useful life,
difficulty has been felt in condensing the material that has
offered: much that would have added to its interest has been
reluctantly omitted for want of space.

‘‘ His loss is no common one, for all who have known him for
so many years, through his writings and as a correspondent,
can testify to the invariable and ready way in which he imparted
information: he has done more in his long life of usefulness

XXil PREFACE,

than any of his contemporaries to foster and encourage a love
of natural science. The ‘ Zoologist,’ alone, will ever remain a
monument of his indefatigable industry; and, as a storehouse
of facts for the working naturalist, will be continually quoted in
all future works bearing on its special branches of English
Zoology.”

«‘ We, his friends and admirers, have lost one whose equal we
may vainly seek, for he was a man of wonderful power of mind,
of great judgment, a profound thinker, an able writer; and,
from his great experience in editorship, better qualified than
any of our naturalists for conducting a popular journal like the
‘ Zoologist.’ Ever ready to instruct and encourage, too, the
student of Nature; never censorious or dictatorial, though his
patience at times must have been sorely tried.”

«The name of Edward Newman is inseparably associated
with the list of those who have themselves advanced natural
science, and who have done all in their power to help and
encourage others in the field in which they have so successfully
laboured.”

‘‘He was esteemed and valued by all who knew him. His
life was usefully and honourably spent in the pursuit and
dissemination of knowledge; and the results of his labours,
as published, are a more durable and honourable monument
than either bronze or marble,”

CONTENTS.

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

Batrour, T. GRAHAM

Whimbrel in Wiltshire, 5166

Batkwitu, F. H.
On human and brute intelligence,
5093
Barker, Ernest E.
Short sunfish, 5087
Barrineton, Ricnarp M., LL.D.

Siskin breeding in Wicklow, 4957;
Golden eagles trained to capture
wolves and foxes, 5162

BELL, Tuomas, F.R.S.
Late swallows and martins, 4841
BEnson, CHARLES W.

Ornithological notes from Dublin,
4919; Sparrowhawk and missel
thrush, 5000; Blackcap in Ire-
land, 5119

BircHALu, E. Howarp

Parasitic sea-anemones, 5128; La
Girelle at the Crystal Palace
Aquarium, 5158

BoweErzank, J. S., LL.D., F.B.S.

Edible turtle off the Sussex coast,
4805; Wolf-fish at Hastings,
4886

Boyes, FREDERICK

Nesting of the hawfinch at Bever-
ley, 4763; Great gray shrike in
Hast Yorkshire, 4832; Stock dove,
4842, 4877; Is the common water-
hen migratory or not? 4845; A
few rough notes for the close of
the year 1875, 4861; Scandi-
navian variety (?) of the dipper at
Beverley, 4871; Great tits eating
bees, 4873 ; Starlings and elder-
berries, 4877; Stone curlew, 4882;
Common buzzard in East York-
shire, 4920; The time of day at
which birds lay their eggs, 5115;

Sea birds at Bridlington, 5116;
Hooded crow nesting in East
Yorkshire, 5121; Migration of
swifts, 5123; Gregarious habit of
the longeared owl, 5163; Does

the common starling rear two
broods in one season ? 5164;
Woodeock migrating in July,
5166; Green sandpipers near
Beverley, Rust-colour on the
breast of teal, 5168; Summer
plumage of the little grebe,
5169
Breg, C. R., M.D., F.L.S.

Waxwings without wax, 4762, 48038 ;

Tropic bird, 4803
Brown, Joun A. Harvir

Wild cat, 4825; Buzzards, 4829 ;
Varieties of the teal, 5085 ;
*“ Kittiwake in winter,” 5086 ;
Wild cats—period of gestation,
5114; On the causes of variation
im species, 5161

Bruce, Joun
Lesser forkbeard at Kirkwall, 5049
BurttTerFiE.p, E. P. P,

Pied flycatcher breeding in Wharf-
dale, 5001; Mottled blackbirds,
5002; Notes on nesting, 5040;
Spotted flycatcher returning an-
nually to the same nest, 5116;
Late fieldfares, 5164

CAPPER, SAMUEL JAMES
White spotted woodpecker, 4797
CaRRINGTON, Joun T.

Aquarium notes, 5032; Murena
helena, Linn. (the Murry of Yar-
rell, the Mureena of Couch), 5053;
Fish culture for the Thames,
5110; Capros aper, 5128

CHARBONNIER, H. J.
Greenland falcon in Scotland, 4954
Curisty, Epwarp H.

Bat flying in the sunshine, 4953;

Robin nesting in a room, 5164
Curisty, Rosert M.

Blackbird adopting a young spar-

row, 5164
CiarK-Kennepy, Capt. A., F.R.G.S.

Unusual quantity of buzzards in

Scotland, 4795

XX1V

Ciark-KeNNEDY, ARTHUR J.

Barn owl and shrew, 4922; White-

tailed eagle in Suffolk, 5178
CuarkE, W. B.
Hatching eggs of Limneus pereger,
4961 :
Ciermont, Lord
Stock dove in Ireland, 4798
Currton, Lord

Distinguishing characters of the
aquatic and sedge warblers, 5118;
Wood wren and greenshank in
Sutherland, 5122

CiLoce, STEPHEN

Migration of birds, 4757; Black
redstart at East Looe, Cornwall,
4762; Variety of blue titmouse,
4873; Mode of starling’s feeding,
4925; Arrival of swallows and
sand martins, 4927; Starlings
pecking with open beak, 5044

Cocks, ALFRED HENEAGE

Common buzzard, 4829, 4868;
Measurements of a wild cat,
4867; Wild cats—period of ges-
tation, 5038

Cooks, H.

Wood wren in Perthshire, Ross-

shire, and Caithness, 5164
CoopPER, JAMES

Curious habit of the common sand-

piper, 5125
Corr, W. J.

Peregrine falcons breeding on the

Yorkshire coast, 5000
Corsi, G. B.

Small birds and reed-beds, 4827 ;
Woodpeckers, 4838 ; Swallows in
December, 4841; Fieldfares, sky
larks and lapwings on Salisbury
Plain, 4872; Waxwings without
wax, 4874; Crossbills on Salis-
bury Plain, 4876; Lizard snake
in Hampshire, 4874; Rare birds
near Ringwood during the winter
of 1875-76, 4989; Otter in the
New Forest, 4995; Note on the
song thrush, 5002; Starlings and

elder-berries, 5005; House spar- |

rows and drought, Curious nest-
ing-places of the starling, 5043;
Note on rooks, 5044; Note on
warblers, 5117; Rosecoloured
pastor in Hampshire, 5120; Black
grouse in the New Forest, 5123
CoRDEAUX, JOHN

Ornithological notes from North

Lincolnshire, 4778, 4897, 4982,

CONTENTS.

5061; Food of peregrine, &c.,
4828; Migration of rooks, 4837 ;
Goshawk in Lincolnshire, 5162;
Great snipe in Perthshire, 5167;
Manx shearwater on the North-
east coast, 5169

CornisH, THOMAS

Abundance of mackerel in Mount’s
Bay, 4767; Giant gray mullet,
4806; Enormous mackerel, Scyl-
larus Arctus in Mount’s Bay,
4931; Blue lumpfish at Penzance,
Torpedo near Penzance, 4961;
Red mullet and salmon peal
taken at bottom on a spiller,
5127; Tadpole-fish, or trifureated
hake, off Penzance, 5128

CoucH, JAMES

Greenland or Iceland faleon in

Guernsey, 4953
Cox .E.
Martin returning annually to the
same nest, 4957
DAauGLeisH, J. J.
Velvet scoter, 5126
DarraGH, THOMAS

Starlings feeding with open beak,
Jackdaws with pied heads, 4879 ;
Audacity of the common skua,
4888; White blackbird, 4923;
Edible qualities of the shoveller
duck, 4930

Dovueuas-OaILsy, J.

Notes on some fishes observed at
Portrush, County Antrim, 4753 ;
Torpedo on the Irish Coast, 48065 ;
Size of gray mullet, 4886; Notes
from Portrush, 49038; Golden
oriole in County Dublin, 4956;
Arrival of summer migrants in
County Dublin, 4996; Fox-shark
on the Irish coast, 5049; White-
sided dolphin on the Irish coast,
5077; Large conger, 5087

Durnrorp, W. ARTHUR
Ornithological notes from the North-
West Coast, 4906
Epson, GEORGE
Rare birds near Malton, 4919
EEDLE, THOMAS

Peregrine falcon, great northern
diver and wild geese near Merton
Hall, Norfolk, 4760; Great gray
shrike at Fulham, 4761

Exxtiort, ALFRED C.

Rare birds in Lincolnshire, 4794
GATCOMBE, JOHN

Seal at Holbeton, 4757; Red band-

2 ee

CONTENTS. XXV

fish at Plymouth, 4767; Ornitho-
logical notes from Devonshire
and Cornwall, 4788, 4823, 4901,
4991, 5028, 5109; Silvery hair-
tail on the coast of Devon, 4806 ;
Another silvery hairtail near Ply-
mouth, 4887; Snowy owl on
Dartmoor, 4921; Reproduction
in a bird’s beak, 4924; Harly
occurrence of the gray phalarope
in Devon, 5083; Great snipe in
Devon, 5126; Greater shear-
water in Devon, 5127; Ornitho-
logical notes from Cornwall,
Devon and Somersetshire, 5145;
Chough, curlew sandpiper and
little stint at Portrush, 5165;
Swordfish in the River Parrett,
5169; The lesser gray shrike in
Devonshire, 5178

GRIPPER, J. EH.

Rare birds and otter near York,

. 4919

Gunn, T. E.

Notes on the occurrence of rare
birds in Norfolk and Suffolk,
4785; Jackdaws with pied heads,
4837; Plumage of the great spot-
ted woodpecker, 4838

Gurney, J. H., F.Z.8.

Curious capture of a scoter duck,
4764; Toads in a tree, 4805;
African birds, 4869; Snowy owl
nesting in confinement, 5041;
Black water rat, 5177

Gurney, J. H., jun., F.Z.S.

The coal titmouse of the Continent,
The blackeap’s head in winter,
4761; Macqueen’s bustard—cau-
tion, 4763; Black stork at Lydd,
in Kent, 4764; Avocet and pec-
toral sandpiper in Durham,
Ducks and partridges laying in
the same nest, 4765; Information
wanted about the Worcestershire
tropic-bird, Black tern in Dur-
ham, 4766; On Adams’ diver in
England, 4767; ‘A Catalogue of
the Birds of Northumberland and
Durham,’ by John Hancock,
4793; Addendum to a note on
rare sea birds, 4794; Peregrine
in the city of Norwich, Claws of
the hawk owl, Blackbird, 4795 ;
The stain on the blackheaded
warbler, Crossbills alighting on
ships, Starlings and rooks often
peck with their beaks open, 4796;

Jackdaws with pied heads, Mag-
pies in Norfolk, 4797; English
and Egyptian pigeons, Mal-
formed pheasant, On fowl and
pheasant hybrids, 4799; Mac-
queen’s bustard and Juggur fal-
con, 4800; The eye of the little
ringed plover, Stone curlew, 4801;
Dunlins inland, The edible quali-
ties of the shoveller duck, 4802 ;
Wigeon, King duckin Leadenhall
Market, 4803; Second instance
of the audacity of the skua, 4804;
Notes on the roughlegged buz-
zard, 4829; The melanism of
Montagu’s harrier, Gregarious
habit of the longeared owl, 4831,
5163; The claim of the white-col-
lared flycatcher to a place in the
British list, 4832; On the redwing
nesting in England, Curious situa-
tion for a robin’s nest, 4833; The
Calandra lark a British bird, 4835 ;
Toucans in England in the seven-
teenth century, 4838; The nut-
hatch, The roller, 4840; The barn
swallow of America, 4841; Notes
on cranes, 4843; Glossy ibis,
Woodcock’s mode of carrying its
young, 4844; The original and
correct spelling of shielduck,
4846; Hooded merganser, Re-
tention of summer plumage by
grebes, Waterford great auk,
4847; Birds pied about the head,
Monstrosities, 4869; Sparrow-
hawk and woodcock, 4870; Barn
owl and rat, Barn owl and shrew,
4871; Blackcap’s head in winter,
4873; Grayheaded wagtails, Note
on the plumage of the yellow-
hammer, 4874; Greenfinch, 4875 ;
Woodpeckers, 4879; Sabine’s gull
at Bridlington Quay, Yellow-
nosed albatross in Derbyshire,
4883; Curious hare, 4918; Com-
mon buzzard at Scarborough,
4920; Roughlegged buzzard,
Plumage of the roughlegged buz-
zard, 4921; The blackbreasted
dipper, Habits of the blackbird,
Goldencrested wren, 4923; Star-
lings pecking with beak open,
4925; American bittern in Dum-
friesshire, The Labrador duck,
4929; Lesser whitefronted goose,
4930; Fulmar petrel of Martin,
4931; Leadenhall Market in

ad

XXV1

May, 4953; Ring ouzels in winter,
4956; The divers, Attitudes of
guillemot, 4958; Scarcity of the
razorbill, 4959; Notes from the
Zoological Gardens, 4998; The
Farne Islands, The Museum at
York, 4999; The Somersetshire
Egyptian vulture, Variety of the
sea eagle, 5000; Nidification of
the pied wagtail and swallow,
5003; Flight of the hoopoe,
Lesser whitefronted goose, 5006 ;
Manx shearwater, 5007; The
axillary feathers, Bird imitating
a duck, Errata in Mr. Harting’s
‘Handbook of British Birds,’
Falco peregrinus in Egypt, 5041;
Castings of the spotted flycatcher,
The bunting, Blackheaded bunt-
ing, 5042; Crossbill on Fair
Island, 5043; Three crows to a
nest, 5044; Migrations of the
swift, 5045; The alpine swift,
Nidification of pheasants, Bar-
tailed godwit, 5046; The Polish
swan, Varieties of the teal, Sum-
mer plumage of the little grebe,
5047; Scarcity of the razorbill,
The materials of gannets’ nests,
Kittiwake in winter, Tropic-bird,
5048; Ornithological notes from
Blakenny, 5078; Sternum of the
peregrine falcon, Syrnium aluco,
5079; Fauces of the blackeap,
“Supposed new British lark,”
5080; Hooded crows at Flam-
borough in summer, A produc-
tive wryneck, 5081; Redshank at
Northrepps, Green sandpiper at
Northrepps, Woodcock migrating
in July, 5083; Food of the red-
breasted merganser,5085 ; Breast-
bones of guillemots, 5086; White-
throat’s nest at an unusual eleva-
tion, 5119; Susceptibility of the
swift, 5123; Green sandpiper at
Northrepps, 5125; Little crake at
Hastings, 5126, 5167
HaprFieLp, Capt. Henry

Migrations of swallows and mar-
tins, 4751, 4798; Wild cat, 4791;
Manner of feeding of the starling,
4878; Swallow and swifts, 4879 ;
Roughlegged buzzard, 4920;
Common gull, 4959; Arrival of
spring migrants, nesting of the
house sparrow, &ec., Bird notes
from the Isle of Wight, 4997;

CONTENTS.

Rosecoloured pastor in the Isle

of Wight, 5120; Habits of the

American cowbird, 5122; Aci-

penser huso, 5127; Ornithological

notes from the Isle of Wight,

5160; Loligo media, 5169
Hancock, JOHN

Grayheaded wagtail, 4834

Heaton, WituiAm H.

The Worcestershire tropic-bird,
5086; Does the common
breed in the Scilly Isles ? 5126

JEFFERY, WILLIAM

Jugger falcon, 4759; Notes from
West Sussex, 4863; Starlings
pecking with beak open, 4877;
The common waterhen migra-
tory, 4882 _

KEMPSTER, JOHN

Unusual situation of a redstart’s
nest, Migratory flock of wagtails,
4834

Kerry, F.

Rare birds in Essex, 4827; Iceland
gull at Aldeburgh, 4848; Knot
and green sandpiper at Alde-
burgh, 5083

Kine, J.
Quarrels of titmice, 4873
Luoyp, W. A. ;
Notes on the structure of aqua-
riums, 4910
LumMspDEN, JAMES, jun., F.Z.5.
Wild cats, 4868
Matuew, G. F., R.N., F.L.S., F.Z.S.

Curious capture of a buzzard, 4760;
Bartailed godwit, 4764; Wood
pigeon attacking peregrine, 4799;
Starlings pecking with beak open,
4837; Baillon’s crake at Braun-
ton Burrows, 4844; Wood pigeon
building in a buzzard’s nest,
4957; Hooded merganser, 4958 ;
Scarce birds at Torquay, 5161;
Late nesting of swift, White
martin, 5165

Matuew, Rev. Murray A., M.A.

Hawks in North Devon, 4759;
Notes from North Devon and
West Somerset, 4813; Archibuteo
Sancti-Johannis, 4870; Notes
from West Somerset, 4899, 4995;
‘Birds of the North-West’ (re-
view), 5013, 5063; Notes on the
cuckoo and redbacked shrike,
5045; Little bittern at Ply-
mouth, Herons at Bishop's
Lydeard, 5046; The Exeter

CONTENTS.

Albert Memorial Museum, 5115;

Herring gulls at Tintagel, 5126;

‘Rambles of a Naturalist’ (re-

view), 5137; ‘Ostriches and

Ostrich Farming’ (review), 5173
MircuHett, B. 8.

Wall creeper in Lancashire, 4839,
4879; A note on rooks, 4926

Mirrorp, Rosert

Barn owl and its castings, 4832,
4870; Whitewinged crossbill near
London, 4835

Newnan, Epwarp, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c.

The Westminster aquarium, 4805 ;
Note on Picus leuconotus, 4819 ;
White spotted crake, 4845; The
king penguin at the Zoo, 4848;
Mr. Saville-Kent’s Lecture, at the
Society of Arts, on ‘‘ The Aqua-
rium: Construction and Manage-
ment,’ 4853; Loss and repyro-
duction of a pigeon’s beak, 4881;
Death of Mr. John Joseph Briggs,
4932; Starfishes and oysters,
4946; Royal visit to the Zoo,
4962; The eagles of poetry and
prose, 5133

Newton, Prof. Aurrep, M.A., F.R.S.

‘ Blackheaded bunting,” 5003; On
the colour of the fauces of nestling
warblers, 5117

NicHoiis, Henry

Abundance of the shorteared owl
near Kingsbridge, 4831; Night
heron near Kingsbridge, 4843;
Rufous warbler at Slapton,
Devon, 5179; Bewick’s swan
and other birds at Kingsbridge,
Devon, 5180

NicHo.tzs, R. P.

Marsh harrier at Slapton Ley, 4760;
Black redstart near Loddeswell,
4762; Spotted gallinule near
Kingsbridge, 4763; Gray phala-
rope near Kingsbridge, 4802;
Smew at Slapton Ley, Goosander
at Slapton Ley, 4803; Great
crested grebe near Kingsbridge,
4804

Pater, J. E.

Partial migration of rooks, 5006;
Blue tit nesting in a hole used by
a kingfisher, 5080; History of a
young kingfisher, 5081

Pracock, ADRIAN

Variation of colour in the teal, 51€0
Prince, H. R.

Smew at Taunton, 4847

XXVli

Prior, CHARLES MATTHEW
Kestrels near Banbury, 4870; Tree
sparrow and wood pigeon build-
ing in a magpie’s nest, 4875;
White starling, 4877; Large flock
of magpies near Banbury, 4879 ;
Stock dove breeding in October,
4871; Blackbird with pied head,
4923; Temerity of the robin,
Manner of feeding of the starling,
4924; Note on rooks, &c., 4926;
Spotted flycatcher returning an-
nually to the same nest, 5001;
Thrush laying in a deserted nest,
5002; White starling, Crow lay-
ing twice in the same nest, 5005;
Swift flying against telegraph-
wires, Thirteen eggs in a moor-
hen’s nest, Duck nesting in a
pollard willow, 5006; Magpie
laying twice in the same nest,
5081; Change of plumage in the
moorhen, 5084; Bats hawking
for flies at noonday, 5115; Green-
finch nesting in a furze-bush,
White starling in Nottingham-
shire, 5120; Lining of the crow’s
nest, 5121; Migration of swifts,
5123; Redlegged partridge sitting
on a gate, 5125
Rocke, JOHN
Greenland falcon in North Wales,
4919
Ropp, EDWARD HEARLE
Blackcap warbler near Penzance in
December, 4795; Dartford war-
bler, green woodpecker and star-
ling at the Land’s End, 4796;
Sabine’s snipe near Penzance,
4801; Golden oriole in the Lizard
district, 4956; Our summer mi-
grants in Cornwall, 5039; Com-
mon dotterel near Penzance,
5125; Note on the Sabine’s snipe,
5142; Solitary snipe, hoopoe and
Leach’s petrel in Cornwall, 5167 ;
Supposed occurrence of the lesser
kestrel near the Land’s End,
5178; Longtailed duck near Pad-
stow, Cornwall, 5180
SaVILLE-KeEnt, W., F.L.S.
The propagation of the oyster, 4936
Saxpy, Rev. StePHEN H., M.A.
The time of day at which birds lay
their eggs, 5161
SCLATER, JOHN
Notes from Castle Eden, 4746, 4815,
4858, 4985, 5103; Starling’s mode

XXVill

of feeding, 4836; The male chaf-
finch nest-making, 4875; Plu-
mage of the roughlegged buzzard,
4955; Starlings pecking with
open beak, 5004; Scarcity of the
razorbill, 5007; Pied rats, 5039

SHERRIFF-TYE, G.

Helix pomatia, 4768

Sez, A. H., M.R.C.S., F.G.S., F.C.S.

Great northern diver off Erith,
4930

SmirH, Creciz, F.L.S.

A few ornithological notes from
Guernsey, 4780; Blackthroated
diver in Somersetshire, 4804; A
few ornithological notes from
Guernsey and some of the other
Channel Islands from the 3rd to
the 19th of June (1876), 5024

SmitH, H. Ecroyp

A first peep at the bird-breeders on

old Farne, 4933
SoutTHat., W., F.L.S.

Starling feeding with open beak,

4836
SouTHWELL, THomas, F'.Z.S.

Balenoptera musculus at Lynn,

4756; The Polish swan, 5084
SPALDING, FREDERICK

Lesser redpoll nesting in Suffolk,

5003
Spicer, Major Joun W. G., F.Z.S.

Hybrid doves, 5082; Phasianus

torquatus = P. decollatus? 5166
STANSELL, FREDERICK

Common seoter at Minehead, 4883 ;
Female smew near Curry Rivel,
4930

Stevenson, Henry, F.L.S.

Ornithological notes from Norfolk,
4773, 48938, 5105; Purple heron
in Norfolk, 4843; Redstarts and
blue tits nesting in human
skulls, 5116; Pied wagtail build-
ing in a thrush’s nest, 5120;

CONTENTS.

Jackdaws nesting in modern
gables, 5121
Taytor, W.
Flying-fish in the Bristol Channel,
5128
TxHompson, THOMAS
Shore lark in Holy Island, 4762
Travis, J.

Redstart’s nest built in a human

skull, 5042
Tuck, Rey. Juutan G., M.A.

Sea birds at Flamborough, 4758;
Blackbreasted dipper near Filey,
4795; Blackthroated diver in
Filey Bay, Sandwich tern on
Filey Brigg, Glaucous gull at
Flamborough, Little gulls off
Flamborough Head, 4804; Blue-
throated warbler in Yorkshire,
4956; Jackdaws stealing guille-
mots’ eggs, 4957; The puffin,
4958; Ivory gull, &c., 4960;
Notes from Flamborough, &c.,
5040

Urcuer, H. M., F.Z.S.

Great bustard at Feltwell, 4882
Watts, H. M.

Ornithological notes, 5030
Warren, RosBert, jun.

Avocet in Ireland, 4674
Warry, H. C.

Blackbird’s nest on the ground,

5042
Wess, ALFRED
Hedgehogs in Ireland, 4824
WErR, J. JENNER, F.L.S.
Chiffchaff in December, 4761
WHITAKER, J.

Kite, hen harrier and hobby in
Nottinghamshire, 4760; Birds
near Rainworth, 4869; Rough-
legged buzzard at Rufford, 4870;
Common skua near Mansfield,
4883; Ornithological notes from
Perthshire, 5100

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF SUBJECTS.

Acanthias vulgaris, 4857

Acipenser huso, 5127

Albatross, yellow-nosed, in Derby-
shire, 4883

Albino blackbird, 4787

Animal life and hunting in East
Greenland, 4733

‘Annual Report of the Board of
Regents of the Smithsonian Insti-
tution,’ 4970

Aquarium, lecture on, by Mr. Saville-
Kent, 4853; notes, 5032

Westminster, 4805

‘Aquarium Notes: the Octopus and

CONTENTS.

the Devil-fish of Fiction and of
Fact,’ 4972

Aquariums, structure of, 4910

Archibuteo Sancti-Johannis, 4870

Arrival of swallows and sand martins,
4927

Ash-coloured swallow, 4787

Atherina presbyter, 4754

Atherine, id. -

Auk, little, 4791

Waterford great, 4847

Avocet in Ireland, 4764; in Durham,
4765

Avocets on Breydon, 4897

Balenoptera musculus at Lynn, 4756

Band-fish, red, at Plymouth, 4767

Basse, 4754

Bat flying in the sunshine, 4953

Bats hawking for flies at noonday,
5115

Bear, Polar, 4734

Bees, great tits eating, 4873

Bernicla leucopsis, 4905

Bird-breeders on Old Farne, a first
peep at, 4933

Bird notes from the Isle of Wight,
4997 ; imitating a duck, 5041

Bird’s beak, reproduction in, 4924

Birds, Arctic, 4745; migration of,
4757; sea, at Flamborough, 4758;
in the Guernsey Museum, 4781;
‘Guernsey—are they British ? 4782;
rare, in Norfolk and Suffolk, 4785 ;
rare sea, addendum to a note on,
4794; rare, in Lincolnshire, id.;
rare, in Essex, 4827; small, and
reed-beds, 4827; scarcity of, 4859 ;
spring, 7d.; at Spurn and on the
Humber, 4863; African, 4869; near
Rainworth, id.; pied about the
head, zd.; rare, near York, 4919;
rare, near Malton, id.; rare, near
Ringwood, during the winter of
1875-6, 4989; the time of day at
which they lay their eggs, 5115,
5161; sea, at Bridlington, 5116;
scarce, at Torquay, 5161

‘Birds of Northumberland and Dur-
ham, a Catalogue of the,’ by John
Hancock, 4793

‘Birds of the North-West: a Hand-
book of the Ornithology of the
Region drained by the Missouri
River andits Tributaries,’ 5013, 5063

Bittern, 4789, 4989

American, in Islay, 4801; in

Dumfriesshire, 4929

little, in Plymouth, 5046

XX1x

Blackbird, albino, 4787; white, 4923;
habits of, 4923; with pied head, zd.;
and missel thrush, 4986; nest of on
the ground, 5042; adopting a young
sparrow, 5164

Blackbird, 4795, 4817 ; mottled, 5002

Blackeap, fauces of, 5080; in Ireland,
5119

Blackeap’s head in winter, 4761, 4873

Blenniops arcanu, 4753

Blennius gattorugine, zd.

Blenny, gattoruginous, 4753

Yarrell’s, id.

Bonasa umbellus, 5071

Brambling, 4863

Briggs, Mr. John Joseph, death of,
4932

Brill, 4754

Bullfinch, 4779

Bunting, blackheaded, 5008, 5042

snow, 4862, 4899, 4983

Bustard, great, at Feltwell, 4882; in
Orkney, 4927; last appearances of
in England, 4800

little, plumage of, 4798

Macqueen’s, caution! 4763,

4800
Buzzard, common, 4829, 4906; in
Hast Yorkshire, 4920; at Scar-

borough, id.
curious capture of, 4760;

trapped in a “gin,” 4991

—— roughlegged, in Yorkshire,
4760; in Norfolk, 4786, 4894; notes
on, 4829, 4868, 4920; in Eden Dene,
4858; at Rufford, 4170; in Scot-
land, 4921; plumage of, id., 4955;
escorted by rooks, 4986

Buzzards, unusual quantity of, in
Scotland, 4795, 4829

Canis latrans, 5076

Capra iemlaica, 4962

Capyros aper, 5128

Cat, wild, 4791, 4825, 4868; measure-
ments of, 4867; period of gestation,
5088, 5114

Cats, white, with blue eyes—are they
deaf? 4918

Cervus minor, 4962

Chaffinch, the male nest-making,
4875; migratory flocks in Norfolk,
4898

Chiffchaff in December, 4761

Chough, at Portrush, 5165

Cornish, 4823

Clupea harengus, 4855

Coal-fish, zd.

Colymbus Adamsi, 4767

XXX

Conger, large, 5087

Coris Julis, 5158

Cormorant, 4909

Coues, Elliot, ‘The Birds of the North-
West,’ 50138, 5063

Cowbird, American, habits of, 5122

Crake, Baillon’s, at Braunton Bur-
rows, 4844

little at Hastings, 5126, 5167

spotted, 5160

— white spotted, 4845

Crane, demoiselle, 4928

Cranes near Inverness, 4763; notes
on, 4843

Creeper, wall, in Lancashire, 4839,
4879

Crossbill, whitewinged, near London,
4835; on Fair Island, 5043

Crossbills alighting on ships, 4796; on
Salisbury Plain, 4876

Crow, carrion, 4988, 4985

hooded, 4983, 5106; nesting in
East Yorkshire, 5121

— Royston, 4818, 4860

Crow laying twice in the same nest,
5005

Crow’s nest, lining of, 5121

Crows, three to a nest, 5054

hooded, at Flamborough, in
summer, 5081

Cuckoo, 5103; and redbacked shrike,
notes on, 5045

Curlew, 4860, 4908

stone, 4773, 4774, 4801, 4882

Dab, common, 4755

lemon, id.
Deinornis, 4842 .
Dipper, 4746, 4779
blackbreasted, near Filey,
4795

Scandinavian variety (?) at
Beverley, 4871, 4923

Diver, Adams’, in England, 4767

blackthroated, 4791; in Filey

Bay, 4804; in Somersetshire, id. ;

in Essex, 4827

great northern, near Merton

Hall, Norfolk, 4760; near Lowes-

toft, 4791; off Erith, 4930

northern, 4902

redthroated, 4773

Divers, 4864, 4958

Dog, wolf-like, 4745

Dolphin, whitesided, on the Ivish
coast, 5077

Dotterell, 4863; common, near Pen-
zance, 5125

Dove, ring, 4860

CONTENTS.

Dove, rock, 4898

— stock, in Ireland, 4798; nesting
of, 4842; at Beverley, 4862; breed-
ing in October, 4881; in North
Lincolnshire, 5062; nests of, 5105

Doves, hybrid, 5082

Drought and house sparrows, 5043

Duck nesting in a pollard willow,
5006; bird imitating a, 5041

Duck, goldeneye, 4746, 4779, 4909

king, reported occurrence of

at Maldon, 4766; in Leadenhall

Market, 4803

— Labrador, 4929
— longtailed, at Hunstanton,
4766; near Padstow, Cornwall,

5179
—— scoter, curious capture of, 4764
shoveller, edible qualities of,

4802, 4930
— tufted, in Essex, 4827
— wild, 4984
Ducks and partridges laying in the

same nest, 4765; tufted, and

pochards, nesting in Norfolk, 5107
Dunlins inland, 4802
Eagle, sea, 4894, 4896; variety of,

5000

whitetailed, in Suffolk, 5178

Eagles, 4776, 4778; of poetry and
prose, 5133

golden, trained to capture
wolves and foxes, 5162

Eggs, guillemots’, jackdaws stealing,
4957; of Limneus pereger, hatch-
ing, 4961; thirteen, in moorhen’s
nest, 5006; the time of day at
which birds lay, 5115, 5161

Elder-berries and starlings, 4877, 5005

Elephant’s tusk, enormous, at Zanzi-
bar, 4826

Entomological Society of London,
proceedings of, 4771, 4809, 4887,
4964, 5010, 5051, 5088, 5130, 5170

Exocetus evolans, 5128

‘Explorations of the Colorado River
of the West and its Tributaries,’
4969

Falco peregrinus in Egypt, 5041

Falcon, Greenland, in North Wales,
4919; in Scotland, 4953; or Icé-
land, in Guernsey, id.

Iceland, in Caithness, 4920

Juggur, 4750, 4800

peregrine, near Merton Hall,

Norfolk, 4760; near Norwich, 4785;

strange capture of, 4824; in North

Lincolnshire, 4899; near Ringwood;

CONTENTS.

4989; trapped in a “gin,” 4991;
and herring gull, 4992; breeding on
the Yorkshire coast, 5000; at Wem-
bury, 5028; sternum of, 5079

Farne Islands, 4999

Fauna and Flora of New Zealand,
Dr. Buller on the, 5113

Feathers, axillary, 5041

Vieldfare, 4818, 4985, 4986; variety
of, 4893

Fieldfares on Salisbury Plain, 4872;
late, 5106, 5164

Fish culture for the Thames, 5115

Fishes observed at Portrush, County
Antrim, 4753

Flies, bats hawking for at noonday,
5115

Flounder, 4755

Flycatcher, pied, 4988; breeding in
Wharfdale, 5001

spotted, curious nesting

freak of, 4987; returning annually

to the same nest, 5001, 5116;

castings of, 5042

white-collared, claim of

to a place in the British list, 4832

.Flying-fish in the Bristol Channel,

5128

Food of heron, 4789; of peregrine, &c.,
4828; of redbreasted merganser,
5085

Forkbeard, lesser, at Kirkwall, 5049

Fowl and pheasant hybrids, 4799

Fox, Arctic, 4737

European, 4738

Greenland, id.

Foxes and wolves, eagles trained to
capture, 5162

Fox-shark on the Irish coast, 5049

Gadus pollachius, 4756

— virens, 4755

Gadwall, 4990

Gallinule, spotted, near Kingsbridge,
4763

Gannet, 4823

Gannets’ nests, materials of, 5048

Geese, wild, near Merton Hall, Nor-
folk, 4760

‘Geographical Distribution of Ani-
mals,’ 4972

Godwit, bartailed, 4764, 4779, 5046

blacktailed, 4862

on Walney Island, 4908

Godwits, 4992

Goldeneye, 4746, 4779, 4909

Goosander, 4789, 4990; at Slapton
Ley, 4803; in Essex, 4827; near
Bridlington, 4863 ; in Norfolk, 4893

XXxl1

Goose, bean, 4789

Egyptian, 4990

lesser whitefronted, 4930, 5006

Goshawk in Norfolk, 4896; in Lin-
colnshire, 5162

Grebe, eared, in Essex, 4827

great crested, near Kings-

bridge, 4804; in Essex, 4827; in

Norfolk, 5106

little, summer plumage of,

5047, 5169

rednecked, 4790;

4827; in Beverley, 4863

Sclavonian, 4791, 4989

Grebes, retention of summer plumage
by, 4847

Greenfinch, 4875; nesting in a furze-
bush, 5120

Greenshank, 4908;
5122

Grouse, black, in the New Forest,
5123

Guillemot, plumage of, 4823; in More-
cambe Bay, 4909; attitudes of, 4958

Guillemots, breast-bones of, 5086

Guillemots’ eggs, jackdaws stealing,
4957

Gull with black head, 4827

Gull, blackheaded, 4746, 4747, 4895,
4909

common, 4959; does it breed in

the Scilly Isles, 5126

glaucous, at Flamborough, 4804

great blackbacked, 4858

herring, 4901; and peregrine
falcon, 4992

— Iceland, at Aldeburgh, 4848

ivory, 4960

— little, 4791

—— Sabine’s, at Bridlington Quay,
4883

Gulls, herring, at Wembury, 5028;
at Tintagel, 5126

lesser blackbacked, calling in

the air, 4903; in North Lincoln-

shire, 4983

little, off Flamborough Head,
4804

Gurney, J. H., jun., F.Z.S., ‘Rambles
of a Naturalist,’ 5137

Hairtail, silvery, on the coast of
Devon, 4806; another near Ply-
mouth, 4887

Hake, tadpole, 4753

trifurcated, off Penzance, 5128

Halibut, 4754; large, 4961

‘Handbook of British Birds,’ errata
in, 5041

in Essex,

in Sutherland,

XXxil

Hare, curious, 4918

Harrier, hen, 4748, 4989; in Notting-
hamshire, 4760; in Northumber-
land, 5079

marsh, at Slapton Ley, 4760

Montagu’s, near York, 4761 ;
at Burgh St. Peter, 4786; melanism
of, 4831; on Walney, 4906; near
Ringwood, 4989

Harting, J. E., F.L.S., F.Z.S., ‘Our
Summer Migrants, 4970; and
Julius de Mosenthal, ‘ Ostriches
and Ostrich Farming,’ 5173

Hawfinch, nesting of at Beverley,
4763; near Norwich, 4895

Hawks in North Devon, 4759

Hedgehogs in Ireland, 4824

Helix pomatia, 4768

Heron, 4908

night, near Kingsbridge, 4843

purple, 4787; food of, 4789;

in Norfolk, 4843

South-American,

notes on,

4928
Heronry, Gunton, 5107
Herons at Bishop's Lydeard, 5046
Hippoglossus vulgaris, 4754
Hippopotamus hunters, hereditary,
of the Loangwa, 4865
‘History of British Birds,’ 4969
Hobby in Nottinghamshire, 4760
Homarus vulgaris, 5033

Hoopoe, 4983; flight of, 5006; in

Cornwall, 5167

Human and brute intelligence, 5093

Hunting and animal life in East
Greenland, 4733

Hybrid doves, 5082

Hybrids, fowl and pheasant, 4799

Ibis, glossy, 4844

Intelligence, human and brute, 5093

Inby, Lieut.-Colonel L. Howard L.,
‘Ornithology of the Straits of Gib-
raltar,’ 4971

Jackdaw, 4749, 4987

Jackdaws with pied heads, 4797, 4837,
4879; stealing guillemots’ eggs,
4957; nesting in modern gables,
5121

Kestrel, strange capture of, 4824

lesser, supposed occurrence
of, near the Land’s End, 5178

Kestrels at Eden Dene, 4750, 4860;
near Banbury, 4870

Kingfisher, 4907, 5029; blue tit nesting
in a hole used by, 5080; young,
history of, 5081

Kite in Nottinghamshire, 4760; in the
Isle of Wight, 5160

CONTENTS.

Kittiwake in winter, 5048, 5086

Knot at Aldeburgh, 5083

Labrax lupus, 4754

La Girelle at the Crystal Palace
Aquarium, 5158

Lagopus leucurus, 5073

Lanius minor, 5178

Lapwings on Salisbury Plain, 4872

Lark, Calandra, a British bird, 4835

—— shore, in Holy Island, 4762; at
Blakeney, 4893

supposed new British, 5080

Larks, 4862

sky, on Salisbury Plain, 4872

Leadenhall Market in May, 4953

Lee, Henry, F.L.S., ‘Aquarium
Notes,’ 4972

Leopard, African, arrival of another,
4826

Life, animal, and hunting in East
Greenland, 4733

Limneus pereger, hatching eggs of
4961

Lithodes arctica, 50383

Loligo media, 5169

Lumpfish, blue, at Penzance, 4961

Mackerel, abundance of in Mount’s
Bay, 4767; enormous, 4931

Magpie laying twice in the same
nest, 5081

Magpie’s nest, tree sparrow and wood
pigeon building in, 4875 +

Magpies, 4778, 4907, 4984; in Nor-
folk, 4797, 4896; large flock near
Banbury, 4879

Martin returning annually to the
same nest, 4957; white, 5165

Martins and swallows, migration of,
4751, 4798

house, 4774; nesting in saw-

dust heaps, 5108

sand, 4747

Melanism of Montagu’s harrier, 4831

Merganser, hooded, 4847, 4958

— _ redbreasted, in Essex,
4827 ; food of, 5085

Merlin, 4786, 4816, 4862, 4989

Migrants, autumn, 4775

— nocturnal, 5106

spring, 4988;

arrival of,
4997

—— summer, 4748, 4775, 5105,
5106; arrival of in County Dublin,
4996; in Cornwall, 5039

winter, 4777

Migration of swallows and martins,
4751, 4798; of birds, 4757; of rooks,
4837, 5105; partial, of rooks, 5006;
of swifts, 5123

CONTENTS.

Migrations of the swift, 5045

Migratory waders, 4773;
wagtails, 4834

Moa, notes on the extinction of the,
with a review of the discussion on
the subject published in the ‘ Trans-
actions of the New Zealand Insti-
tute,’ 5147

Monstrosities, 4869

Moorhen, change of plumage in, 5084

Moorhen’s nest, thirteen eggs in, 5006

Moschus moschiferus, 4962

Mosenthal, Julius de, and James E.
Harting, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c., ‘Os-
triches and Ostrich Farming,’ 5173

Mottled blackbirds, 5002

Mullet, gray, giant, 4806; size of, 4886

red, taken at bottom on a
spiller, 5127

Murena Helena, 5034, 5053

Museum at York, 4999; the Exeter
Albert Memorial, 5115

Nematus gallicola, note on, 5090

Nerophis aquoreus, 4754

Nest, ducks and partridges laying in
the same, 4765; of common wren,
4773; late, of song thrush, id.; of
robin, curious situation for, 4833;
of redstart, unusual situation of,

flock of

4834; of magpie, tree sparrow and |

wood pigeon building in, 4875;
martin returning annually to the
same, 4957; buzzard’s, wood pigeon
building in, id.; spotted flycatcher
returning annually to the same,
5001, 5116; deserted, thrush laying
in, 5002; crow laying twice in the
same, 5005; moorhen’s, thirteen
eggs in, 5006; of blackbird on the
ground, 5042; redstart’s, built in a
human skull, id.; three crows to a,
5044; magpie laying twice in the
same, 5081; of whitethroat at an
unusual eleyation, 5119; thrush’s,
pied wagtail building in, 5120;
crow’s, lining of, 5121
Nesting of hawfinch at Beverley,
4763 ; of redwing in England, 4833 ;
of stock dove, 4842 ; freak, curious,
of spotted flycatcher, 4987; of house
sparrow, 4997; of lesser redpoll,
in Suffolk, 5008; of duck in a pol-
_ lard willow, 5006; notes on, 5040;
of snowy owl in confinement, 5041 ;
» of blue tit in a hole used by a king-
- fisher, 5080; of pochards and tufted
ducks in Norfolk, 5107; of sand
martins in sawdust-heaps, 5108; of

XXXill

redstarts and blue tits in human
skulls, 5116; of greenfinch in a
furze-bush, 5120; of hooded crow
in East Yorkshire, 5121; of jack-
daws in modern gables, id.; of
swifts, late, 5165

Nesting-places of the starling, curious,
5043

Nests, gannets’, materials of, 5043;

Newman, Edward, obituary notice of,
lii., 4973
of stock dove, 5105

Nightjar, 4780

Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’
Society, 4891

Note on Picus leuconotus, 4819; on
the plumage of the yellowhammer,
4874; on rooks, 4926, 5044; on the
song thrush, 5002; on Nematus gal-
licola, 5090; on Sabine’s snipe, 5142

Notes from Castle Eden, 4746, 4815,
4858, 4985, 5103; on some fishes
observed at Portrush, County An-
trim, 4753; from North Devon and
West Somerset, 4813; on the rough-
legged buzzard, 4829; on cranes,
4843; afew rough, from Beverley
for the close of the year 1875, 4861 ;
from West Sussex, 4863; from West
Somerset, 4899, 4995; from Port-
rush, 4903; on the structure of
aquariums, 4910; on a South-
American heron, 4928.; bird, from
the Isle of Wight, 4997; from the
Zoological Gardens, 4998 ; ornitho-
logical, 5030; aquarium, 5032; from
Flamborough, 5040; on nesting,
id.; onthe cuckoo and redbacked
shrike, 5045; on the extinction of
the moa, 5147

‘ Notes on the Yucca Borer,’ 4972

Nuthatch, 4840

Oriole, golden, in County Dublin,
4956; in the Lizard district, zd.

Ornithological notes from Norfolk,
4773, 4893, 5105; from North Lin-
colnshire, 4778, 4897, 4982, 5061;
from Guernsey, 4780; and some of
the other Channel Islands, 50243
from Devonshire and Cornwall,
4783, 4823, 4901, 4991, 5028, 5109;
and Somersetshire, 5145; from the
North-West Coast, 4906; from Dub-
lin, 4919; from Blakenny, 5078;
from Perthshire, 5100; from the
Isle of Wight, 5160

‘Ornithology of the Straits of Gib-
raltar,’ 4971

e

XXx1V¥ CONTENTS.
Osprey in Waterford, 4759; near| nest, 4875; building in a buzzard’s

Birmingham, id. ; in Suffolk, 4785
‘Ostriches and Ostrich Farming,’ 5173
Otter near York, 4919; in the New

Forest, 4995
‘Our Summer Migrants,’ 4970
Ouzel, ring, &c., 4903
water, 5029
Ouzels, ring, in winter, 4956
Owl, barn, and its castings, 4832,

4870; and rat, 4871; and shrew, 7d.,

4922
— hawk, claws of, 4995
— longeared, gregarious habit of,

4831, 5163; on the North-West

coast, 4906
— shorteared, 4823; abundance of

near Kingsbridge, 4831; in West

Sussex, 4865; curious capture of,

4896; on Walney Island, 4907
snowy, in County Fermanagh,
4871; on Dartmoor, id.; nesting
in confinement, 5041

id.
Oyster, propagation of the, 4936
Oysters and starfishes, 4946
Partridge perching, 4774
redlegged, sitting on a gate,
5125
Partridges and ducks laying in the
same nest, 4765

Pastor, rosecoloured, in the Isle of |’

Wight, 5120; in Hampshire, 7d.
Peal, salmon, taken at bottom on a
spiller, 5127
Pediocetes Phasianellus, 5072
Peewit, 4862; white, 4928
Penguin, king, at the Zoo, 4848
Peregrine in the city of Norwich,
4795; wood pigeon attacking, 4799 ;
food of, 4828; in Norfolk, 4893
Petrel, fulmar, 4773, 4781; of Martin,
4931

Leach’s, in Cornwall, 5167

Phalarope, gray, 4790, 4802, 4827;
early occurrence of in Devon, 5083

rednecked, 4790

Phasianus torquatus = P. decollatus ?
5166

Pheasant, malformed, 4799; and fowl
hybrids, id.

Pheasants, nidification of, 5046

Picus lenconotus, note on, 4819

Pied rats, 5039

Pigeon, wood, attacking peregrine,
4799; scarcity of, 4819; and tree
sparrow bnilding in a magpie’s

nest, 4957

Pigeon’s beak, loss and reproduction
of, 4881

Pigeons, English and Egyptian, 4799

Pipe-fish, ocean, 4754

——— great, id.

Plaice, 4755

Pleuronectes flesus, id.

limanda, id.

microcephalus, id.

platessa, id.

Plover, golden, 4862, 4984, 4985

gray, 4985

little ringed, eye of, 4801

ring, 4860

stilt, 5107

Pochards and tufted ducks nesting
in Norfolk, 5107

| Puffin, 4958, 5031

‘Rambles of a Naturalist,’ 5137
Raniceps trifureus, 4753

| Rat and barn owl, 4871; water, black,
Ox, musk, 4789; sheep and European, |

5177

Rats, pied, 5039

Razorbill, 4747; plumage of, 4823;
scarcity of, 4959, 5007, 5030, 5048

Redbreast, 4746, 4984

Redpoll, lesser, nesting in Suffolk, 5003

Redshank, spotted, 4864; at North-
repps, 5083

Redstart, black, near Loddeswell,
4762; at East Looe, Cornwall, id.;
in Norfolk, 4894

Redstart’s nest, unusual situation of,
4834; built in a human skull, 5042

Redstarts and blue tits nesting in
human skulls, 5116

Redwing, 4746, 4818, 4860; nesting
in England, 4833

Reed-beds and small birds, 4827

Reindeer, 4739

Rhombus levis, 4754

———. maximus, 7d.

——— punctatus, 4755

Riley, Charles V.,M.A., Ph.D., ‘ Notes
on the Yueca Borer,’ 4972

Robin, temerity of, 4924; nesting in
a room, 5164

Robin’s nest, curious situation for,

4833

Roller, 4840; in Suffolk, 5045

Rooks, migratory (?), 4776; and stay-
lings often peck with their beaks
open, 4796; migration of, 4837,
4907, (5105; note on, 4926, 5044;
partial migration of, 5006; feeding
their young, 5104

CONTENTS.

Salmo trutta, 4754

Salmon, heavy, 4767

Sanderling in Essex, 4827

Sandpiper, common, 4748; habits of,
5081; curious habit of, 5125

curlew, at Portrush, 5165

green, 4788, 4862, 5083,

5125
pectoral, in Durham, 4765
—— purple, 4779
Sandpipers, green, 5168
Saury, 4753
Scaup, 4779

Scomberesox saurus, 4753

Scoter, common, at Minehead, 4883

—— velvet, 5126

Scyllarus Arctus in Mount’s Bay, 4931

Sea-anemones, parasitic, 5128

Seal, 4734; at Holbeton, 4757

Sea-serpent, great, 4807

Shearwater, greater, in Devon, 5127

Manx, 5007, 5169

Shieldrake, 4789, 4862, 4909

Shielduck, spelling of, 4846

Shrew and barn owl, 4871, 4922

Shrike; great gray, at Fulham, 4761;
at Yarmouth, 4786; in Essex, 4827 ;
in East Yorkshire, 4832; near Ring-
wood, 4989

lesser gray, in Devon, 5178

redbacked, 4993; and cuckoo,

notes on, 5045

woodchat, 5080

Siskin,4893; breedingin Wicklow,4957

Sitta czesia, 4840

Skua, common, audacity of the, 4804,
4883 ; near Mansfield, 4883

pomarine, 5160

Skull, human, redstart’s nest built in,
5042

Skulls, human, redstart and blue tits
nesting in, 5116

Smew at Slapton Ley, 4803; at Taun-
ton, 4847; near Old Malton, id.;
in West Sussex, 4864; female, near
Curry Rivel, 4930

Snake, lizard, in Hampshire, 4884

Snipe, 4774, 4779

great, 4788; in Devon, 5126;

in Perthshire, 5167

jack, 4895

— Sabine’s, near Penzance, 4801 ;
note on, 5142

—- solitary, in Cornwall, 5167

Sole, 4755

Solea vulgaris, id.

Sparrow, house, nesting of, 4997

tree, and wood pigeon,

building in a magpie’s nest, 4875

—_—

XXXV

Sparrow, young, blackbird adopting
a, 5164

Sparrows, house, and drought, 5043

Sparrowhawk, 4793; and woodcock,
4818, 4870; and missel thrush, 5000

Species, causes of variation in, 5161

Spoonbill, 5106

Starfishes and oysters, 4946

Starling at the Land’s End, 4796;
feeding with open beak, 4836;
white, 4877, 5004, 5120; curious
nesting-places of, 5043; common,
does it rear two broods in one
season? 5164

Starling’s mode of feeding, 4836, 4878,
4924, 4925

Starlings pecking with beak. open,
4837, 4877, 4879, 4925, 5004; and
rooks often peck with their beaks
open, 4796; and elder-berries, 4877,
5005

Steel traps and gins, 4993

Stint, 4860

little, at Portrush, 5165

Stork, black, at Lydd, in Kent, 4764

Sucklers, 4962

Sunfish, short, 5087

Swallow, ash-coloured, 4787

—— barn, of America, 4841

chimney, 4984
nidification of, 5003

Swallows and martins, migration of,
4751, 4798; late, 4841; in Decem-
ber, id.; and swifts, 4879; and
sand martins, arrival of, 4927

Swan, Bewick’s, 4789; and other birds
at Kingsbridge, Devon, 5180

Polish, 4789, 4986, 5047, 5084

Swans, Polish (?), at Northrepps, 5108

Swift, 4748, 4992; flying against tele-
graph-wires, 5006; migration of,
5045; susceptibility of, 5123; late
nesting of, 5165

alpine, 5046

Swifts and swallows, 4879; migration
of, 5123

Swordfish in the River Parrett, 5169

Sylvia melanocephala, 4796

Syngnathus acus, 4754

Syrnium aluco, 5079

Tadpole-fish off Penzance, 5128

Teal, 4816; varieties of, 5047, 5085;
rust-colour on the breast of, 5168;
variation of colour in the, 5180

Tern, black, 4766, 4991

roseate, 4909

Sandwich, 4791, 4804, 4908

Thames, fish-culture for the, 5110

Thrush laying in a deserted nest, 5002

XXXVI

Thrush, song, 4747, 4817, 5002
nest of, 4773

missel, 4858; and blackbird,
4986; and sparrowhawk, 5000

Thrushes, in Norfolk, 4898

————. missel, 4817

Thrush’s nest, pied wagtail building
in, 5120

Tichodroma muraria, 4839

Tit, blue, 4749; nesting in a hole
used by a kingfisher, 5080

Titmice, quarrels of, 4873

Titmouse, blue, variety of, 4873

coal, of the Continent, 4761

Tits, great, eating bees, 4873

blue, nesting in human skulls,
5116

Toads in a tree, 4805

Torpedo on the Ivish coast, 4805;
near Penzance, 4961

Toucans in England in the seven-
teenth century, 4838

Trachinus vipera, 4753

‘Transactions of the Norfolk and Nor-
wich Naturalists’ Society,’ 4974

Tropic-bird, the Worcestershire, 4766,
4803, 5048, 5086

Trout, sea, 4754

Turbot, id.

Turnstone, 4908

Turtle, edible, off Sussex coast, 4805

Variation in species, causes of, 5161

Varieties of the teal, 5047, 5085

; late

Variety of blackbird, 4787, 4923, 5002;

of swallow, 4787; of dipper, Scan-
dinavian (?), 4871; of blue titmouse,
4873; of starling, 4877, 5004, 5120;
of fieldfare, 4893; of peewit, 4928;
of sea eagle, 5000; of martin, 5165;
of water rat, 5177

Vulture, Egyptian, the Somersetshire,
5000

Waders, migratory, 4773

Wagtail, gray, 4748, 4989

grayheaded, 4834, 4874

pied, nidification of, 5003;
building in a thrush’s nest, 5120

Wagtails, 4793, 4985; migratory flock
of, 4834

Wallace, A. R., ‘The Geographical
Distribution of Animals,’ 4972

Walrus, 4731

Warbler, blackcap, near Penzance in
December, 4795

blackheaded, the stain on,

4796
bluethroated, 4956
Dartford, 4796
reed, 5061

CONTENTS.

Warbler, rufous, in Devon, 5179

Warblers, 4747; note on, 5117; nest-
ling, on the colours of the fauces of,
id.; aquatic and sedge, distin.
euishing characters of, 5118

Waterhen, 4746, 4773, 4894; common,
is it migratory or not ? 4845 ; mi-
gratory, 4882

Waxwings without wax, 4762, 4874

Weever, lesser, 4753

Westminster Aquarium, 4805

Wheatear, 4902, 4903, 4983

Whimbrel, 4984; in Wiltshire, 5166

Whitethroat, nest of, at an unusual
elevation, 5119

Wigeon, 4803

Wild-fowl, snipe, &c., 4776; in the
game shops, 4863

Wolf, 4745

Wolf-fish at Hastings, 4886

Wolf-like dog, 4745

Wolves and foxes, eagles trained to
capture, 5162

Woodcock migrating in July, 5083,
5166; in Norfolk, 5106

Woodcock and sparrowhawk, 4818,
4870

Woodcock’s mode of carrying its
young, 4844

Woodcocks, 4776, 4815, 4816, 4908,
4986

| Woodpecker, great spotted, plumage

of, 4838 ; in Eden Dene, 4860
————_ green, at the Land’s
End, 4796; at Northrepps, 4896

—————_ lesser spotted, 4824

————— white spotted, 4797

Woodpeckers, 4838, 4879

Wren, common, nest of, 4773

goldencrested, 4778, 4923

— willow, 4816, 4984

wood, in Sutherland, 5122; in
Perthshire, Ross-shire and Caith-
ness, 5164

Wryneck, a productive, 5081

Yarrell, William, V.-P.L.S., F.Z.S.
(the late), ‘A History of British
Birds,’ 4969

Yellowhammer, plumage of, 4874; in,
large flocks, 4899

Zoo, Royal visit to the, 4962

Zoological Society of London, pro-
ceedings of, 4768, 4807, 4848, 4931,
4963, 5008, 5049; substance of the
Report of the Council of, read at the
Annual General Meeting, 4949;
Report of the Indian animals de-
posited in the Gardens of, by
H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, 4962

THE ZOOLOGIST

FOR —

1876.

Hunting and Animal Life in East Greenland.

[Tue following somewhat lengthy chapter is extracted from the second
volume of Captain Koldewey’s narrative of the “ German Arctic Expedition.”
It is the joint production of Lieutenant Payer and Dr. Copeland, the
scientific naturalists to the Expedition, and sets forth more clearly than any
other document recently published the subjects of which it treats, viz. hunting
and animal life in the Arctic Regions, and forms a remarkable contrast to
the details of African research, of which more especially we have lately had
such interesting examples in the ‘ Zoologist.’ I have in no instance tres-
passed on the province of what is called “ Systematic Zoology,” having
carefully avoided the discussion of all moot points of nomenclature, or what
~ are called the “ grand results of science.” I have taken Captain Koldewey’s
book in hand with a widely different object, and have omitted all scientific
names, with the view of escaping contraversy on this, the dryest and most
unprofitable of all dry and unprofitable subjects. When I say that, amongst
other alterations, the names of “snow bunting” and “ Larus eburneus” are
coupled together as synonyms, I shall disclose a fact equally perplexing to
the “ birds-nesting” ornithologist of the old school and gratifying to the
“name-changing” student of the new. Far be it from me to criticise such
changes, but as a very old man I trust my readers will pardon me for not
adopting them.— Edward Newman.]

Huntine often begins in Greenland where it ends with us—in
self-defence ; but it possesses scientific interest for the zoologist,
and the food obtained by it enables the explorer to remain longer
away from the ship. There is the zoological, the geographical and
the pleasure hunt; the latter is of the least frequent occurrence.
Hunting the bear or the walrus is attended with considerable
danger; that of the musk-ox, reindeer, fox, birds, and sea animals
affords only amusement.

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. B

4734 THE ZooLocisT—JANUARY, 1876.

Polar Bear.—The Polar bear, which, with his yellowish white
shaggy skin and black nose, forms a sharp contrast against the
snow-fields at a long distance off, weighs from ten to twelve
hundred-weight, and far surpasses in size those specimens in
zoological gardens or menageries (which are brought over young,
and developed under such unfavourable circumstances); it is sur-
passed by neither the lion nor the tiger in point of strength, and is
quite as dangerous. But the cold zone in which it lives cools its
blood; it is wary and mistrustful. The contradictory reports of
their courage show that one must never judge one specimen by
another, but that each individual is guided by its need of food at
the moment. It lives chiefly on seals, watching for them through
the ice-fissures, and falls upon them while sunning themselves,
with all the cunning of the tiger and the same stealthy step. It
also pursues the seal even when diving, for it is a powerful swimmer,
and only the reindeer excels it in speed. Over jagged rocky
declivities it climbs with cat-like dexterity. The roughness of its
soles, its claws, and hairy paws insure its safety equally on smooth
or sloping ice-surfaces. Payer skinned the hind feet of a bear we
had killed, carefully cleaned them from all fat, rabbed them with
alum, and wore them himself: they were beautiful warm stockings,
for the bear had good soles. Unfortunately they were lost in a fire
on board during the winter. As the seals remain chiefly among
the pack-ice, or on its outer edge, so also the bear during the
summer is a frequent visitor. It follows the seal-hunters step for
step, in order to devour the skinned animals, or when revelling in
excess swims to the carcase of a whale. The bear kills its prey
before eating it, although it likes to play with it first. It rides on
the floes in the arctic current down to Iceland. It is often seen
miles from land, and swims towards boats or ships until driven
back by shots. When glutted with the enjoyment of fat seals it
varies its diet by ducks’ eggs, and a few hours are quite enough for
it to clear a small island entirely.

It is certainly hard for the Arctic traveller to be exposed to the
tender mercies of a bear’s two-inch incisors; but a gun and a pocket
filled with cartridges are of a much more simple process than
dragging a dead seal about after one. If you are unarmed the
slightest movement disquiets the bear and provokes him to action.
But it is a much more serious matter to meet him in the darkness
and be mistaken for a seal—a mistake only cleared up when it is

THE ZoOLoGIst-—JANUARY, 1876. 4735

too late. If you are armed the coolness of his adversary inspires
the bear with a certain amount of respect. But the bear also
deserves our compassion. His life is one continued pursuit of
food, although he is protected from the cold by a layer of fat several
inches thick. Once we found in the stomach of one that belonged
to a besieging corps (which during the whole of the winter and
spring had watched the frozen ship closely, and had forced us to
be wonderfully cautious), nothing but a flannel lappet which our
tailor had thrown away, and in the case of many others it is quite
empty. Sometimes the stomach of a dead bear contains nothing
but water and large pieces of sea-weed (Laminaria), so that hunger
compels it to eat herbs. It is certainly no trifle in this world of
frost, cold and darkness, with its horrible snow-storms, that moun-
tains only offer sufficient obstacles to his wanderings for food
amidst the chaotic crowding and towering ice-fields, surrounded
by fissures, or floating out to sea on an ice-floe. Certainly its
brown cousin in Europe lives in luxury compared to him, and is
comparatively to be envied. In the early part of the year a layer
of fat, which lies under the skin in the summer and autumn, quite
fails. A large male bear, killed near the ship on the Ist of April,
1870, was dreadfully lean; while a female, shot on Sabine Island,
the 7th of July, 1870, was rather fat.

With regard to the much-agitated question as to whether the
bear hybernates, we could make no direct observation. But we
can say at what time of year we saw them. On the 10th of January,
1870, one came to the ship and we hunted him, but he escaped; on
the 13th of January Theodore Klentzer was pursued by one; on the
6th of March Dr. Bérgen was attacked by another; afterwards they
visited us daily. When I add that Copeland fought with one near
Cape Borlase Warren, on the 28th of October, 1869, one may easily
see that their winter sleep, if they have any, must either be very short
or very disturbed. On the 9th of March we saw a bear in a storm,
wandering about with powerful strides, and seeming to think
nothing of the bad weather, although a man, protected by the best
of clothes, could scarcely have moved from the spot. The bear
which we shot on the Ist of April, about three hundred steps from
the ship, cost us the greatest exertions to drag away against the
north wind. The smell of burnt fat draws the creatures from miles
round. In their wanderings they climb high groups_of ice, and
one can sometimes see them looking far out, with their snouts in

4736 TuE ZooLocisT—JANUARY, 1876.

the air, smelling for food. The Esquimaux often catch them by it,
—a maneeuvre which requires cleverness and self-possession,—and
many of them bear marks of the battle fought under such circum-
stances. Head wounds excepted, a shot will sometimes take away
all power of resistance in the strangest manner. Meetings with
bears are attended by very different results. It often happens that
a party of sledge travellers, under peculiar circumstances, and with
but little time to spare, pass one or more of them, sometimes but a
few steps off, when they cause no other feeling than that of curiosity
and astonishment. Krauschner, the engineer, was the snow-
purveyor for the kitchen, and had to go twice a-day with his sledge
to the neighbouring glacier. Once a bear attached himself to him ;
he walked with dignified steps as an escort behind the sledge, and
not until the engineer had reached the ship did our shout of alarm
make him aware of the presence of his somewhat doubtful friend.

On the whole the flesh of the bear (particularly that of old”
animals) is far inferior to that of the brown bear; it is coarse and
tough, and tastes more or less of train-oil. Barentz and many
others maintain that the liver is prejudicial to health. The flesh,
however, we have always found wholesome, and the Esquimaux
west of Davis Straits give it to their dogs.

Sometimes, on our sledge journeys, we were surprised in the
tent; but we never set a thorough watch, chiefly because we none
of us really slept, and a large creature like that could not approach
without a slight rustle. A tent is to a bear thoroughly unintel-
ligible, and an object alike of mistrust and curiosity. One of Kane’s
companions, who was roused by the growling of a bear and the
appearance of its head through the aperture of the tent, had the
presence of mind to put a lighted box of lucifer-matches under his
nose, an insult which he magnanimously forgave, and disappeared
at once. Our first meeting with one was on the 4th of August
among the pack-ice, the day before we landed in Greenland. We
had laid-to by a large ice-floe; when about three hundred steps
from us we saw two bears. The burning of seal’s fat had drawn
their attention, for their black nozzles were high in the air, though
they were shy of approaching the ship. Copeland, Sengstacke and
Payer got into the boat, and, under cover of the steep floe, rowed
towards them; but the newly-formed ice, which filled a creek in
the floe, only admitted of Payer’s landing; he shot hurriedly and
missed, and they at once disappeared among the hummocks. It is

THE ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1876. 4737

not advisable to approach such a powerful enemy unless he is
completely disabled. We met with bears which stood as firm as
a rock against the shot, although at every bullet they quivered
violently, and streams of blood flowed from them. Void of all fat
and hungry these beasts of prey haunted the coast, until upon
discovering the ship the movements of the men at once drew their
attention, and they never left the neighbourhood of Griper Roads
(the name of the winter harbour). Whoever went into the open
air, though only a few steps from the ship, during the long polar
night, required his gun at half-cock. One night the engineer as
he came on deck heard a great rustle, and in the morning foot-
prints showed that a bear had advanced over the snow to. the tent.
These besiegers also paid repeated visits to our provisions on land;
but they played our astronomers the worst trick, for they carried off
the measuring apparatus for the deciding the length of the base.
The greatest evil for sledge-travellers is that however important a
depot they may make for provisions, they can never leave it secure
from these fer of the ice. The best way is to hang a sack upon
an inaccessible wall of rock. The strength which the bears possess
in digging out anything that is buried is astonishing. Covering
over with frozen sand and water is better than the heaviest stone,
because it blunts the bear’s claws. In’spite of their great numbers
seldom more than three (and that a family) are ever seen together.
It is always well understood that the old ones must be killed first,
for a she-bear deprived of her cubs is a terrible adversary. If they
are only wounded, she pushes them before her or defends them with
her own body, though a cub will never hesitate to devour the flesh
of its mother.

The ice-fields of its native home are pleasant to the bear, and it
will not willingly part from them. The whaler ‘ Bienenkorb,’ which
we visited in 1869, had one in a cage on deck; and when, from the .
strong motion from the ship, it caught sight of the ice, it began to
howl dismally. Indeed the sight of the drift-ice worked so power-
fully on the creature that they were obliged at last to have a veil of
sail-cloth before the cage. On the 23rd of August, on our return
voyage, we saw through the pack-ice, half-hidden by the fog, the
three last bears, and as it fell they seemed to be taking leave of us
in a strange tableau.

Arctic Forx.—The Arctic fox is a very interesting species of its
genus. It is either (and that irrespective of the time of year) bluish

4738 THE ZooLoGIsT—JANUARY, 1876.

white or gray. Its coat, which is wonderfully soft, forms an article
of commerce with the Hudson’s Bay Company. It is considerably
smaller in bulk than the polar hare, which, when grown up, gene-
rally weighs about eight pounds and three-quarters. Its flesh is
no delicacy. Barentz, and since him several other Arctic travellers,
however, found it enjoyable, and we (Pansch and Copeland) did
our best to eat. it. The Arctic fox has, with but few exceptions,
none of the cunning attributed to our own Reynard. At least our
recollections of it (except in one or two cases) are of a most harm-
less character. During the winter we succeeded in catching some
after the manner of the Esquimaux. Once one was taken out of
the trap, and laid down for dead, but after a time it sprung up and
rushed away. For the yourg ducks, for which it has a great weak-
ness, the fox is a bitter enemy. It lives upon anything it can get
in winter, even shell-fish and other salt-water produce which is
brought by the tide on to the strand-ice. In the summer lemmings
seem to be its chief food. Nearly the whole of the winter and
spring we kept some prisoners in the engine-rooms; in such close
proximity to the coals they all turned black. Two of them died of
tubercles on the lungs. A beautiful gray fox had to be garotted in
the cabin for refractoriness; another was set free, and the last
deserted the cage that we had made it aud put upon the ice near the
ship: this desertion, which was brought about by the melting and
falling down of the block of ice on which the cage stood, and which
we all witnessed from the deck, had something particularly comical
about it. The fox, which had almost waned away to a skeleton,
began to stretch himself, then to stick out his bushy tail like a
broom, wriggled his lanky body into a pool of water, and lastly, as
elegantly as a dancing master, and as if longing for liberty, started
off without deigning to cast another look at the ship.

The European fox shuns mankind, but the Greenland fox seeks
man’s society, in perfect innocence and without any suspicion, for
it hopes to profit by him. It is the first, after a fortunate day’s
huiiting, to show its astonishment and also hasten to enjoy the
spoil, as well as steal a reindeer ham from the sledge in the night
and carry it away. It accompanies him on hunting and sledge
journeys at a respectful distance, and employs his time of rest in
visiting, opening and plundering the sack of provisions. An ice-
bound ship it watches with great favour, for there is always some
lucky chance bringing him some opportunity of profit, and things

THE ZooLoGist—JANUARY, 1876. 4739

which can be easily carried away. Indeed it is so accustomed to
sponging upon others that it is often difficult to make him ashamed
of himself. If, after hours of constant gnawing, or, when in com-
pany with others, his envious snarling, one goes out of the tent to
stop his tugging at the ropes, instead of going away humbly, he
looks boldly into his benefactor’s face, barks at the firing, and goes
off reluctantly. At other times they come curiously trotting along,
not allowing themselves to be frightened by the firing, and a piece
of bacon-rind will entice them to follow the sledge for miles. It is
a troublesome piece of work to skin a fox newly killed, in the icy
cold; its warm skin forming a warmer neck-tie on that account.

Reindeer and Musk-Ox.—The Greenland reindeer differs at least
from the American, Laplandish and Spitzbergen species. Its horns
are not shovelled at the tips like theirs; they are also more upright.
It carries its head and neck high; its whole build is elegant, and
reminds one, in every respect, of the European deer. Kane and
Hayes also met with them in the most northerly parts of West
Greenland. Our excursions taught us that they increase in
numbers towards the interior of the country; indeed, at the back
of Kaiser Franz-Joseph Fjord, in the neighbourhood of a glacier
remarkable for its luxuriant vegetation, we came upon a tolerably
good footpath trodden by the reindeer.

The musk, or, properly speaking, the sheep-ox is somewhat
smaller than the European ox. Its threatening is quite in contrast
to its harmless nature ; its colour is black ; its hair long, and falling
in rough masses, though on its back is some wool, not to be sur-
passed in fineness. Payer pulled out the wool of three that were
killed, on Kuhn Island, to wrap a number of fossils in, for trans-
portation, and took a careful sketch of one of the most stately. Its
eyes are particularly small. As the name implies, the creature is
distinguished, according to its age, some more, some less, by the
smell of musk in its flesh and fat, to which, however, one can
accustom oneself as to the smell of train-oil. Its flesh, upon the
whole, greatly resembles that of our own ox. The first we saw and
killed was on Shannon Island, in August, 1869. As we did not
then know this animal we made the strangest guesses, comparing
ittoa gnu. Like the reindeer it lives on vegetable food, which is
scanty enough here.

Scarcely anywhere in Greenland does the Flora suffice to change
the face of the soil; at the utmost it only serves to shade it. Moss,

4740 THE ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1876.

lichen, grayish-green grasses, ranunculus, saxifrage, &c., form
meagre solitary patches amongst the weather-beaten stone heaps.
Here and there the plains are covered with birch-bushes, a few
inches high (the stems of which are often no thicker than a lucifer-
match), also with bilberry-bushes, but more often with sallows,
creeping along the ground. Almost every species of the Flora of
the plain, especially the garden poppy, did we find on mountains
from 1625 to 3250 feet high. On the summit of a rock 7495 feet
high grew—near the well-known black and yellow lichen, known
everywhere in the European Alps as the last representative of
vegetation—a long fibrous kind of moss. The greater summer
warmth of the rocky interior of the country insures there a more
varied flora. Former Esquimaux settlements, if only covering a
few square fathoms, were at once recognisable from their light
green colour, caused by constant manuring. Meadows, in our
sense of the term, were nowhere to be seen.

How far north the musk-ox and the reindeer are found we can
scarcely decide; the first we met with in 77° N. lat., and the Jast
only in 75°. The scanty means of existence afforded by the soil
compel them to constant wanderings. Both animals are almost
always met with in herds, sometimes of from twenty to thirty head.
The greatest number of reindeer we ever saw were between one
hundred and two hundred head, on a hilly ground to the west of
Cape Broer Ruys; and the greatest number of musk-oxen in the
brown-coal district of Kuhn Island. To the former we gave battle.
Their behaviour towards the hunter is in no way similar: the rein-
deer approaches him at a brisk trot, full of curiosity, to within a
few steps—indeed, sometimes they come quite close to him; the
musk-ox remains, as if rooted to the spot, staring at the strange,
unknown enemy, and arrives very slowly at a resolution. At Cape
Philip-Broke four of them most humbly condescended to play with
Payer by pretending to carry off his portable table. Older animals
stand fire most coolly, even after being wounded, and defend the
most exposed part by putting down their heads, which is their
invulnerable part. One of them once received a shot from a
Wanzl-gun on his mailed forehead without showing the slightest
annoyance—the ball fell a flattened disk on to the ground. Ifa
family or a herd of young ones are surprised they either form a
square (the-young being in the centre, and the old outside with
their heads down), or else the bull, placed as a sentinel, takes to

THE ZooLoGisT—JANUARY, 1876. 4741

flight, and the others follow closely, the placing of their out-
posts being astonishing. They are also excellent climbers: a
retreating herd climbed a snow-path at an incline of not less than
45° on a high mountain near our winter harbour, and to our great
astonishment we saw one looking down upon us from between
the craggy walls of Cape Hamburg.

At the first shot a herd of approaching reindeer will make a
spring and then stand terrified; the next shot, or the fall of one of
them, puts the rest to flight. It costs something thus to dispel their
innocent confidence. Once a reindeer ran hurriedly over the land
to a boat that was landing: it stood close to us on shore, with its
head stretched out and its large soft eyes watching us confidingly.
One of us sprang hastily on shore, and it ran off. On another
occasion a number of them came close to the tent. Buta scene
took place, which many of our hunting friends would envy us, in a
herd near Cape Bennet, in August, 1870. We had just left our
boat, which we were going to load with seven carcasses which we
had killed some days before and left behind; but unfortunately
they had all turned bad, as we had neglected to open them.
Suddenly there came from twenty to thirty head over the mountain-
slope, and upon reaching a snow-field all lay down, enticed by the
refreshing coolness and our own example, as we had just done the
same thing. As, however, we started to continue our journey, the
front guard of the reindeer rose to do the same; but it happened
that one of them—evidently the leader—seemed displeased that
the greater number took no notice of the movement, as they desired
to have a little more rest, so it stopped the others, turned back,
and went to each animal separately, pushing it with its horns, until
they all stood up and began their march together to a new grazing-
place. The flesh of the reindeer is good, though somewhat soft
and spongy. It is plain that these creatures were very useful to
us, and that without them we should often have been in a sad
predicament. Unfortunately our furthest and most productive hunt
took place shortly before we left Greenland, and over against the
island of Jan Mayen. We had to throw more than a thousand
pounds of reindeer and musk-oxen flesh overbvard, as the rising
of the temperature beyond the pack-ice, together with the damp,
turned it all bad.

Walrus.—If any creature deserves the name of monster it is the
walrus. It is from nine feet six inches to sixteen feet six inches

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. c

4742 THE ZooLoGistT—JANUARY, 1876.

long, weighs about 20 cwt., and its skin is three inches and a
half thick (a sort of massive coat of mail), with a head of infinite
ugliness, rather large eyes, and tusks sometimes thirty inches long
(of a sort of ivory), which helps the creature to obtain his food
(chiefly mussels) from the bottom of the sea, and, together with the
breast-fins, help him to climb on to the floating ice to a place of
rest. Round his jaws are long cat-like bristles, as thick as a large
darning-needle. Demoniacal as his appearance is, his voice is as
bad—a jerking, imitative scream, lowing and puffing, often repeated,
and in which it seems to delight. Walruses and seals, from their
richness in train-oil, are highly estimated in the Arctic fishery, and
are invaluable to the Esquimaux; indeed, in many cases when—
either from the blocking up of the coast with ice or the retreating
of the herd—they have been unable to catch any, they have almost
died of hunger. One way the Esquimaux have of killing the seals
is to approach them by degrees with a white screeu, behind which
they crouch ; and another by lying in ambush amongst the ice, and
harpooning them. One of the largest walruses that we saw was
killed on the ice near Shannon, on the 27th of August, 1869, by
Dr. Copeland: it measured nine feet eleven inches in length. The
skin is particularly flexible and soft, and the leather we used for
straps for the machinery. The time it remains under water de-
pends upon the time the creature has had for preparation. If a
walrus is suddenly hunted from his sleep into the water it must
rise again immediately to the surface. Nowit takes a deep breath.
If it is again hunted it comes up again; if this is repeated five or
six times the walrus then seems to be provided with a store, for
now it dives in reality, and is seldom seen again.

Walrus-hunting is very dangerous, for in its fury this animal can
break through ice six inches thick. If, therefore, it is not met
with on strong old ice, it is necessary to change one’s place very
quickly, for (as is the case with all mammals) the walrus is obliged
to come to the surface of cracks, or ice-holes, kept open for the
purpose, in order to breathe every ten minutes. The animals notice
exactly the direction and the distance of their enemy, and emerge
at the spot to meet and destroy him. MReturning from the sledge-
journey from the Tiroler Fjord we had abundant opportunity of
proving this. Contrasted with its ferocity in the water, there is
nothing more innocent and harmless than a herd of walruses sunning
themselves on an ice-floe or the shore, or indeed sleeping on the

THE ZooLocist—JAnuary, 1876. 4743

water; but unfortunately the comparison with a torpedo (which, for
fear of some accident, one dares not touch) is only too well founded.
A single ice-floe often bears twenty and sometimes a much larger
number of these creatures, their dark, sphinx-like bodies lying
close together, the head, from their long tusks, leaning sideways or
upon one another; and thus they sleep away the greater part of
their existence in the sun, lulled by the rushing and roaring of the
breakers. The walrus surprised on shore or on an ice-field is utterly
helpless, and, although it strikes furiously on all sides with its tusks,
is just as harmless as it is terrible when its anger is aroused in the
water. One peculiarity, which under some circumstances may be
very dangerous, is its great curiosity. Should one of these monsters
see a boat it rears itself, astonished, above the surface, utters at once
a cry of alarm, swimming towards it as quickly as possible. This
call brings up others, awakens the sleepers, which the boat had
carefully avoided, and in a short time the small vessel is followed
by a number of these monsters, blustering in apparent or real fury
in all their hideousness. The creatures may possibly be only
actuated by curiosity, but their manner of showing it is un-
fortunately so ill chosen that one feels obliged to act on the
defensive. The bellowing, jerking and diving herd is now but a
short distance from the boat. The first shot strikes, and this in-
flames their wrath ; and now begins a wild fight, in which some of
the black sphinxes are struck with axes on the flappers, with which
they threaten to overturn the boat. Others of the men defend
themselves with a spear or with the blade of an oar. Often, from
some unknown cause, these creatures turn suddenly from the fight,
jerking and diving under water, and when at some distance turn
their ugly heads to look back and fill the air with their vindictive
grunts. In the summer of 1869 a boat excursion to Cape Wynn
with difficulty escaped the destruction of their craft. Another time
they were followed by a herd, and succeeded in reaching the shore
of an island, where, though only for a short time, they were
blockaded in. The longer you live in Arctic regions, the less
can you persuade yourself to attack these creatures in their
own element, unless forced by pressing circumstances,—zé. e. want
of either food or of oil,—and then it is advisable, if in boats, to
provide oneself with cartridges. The most successful hunt is when
these creatures are surprised on the ice-Aoes. When approaching
very near them the oars are shipped and the boat noiselessly

4744 Tue ZooLocist—JANvUARY, 1876.

landed. The hunters get upon the floe behind the creatures; but
scarcely does one raise its head in contempt and anger than all the
others wake up, and the whole herd press forward, pushing the ,
young ones with them to the edge of the floe, where they tumble
head foremost into the water. Only this short time is at the
hunter’s disposal, and his shots must be quick and true. Should
one of the young ones be killed the mother carries it with her
flappers, challenging her enemies to fight, with a fierce look. A
walrus once killed is quickly made fast with a rope to the boat
before it sinks. The weight of these creatures is so enormous that
two of them which we had hoisted on to the same side of the deck
gave it a decided inclination. We were obliged to eat seals as well
as walrus, and that, too (more often than not), raw; their flesh has
a strong flavour of train-oil; that of the latter is almost black, the
liver a beautiful violet. Both creatures have the extraordinary
habit of occasionally swallowing stones.

Seal.—The seal is from three to six feet long, perfectly harmless
and defenceless. It is cautious and suspicious, and will dive for
the slightest cause. Indeed, its apish face, with its peculiar
expression of curiosity, is in and out of the water every minute.
Seals live in herds: seal-hunters often find hundreds on one ice-
floe. Whilst they sleep or sun themselves they set a watch, which
being killed the whole herd may often be taken. A seal-hunt is
carried on in different ways: the most successful is with clubs.
Their skull is very weak. Our bullets had the effect of blowing
them to pieces. The most fruitful ground for seal-hunting is the
neighbourhood of Newfoundland and the lonely island of Jan
Mayen, lying within the Arctic Circle. In southern latitudes they
rarely appear. When dead they sink very quickly. To the Esqui-
maux the seal and walrus are of universal utility: they cut strips
out of their skin, make dresses, finish their boats, cover the floors
and walls of their snow-huts: their bones they use for the repair of
their sledges and weapons; their fat as fuel, their flesh for food:
in a word, wherever Esquimaux exist seal and walrus are eaten.

Greenland Hare.—The European hare is remarkable for its long
and rapid hasty flight and its timidity ; the Greenland hare, on the
contrary, sits as if nailed down in its rocky refuge, however near the
hunter may pass to him. Sometimes one sees the mountain-slopes
dotted with white spots, which, from their motionlessness, might
be taken for snow; but they are only white hares. They are about

THE ZooLoGIsST—JANUARY, 1876. 4745

the size of our own hares; but their flesh, like that of the Alpine
hare, is insipid. Hare-hunting in Greenland often gives rise to the
drollest scenes. Their hearing appears to be even weaker than
their sight. Payer once stood near a hare which was startled by
repeated firing, but had confined its flight to a few steps: the
creature was nibbling the moss quietly. Payer took out his sketch-
book, and drew it in all the different positions which, in its un-
easiness at the conversation and laughter of his companions, it
assumed.

Wolf and Wolf-like Dog.—The peculiar species of wolf met
with in other Arctic neighbourhoods in not found in East Green-
land, neither is the wolf-like dog, now dying out from disease, and
upon which the existence of the Esquimaux in East Greenland
is completely dependent. Brown, in. his ‘Fauna of Greenland,
believes that the dogs brought by Torell from Greenland to
Spitzbergen in 186], to work the sledges (a plan frustrated by
the sea being found open), would increase rapidly and return to
the original wolf type. They are also unknown in the North of
Kurope, and, like the ice- cana fox and reindeer, are peculiar to
the Arctic Circle.

Arctic Birds.—Interesting, too, is the more or less periodical
return of a large number of birds which animate the Arctic world,
some for only the summer weeks, and some for the whole year,
such as ptarmigan and ravens (both of which remain through the
winter); a number of screaming birds—most of which are species
of gulls distinguished by their greediness—such as the auks, the
divers, and, above all, the eider ducks. These cling like so many
white spots to the clefted rock, screaming to each other or sitting
in a circle on the edge of a floe. A short early ice-covering of the
coast water, indicating the close of a fleeting summer, has many
embarrassments for them; and soon the far greater part accept the
signal for emigration to southern regions. The west coast of Green-
land is much richer in birds than the east coast. Our share was
therefore proportionately small. The flesh of Arctic birds has,
doubtless owing to the nature of their food, a strong taste of
train-oil.—* German Arctic Expedition’ (vol. ii., p. 465).

4746 THE ZooLoGistT—J ANUARY, 1876.

Noles from Castle Eden. By Mr. JoHN SCLATER.
(Continued from §. 8. 4406.)

JANUARY, 1875.

The first day of 1875, like the last of 1874, was a terrible day
for the poor birds.

Waterhen.—One found dead in a cow-byre and another in a
covered well: both birds appear to have been seeking shelter; they
had fed regularly with the poultry for some time, but their stomachs
contained only a small quantity of green pulp. It seems therefore
that vegetable food is not sufficient to sustain life in these birds in
continued severe weather, when frosts seal up their uatural insect-
food; for it would hardly be logical to return a verdict of “ found
starved to death in a warm cow-byre” in one instance, or “ suicide
by drowning” in the other.

Redbreast.—Of several that visit the house one is particularly
interesting: he has quartered himself in the kitchen for the last six
weeks, seldom leaving it, his favourite perch being the top of a delf-
rack, where he sits exactly in the centre and will sing for hours
together. The roaring of the kitchen fire seems quite to his taste,
and more so the small cockroaches, of which he eats a great number,
and so intent is he in pursuit of them as to run great risk of being
trodden on.

Blackheaded Gull.—On the 5th 1 obtained a fine specimen on
the beach. The plumage of this bird is identical with Yarrell’s
description of the masked gull in winter, but I cannot believe them
to be distinct species.

Redwing.—Seven found dead on a ledge of clay overhung by
grass at the side of a small stream.

Goldeneye.—On the 16th I obtained an adult female on the coast,
shot from a flight of four.

17th. I heard a missel thrush singing; no song thrushes to be
seen yet; starlings seem as happy as if they had known no storm;
rooks at their nests as clamorous as possible. Itis surprising what
a change a few fine days has made in these poor creatures, which
a fortnight ago were nearly starved to death.

Dipper.—On the 19th an adult female was shot and brought to
me; the stomach contained the bones of a minnow and the elytra
of a small beetle.

THE ZooLocistT—JANUARY, 1876. 4747

Song Thrush.—28th. I saw a single bird on the lawn, the first
I have seen this year.

FEBRUARY.

3rd. Saw two more song thrushes. By the 16th a good many
had returned, but still less than our usual complement: the same
may be said of the blackbirds.

Razorbill—On the 20th I found several dead on the beach.
Birds so picked up I always find poor in condition, with empty
stomachs, and generally after stormy weather from the north-east ;
but the fact of this mortality amongst them so invariably taking
place in or near the month of February rather goes to show that
these birds are commonly, if not always, reduced to a very weak
state at this time of year.

May.

On the 12th I had a hurried run up the North Tyne, partly on
foot, but mostly by rail, and therefore found but little to note.

Blackheaded Gull.—This species first took my attention. I found
it straggling the whole distance—a few immature amongst them,
Nothing ever pleased me more than the sight of these birds hawking
the sprouting corn-fields, and the graceful and easy manner they
alight to pick up a grub, their feet just touching the ground for a
second and their wings remaining full spread upwards. I made
inquiries but could not find any clue to their nesting up the
_ Yiver.

Warblers.—Near Hesleside I was brought to a halt at a thicket
by the roadside, and compelled to sit down and listen to such a
medley of song as I never before heard, the performers being the
sedge warbler, blackcap, garden warbler, wood wren, willow wren,
whitethroat, and the common wren (the latter only joining in at
intervals, and was certainly heard above all); added to these was
the song of the sky lark overhead; a chaffinch and his mate,
I thought, would have been better out of the way. I could have
spent the day with them, but I had set out at 6 A.M. on a glass of
whiskey and milk only, and the thought of having to tramp nine or
ten miles before I could breakfast caused me to move on.

Sand Martin.—Found nesting on the banks of the river in great
abundance. Mr. Hancock must have been there when he wrote
his curt notice of this species in his ‘Catalogue of the Birds of

4748 Tue ZooLoGisT—JANUARY, 1876.

Northumberland and Durham’—viz., “It breeds wherever there is
a sandy declivity.”

Gray Wagtail.—I saw two pairs and an odd bird (a male) at
different places on the river: one of the pairs was flitting about
amongst the sand martins. I also saw a pair of black-and-white
wagtails; but whether they were the so-called pied or white
species, if they are really distinct,—my humble opinion is that they
are not,—I was not near enough to determine.

Common Sandpiper.—l saw a single pair on the river near
Falstone.

I had not time to follow the course of the river, so I missed
seeing the dipper and very probably other interesting species.

Hen Harrier.—On the 138th, walking from Melrose to Abbots-
ford, a female of this species crossed the road a few yards in front
of me, and, after skimming across an adjoining field, alighted on a
tree at the edge of a plantation. Five or six wood pigeons flew
from the same tree in a rather confused manner on her approach.
She made no attempt to strike any of them. Itis to be hoped that
this species still manages to breed in the district.

Swift.—On the 16th I observed the swift very common at
Alnwick; a great number were wheeling round the top of the
Castle. The swallow tribe seems to be unusually common this
season. |

Summer Migrants.—There appears to me to be an uncommonly
uneven distribution of our most common migrants this year. Ou
the 17th I walked from Alnwick to Warkworth, through fields and
woods, some eight or ten miles perhaps, without hearing or seeing
the wood wren, nor did I observe the chiffchaff, and there is no
lack of lofty trees in the neighbourhood. On the other hand,
I never before found the sedge warbler so abundant anywhere—
scarcely a hedgerow without its pair or two; this latter I have not
seen or heard at Castle Eden this season, where it is usually not
uncommon, and the two former have appeared here in larger
numbers than usual. The whitethroat and the garden warbler
have come in about their usual numbers, but the blackcap is much
less common, and I have not seen the wheatear nor whinchat this
year, and the latter is usually very common here. The corn crake
is commoner here this season than I have ever known it; the
cuckoo has also appeared in greater numbers here: all, however,
have arrived later than usual.

THE ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1876. 4749

Jackdaw.—Standing on the ruins at Warkworth Castle I saw an
encounter between a jackdaw and some ten or twelve blackbirds,
old and young: after a great deal of buffetting on each side of the
fence, the jackdaw settled down behind the fence out of sight,
having succeeded in capturing one of the young: his attempts to
accomplish this were possibly the cause of the disturbance. I believe
it is a common thing for rooks, jays and jackdaws to kill young
birds in continued dry weather, when there is a scarcity of worms.
I could not go to the place, as the river ran deep between us.
A farmer at Castle Eden told me that he saw, on the 2nd instant, a
fight between a hare and a number of jackdaws on the top of a
rock in the Dene, where great numbers of them nest. The hare
was standing upright, striking at them with her fore feet, and
screaming. ‘The birds appeared to have something amongst them
he could not clearly see, but he thought it was a young hare.
I have no doubt it was.

JUNE.

Blue Tit.—Having for some time observed a pair of blue tits
flitting about and hanging to a rook’s nest whenever I passed that
way, I began to watch them more closely, and, concealing myself,
I soon found they had a nest of young amongst the sticks of the
rook’s nest, near the bottom. ‘There were three young rooks in
the nest at the same time.

11th. There is now in a very secluded place in the Dene two
pairs of stock doves, three pairs of kestrels, two pairs of starlings,
five or six pairs of jackdaws, one pair of great tits, and two pairs
of blue tits, all nesting in a rock within a space of about fifteen
yards square. The stock doves have built under the roots of yews
overhanging the top of the rock, and I may add that this is almost
invariably the case here; only once have I found their nest low
down, and in this instance it was at the root of an ivy against a
rock about two feet from the water, and it is curious that a kestrel
was rearing a brood of five on a ledge some twelve or thirteen feet
above, and iwo blue tits had nests in the rock also at the same
time. At the first-mentioned place I found the feathers of a stock
dove that had evidently been killed by a hawk, but I do not think
it was the kestrels—none of the birds mentioned seem to care the
least for their presence; but it is very different with the blackbirds
and thrushes that have collected in large numbers on the opposite
hill-side, where they find more food during dry weather amongst

SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. D

4750 THE ZooLoGisT—JANUARY, 1876.

the brackens. Amongst them there is a continuous din of alarm
from early morn till late at night; their young in such places
become an easy prey to the kestrel.

Kestrels at Eden Dene.—You will be glad to hear that nine pairs
of kestrels have reared their broods in the Dene this season, and
I am not aware of more than four or five birds having fallen victims
to the keeper’s gun, for although they are protected I know that
they are sometimes shot; but they never stay long about the Dene;
they disperse for some time in the neighbourhood, and mostly
disappear in the autumn, only a few birds remaining during the
winter. But I wish to mention here that I have witnessed three
instances of the kestrel (all adult males) arriving on the coast from
the east. The most interesting of the three occurred on the 4th of
October, 1871. I was sitting behind some rocks, at low water,
trying to get a shot at some large gulls, when I observed a small
hawk come off the sea from the east in a straight line towards me.
I thought it looked too small for a kestrel; it hardly came within
shot, but alighted on arock. I walked towards it, and got within
twenty yards, when it flew away. I then saw that it was a male
kestrel, but still it seemed to me smaller and the plumage much
brighter than is usual; it only flew a short distance, and again
alighted on a rock on the sea banks. I again walked after it, and
got nearly as close to it as before, when it again took wing, and
T shot it. It was evident that the bird was either much fatigued
or had come from some place where gunpowder is not so much
used as it is in this part of the world. 1 was rather surprised when
I got home and found it nothing short of the usual measurements ;
but the body, although in good condition, was smaller I think than
is usual, the length of the bird being thirteen inches, of which the
tail measured seven and a half inches. All the three that I have
observed as landing from the sea were particularly bright and
clear in their markings; at all events I am certain they were not
bred in this dirty neighbourhood, and have but little doubt that
they came from somewhere “ o’er the sea.” I know that this is at
variance with what Mr. Harting, in his ‘ Handbook,’ says,—viz.,
that the kestrel “‘ migrates to the east and south-east in autumn,”—
and I am not forgetting the fact that they are generally all brighter
or cleaner at this time of year after having moulted.

JoHN SCLATER.
Castle Eden, Durham.

THE ZOOLOGIST—JANUARY, 1876. A751

Migration of Swallows and Martins.
By Captain H. HapDFtELp.

OBSERVATIONS carried on during the last ten years convince
me that I was right in remarking, in December, 1865 :—‘‘1 must
nevertheless say, after an experience of many years, that I have
come to the conclusion that the first migration of both species
takes place in September”— not October, as is generally sup-
posed.

There are, it appears, three distinct migratory flights; the first
about the middle of September, made up of both old birds and
young, chiefly, I believe, from the northern counties and Scotland
the nights being then cold and sometimes frosty; once on the
move many cross the Channel, as was observed on the 15th of
September last. The second flight, as is well known, takes place
early in October. The third, or November flight, is that of the
late broods, together with the old or parent birds, whose migration
has been retarded by the care of their young. However, a solitary
swallow or martin may, of a mild season, be met with in December;
for instance, their occurrence here between the Ist and 10th of the
month has been three or four times recorded in the ‘ Zoologist.’
In order to prove that late broods cannot migrate with the rest,
I have only to remark that I have found them in the nest as late as
the end of September.

With regard to the migration of the swallow tribe in general,
little dependence is to be placed upon the observations of casual
observers, not one in twenty of whom know a swallow from a
martin, and often mistake—as I have had occasion to point out—
a starling for a swallow. Though we all know the swallow appears,
in the South of England, the first or second week in April, and the
martin a few days later, it does not follow that I, you or they see
them on their arrival, as they generally come singly, or by twos
and threes at the most. So the question resolves itself into this—
Who is the best observer? For instance, I find, on referring to
my notes for 1839, that no swallows were seen till the 21st of
April; but I have no doubt they would have been met with several
days sooner had I been on the look out.

Though I have heard of swallows being seen earlier, I never
met with one before the 2nd of April or later than the 9th of

4752 Tue ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1876.

December. During the thirty years or more that I have paid
attention to the autumnal migration of the Hirundines on this
coast, their line of flight has invariably been to the east or south-
east. It may be thought strange that those in the western counties
do not take a more southerly course, crossing the Channel at
once; but seemingly they prefer travelling overland, hawking by
the way; besides the woody, hilly and undulating nature of the
country passed over is a shelter and protection. Crossing the Strait
from the Sussex coast, then by France, Switzerland, Italy, Sicily,
Malta, and adjacent islands, they would arrive in Africa, having
had little sea to pass over.

In support of the theory of a September migration, I now give a
few extracts from my notes; but some years the final flight only is
recorded in them, or the list of September migrations would no
doubt have been longer. That there is a general move early in
September on the Continent, too, I had pretty good proof this
season, having observed both swallows and martins flocking
together in great numbers, both in Switzerland and Italy.

Extracts From Note-Books.

1852, Sept. 10. There are to-day some hundreds of swallows congregating.

1853, Sept. 17. Observed hundreds of swallows assembling on the roofs of
the houses.

1854, Sept. 7. There was a migratory flight. .

1855, Sept. 10. Saw innumerable swallows and martins on the roofs and
chimneys of the houses on the cliffs.

1863, Sept. 6. Swallows have commenced congregating on our coast.

1864, Aug. 29. A considerable flock of young swallows has appeared.

1865, Sept. 17. Junumerable swallows and a few martins seen in rapid
flight to the eastward, against the wind.

1867, Sept. 19. Swallows seen in great numbers; I believe the migration
has commenced.

1874, Sept. 18. From an early hour numerous swallows seen, the wind
having veered to the east during the night.

1875, Sept. 15. Swallows met with at sea between Dieppe and Newhaven.

Henry HADFIELD.
Ventnor, Isle of Wight, November 26, 1875.

Tue ZooLocist—JANuARY, 1876, 4753

Noles on some Fishes observed at Portrush, County Antrim.
By J. Doveras Ocixsy, Esq.

Havine had unusually good opportunities during the last four
months for observing the fishes which frequent this part of our
coast, I venture to send you a few short notes, chiefly referring to
the more uncommon species, hoping, if these prove to be of inte-
rest, to supplement them, at some future time, by more extended
observations.

Tadpole Hake. Raniceps trifurcus (Walbaum).—Perhaps the
greatest rarity which I had the good fortune to obtain was a fine
specimen, measuring eight inches and a half in total length, which
was washed ashore here during the second week in November.
The only other known Irish localities from whence this scarce fish
has been recorded are—Donoghadee, County Down, as mentioned
in Thompson’s ‘Natural History of Ireland’ (vol. iv., p. 188);
Dalkey Sound, where Sir Dominic Corrigan obtained it; and
Dingle Bay, whence it was procured by that Lnrieianipable ichthy-
ologist, Mr. William Andrews.

Gattoruginous Blenny. Blennius idracias Bloch.—This
species, though usually considered rare on the Irish coast, is
decidedly not so here, as I obtained several fine specimens, the
largest measuring seven inches; all of these were taken in crab-
pots laid on a rocky bottom, in water varying from ten to twelve
fathoms depth. Examples up to five inches long retain the trans-
verse bars mentioned by Yarrell] as a sign of youth.

Yarrell’s Blenny. Blenniops arcanii (Walbaum).—I obtained
two specimens of this fish, both of which were taken in crab-pots
along with the preceding. Hitherto it has only been known as
Trish from Carrickfergus and Dalkey Sound, as mentioned by
Thompson.

Saury. Scomberesox saurus (Walbaum).—Examples of this
species are decidedly rare on our north coast, and I have only
one specimen, which was cast ashore in a mutilated state during
the last week of September. I am informed, however, by residents
at Portrush that few years pass without some examples being
obtained in this manner.

Lesser Weever. Trachinus vipera, Cuv. § Val.—One specimen
of this fish which I caught was of the very unusual size of six

4754 THE ZooLoGist—JANUARY, 1876.

inches and one-eighth, the common length about here being under
four inches and a half. I have found this species to rise with
avidity to a small white fly, towed after a boat over a sandy
bottom in water about three and four feet in depth.

Atherine. Atherina presbyter, Cuvier.—Very common in the
harbour of Portrush during the autumn months. It is locally
known as “pincher,” and is only caught by fishing with a small
hook baited with a piece of the flesh of Galeus canis, that of every
other dog-fish being refused.

Basse. Labrax lupus (Lacépéde).—Certainly scarce in the North
of Ireland. I obtained one specimen this year, the first I have
ever seen from this coast, caught in a seine-net near Portstewart,
County Down, and weighing ten pounds and a half.

Sea Trout. Salmo trutta, Fleming.—It is perhaps worth men-
tioning that I caught a fine example, three pounds weight, when
reeling for pollack, with a sand-eel bait, in the open sea about two
miles from the mainland, shortly after 2 A. M.

Ocean Pipe-fish. Nerophis aquoreus (Linneus).—Certainly the
most common species, and I obtained several fine specimens, the
two largest being each twenty inches long: all these were taken in
what seemed to me to be a curious way; namely, in open net-work
lobster-pots, where, though in no way detained by the meshes, they
were invariably found clinging, with the end of their tail curled
once or twice round the net-work, preferring to trust to this rather
than swim away. I may mention that the figure of this fish given
by Yarrell (‘British Fishes,’ vol. ii., p. 409) is far too deep in
comparison to its length; that on page 414 is much better.

Great Pipe-fish. Syngnathus acus, Linneus.—I only caught
one immature example in a shrimp-net, and suppose that its rarity
is caused by the absence of the beds of Zostera, in which this
species delights.

With regard to the flat-fishes, I mention all the species which
I have observed on this coast ; these, in addition to their excellence
as food, being the most numerous and the most easily obtained.

Holibut. Hippoglossus vulgaris, Fleming.—Occasionally cap-
tured in winter on the cod-lines, baited either with Buccinum
undatum or the flesh of various fishes, chiefly Labride.

Turbot. Rhombus maximus (Linneus).—Common, and runs to
a large size, especially along the Magilligan Strand; and the same
remark applies to the Brill, Rhombus levis (Linneus).

THE ZooLocist—JANuARY, 1876. 4755

Plaice. Pleuronectes platessa, Linneus.—Along with the next
species, the most abundant of our flat-fishes. Examples of large
size are often obtained, and I saw several this summer that turned
the scale on ten pounds.

Common Dab. Pleuronectes limanda, Linneus.— Thompson
states that this species is “not commonly known,” but the remark
does not apply to this part of the coast, where the “ gray back,” as
it is locally called, is the most numerous kind brought up in the
trawl, rarely, however, exceeding twelve inches.

Lemon Dab. Pleuronectes microcephalus, Donovan.—Cannot
be considered uncommon, as several specimens may almost always
be picked out of a night’s trawling. The largest example which
I saw measured seventeen inches. It isa very light fish, a plaice
of the same size weighing double. It is known on this coast as
“bastard sole.”

Flounder. Pleuronectes flesus, Linneus.—Common ; called here
“fresh-water fluke.” Although no rivers run into the sea within five
miles of Portrush, this fish is almost invariably caught close in
shore, inside and beneath the breakers. The largest example
weighed two pounds and three-quarters.

Sole. Solea vulgaris, Quensel—Common. Very large specimens
are occasionally taken, two which I saw this year being over four
pounds and a half each.

In addition to the above-mentioned, I have reason to believe,
from the description given to me by an intelligent fisherman, and
from his picking out the figure of Rhombus punctatus (Bloch) in
Yarrell (vol. i., p. 646), that this fish has occurred in the harbour
of Portrush: the same man has told me of a mackerel (!) which
was caught here several years ago, and weighed eight pounds: no
doubt some species of bonito.

A few words, in conclusion, about the names under which the
coal-fish (Gadus virens, Linn.) is known on this coast: it is called
by different names, according to its age; the fry, which, as is well
known, are spawned early in spring, rove in vast shoals along the
shore during the autumn, by which time they measure from four to
seven inches, and are known as “ cadan” (pronounced cudden)
next spring they are called “ceithnach” (pronounced catenach),
which is perhaps a mere expansion of the former name, since
the termination “ach” signifies like; in the following autumn,
when weighing about two pounds, they are known as “ glasan”

?

4756 THE ZooLocGtsTt—JANUARY, 1876.

(pronounced glashin), in allusion to their green colour; a year later
they are called “ two-year-old glasan ;” and from thenceforward are
entitled to the full name of “ gray lord,” which is employed for the
adult fish of from eight to twenty-five pounds. For this last term
I have failed to find any meaning, and should be glad if any of
your readers could inform me. It is a strange thing that the
pollack (Gadus pollachius, Linn.), though quite as abundant a
species here, has no names peculiar to its different ages, but is
universally known as “lythe,” whether young or adult.

The Latin names which I have employed are taken from
Dr. Giinther’s British Museum Catalogue, and the rarer specimens
above mentioned are now in the collection of the Royal Dublin
Society.

J. Doucias OGILBY.

36, Elgin Road, Dublin.

Balzonoptera musculus at Lynn.—A whale of this species was found
floating dead in the Channel near the Knock Buoy, in the Lynn Roads, on
the 9th of August last. The men brought it on shore at the back of the
stone-banks about two miles below Lynn. When found it was in an
advanced state of decomposition, and must have been long dead: it
measured forty-two feet in length. The carcase was purchased by a manure -
company, and I believe cut up before any competent authority had examined
it; but some of the remains were afterwards examined by Mr. Clark, of
Cambridge, who found it to be a young specimen of B. musculus, and
secured a section of the skull for the Cambridge Museum. Whence come
these dead and more or less decomposed fin-whales which are from time to
time stranded on our shores? Perhaps the following may throw some light
upon the subject :—On board a Vadsé and Hamburgh steamer last summer,
the captain told me that a certain Herr 8, Foyn established, eight or nine
years ago, at Vadsi, a fishery for this species. From its active habits and
the velocity with which this whale rushes through the water when har-
pooned, it is difficult and dangerous in the extreme to take in the ordinary
way, and at first Mr. Foyn met with small success; of late years, however,
he has perfected his mode of attack and kills thirty or forty each season.
He found the ordinary harpoon of little use, for the reasons above given,
and now makes use of a detonating shell, which kills the whale instantly,
and it is seldom that one escapes. When secured they are towed into
Vadso, where they are drawn up an inclined “slip” by a winch, and there
stripped of their blubber ; the carcase is made into manure aud the blubber
refined on the spot. In the summer of 1874 they killed thirty-five whales,

THE ZooLocist—J anouary, 1876. 4757

and this summer when my informant left Vassé, about the middle of July,
they had already killed thirty-two, and expected to take several others
before the season finished. The captain added that it was not a very paying
business, but that Mr. Foyn was a very charitable gentleman and wished
to find employment for the people. 1 think it very probable that the
majority of the fin-whales which have been stranded of late years on the
British coast may have been wounded in this fishery, and after death
borne south by wind and currents to our shores. It would be interesting
if any of your correspondents could give further particulars as to the way in
which this fishery is carried on, and the precise mode of attack and weapons
used.—T. Southwell; Norwich, December 10, 1875.

Seal at Holbeton.—The following is from the ‘ Western Morning News’
of October 30th :—* On Tuesday last, whilst Mr. Revell, jun., of Keaton
Farm, Holbeton, was walking on the cliffs, he perceived something unusual
moving on the sands. Having his gun with him he at once took aim and
shot it in the head. On coming up to his prize he found it to be a seal,
measuring in length about three feet and a half, and weighing thirty-three
pounds and a half. He conveyed it home, and subsequently it has been
exhibited at Holbeton and Ivybridge, the majority of the people having never
seen a seal before in the neighbourhood.” The seal was of the common
species, Phoca vitulina.—John Gatcombe ; 8, Lower Durnford Street, Stone-
house, Plymouth.

Migration of Birds,—In the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1874 (S. S. 3834) appeared
a communication from me on the appearance and stay of the martins and
swallows at Looe in the month of November, 1873. Any one turning to
it and comparing it with the comments made on it by Capt. Hadfield in
the * Zoologist’ for December (S. 8. 4717) will see that he has mistaken,
misunderstood and misquoted it: he mistakes it by attributing the Editor's
query to me ; he misunderstands it so far as to apply it to general migration,
whilst I only refer to the month of November; and he commits—to put it
mildly—the great error of omitting portions of a sentence in one case and
adding in another, so as to make the sentences suitable to his views.
Having done this he proceeds to answer my supposed query in the following
words :—‘ They were doubtless late broods; but it was not the ‘cold wind,’
as he seems to suppose, that had kept them from migrating, but want of
power in these young birds to take so long a flight.”* However little I may
know about the migration of birds, I certainly know that the cold wind of
November could have no effect on the migration of the preceding month,
and I can still as easily “entertain the idea” that it was the cold east
wind that delayed them here for twelve days in November during a
continuance of such a wind, leaving us immediately on a change of
wind to the N.W., as I can believe that they were young birds, which

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. E

4758 Tur ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1876.

appeared to be in a state of semi-starvation during the whole time,
and which were delaying their already-commenced migration for the
purpose of regaining ‘ power to take so long a flight.” The ‘ wind-bound”
theory, in the sense Captain Hadfield applies it, is his own: I had not the
least idea that the force of the wind alone prevented the swallows pursuing
their migration for twelve days, but that the peculiar cold which accom-
panies an easterly wind at that season, and has such a numbing and
depressing effect both on mau and beast when exposed to its influence, was
the cause; and I still think that my theory, when applied to my com-
munication, is equally as tenable as Capt. Hadfield’s. May it not be that
the same instinct which teaches migrants that when the wind * veers to the
east or north-east,” in October, a general move is necessary, teaches those
which were compelled to remain until November that when the wind veers
to east in that month, attended by cold, it is necessary they should delay
their migration until a more genial wind prevails? I must confess can see
nothing to prevent such a supposition. Judging from Capt. Hadfield’s
paper, I think his thirty years’ experience, although it may have enabled
him to get rid of Gilbert White’s mud theory, still leaves him im a sad
muddle as to the causes of the migration of birds.—Stephen Clogy ; Looe.
Sea Birds at Flamborough.—October 12th.— ‘Two Richardson's skuas,
both birds of the year, were killed by Mr. Bailey to-day off Flamborough
Head. They are now in my collection, and present a great contrast, one
being a very dark, and the other a very light-coloured specimen. ‘There are
still a few miniature terns about the coast. 22nd.—I was at Flamborough
to-day, and walked along the cliffs to Filey. ‘There were very few birds to
be seen. I observed one large hawk near the Flamborough Lighthouse,
which was apparently a female hen harrier. In the course of my walk
I put up a quantity of blackbirds from the ledges on the cliffs, which
I think were newly-arrived migrants from the north, as they were very
unwilling to take wing, and when disturbed soon settled again. There
were a few fieldfares with them, and one bird which—from its note—must
have been a ring ouzel. 28th.—Mr. Bailey sent me a mature gannet from
Flamborough to-day, which had been driven ashore by stress of weather ;
both the wings were broken close to the body—I suppose from coutact with
the rocks. November 6th.—I received to-day two little gulls, in the flesh, —
one an adult, the other immature,—which Mr. Bailey had shot south of
Flamborough Head: the whole plumage of the immature bird was suffused
with an exquisite salmon-coloured tinge, which was most conspicuous on the
breast. 9th.—When at Filey to-day [ obtained two little auks from
Mr. Brown, which bad just been brought in from Filey Brigg. A green-
shauk was shot on the Brigg on the 6th. TL observed a curious-looking bird
on a shelf in Mr. Brown’s shop, which he kindly brought down for my
inspection ; it was a variety of the razorbill, a first year’s bird, which had
the parts of the plumage which are usually black af a fawn-colour; the

THE ZooLocist—.J ANUARY, 1876. 4759

under parts white, as usual. T walked on to Scarborough, and observed a
few herring gulls and curlews, with a number of rock pipits; I think I also
saw one little gull. 28rd.—Mr. Brown sent me to-day a splendid mature
glaucous gull, killed off the coast near Filey; it is in most perfect plumage.
We had a tremendous gale from the north on the 19th and 20th, which
probably brought it down to this coast—Julian G. Tuck; Old Vicarage,
Ibberston, York.

Hawks in North Devon. — Being in North Devon for a day’s snipe-
shooting on the 15th of November, I had the fortune to see the following
birds :—Two peregrine falcons, a common buzzard, two hen harriers, and a
gray phalarope. Gray phalaropes have been numerous in the south-western
district this autumn, and instances have come to my knowledge of their
having been picked up far inland. The peregrines mentioned above were
amusing themselves when seen by practising swoops at each other with
much wild screaming. We found our snipe-ground drowned, so that the
sight of the various birds I have enumerated was some compensation for the
absence of sport. —Murray A. Mathew; Bishop's Lydeard, Nov. 18, 1875.

Jugger Falcon.—In reply to the note by Mr.Gurney, jun., in the ‘ Zoologist’
for December (8.8. 4721) respecting the buzzard previously referred to
in the ‘ Zoologist,’ I regret that I did not contradict the assertion there
made (8S. 8. 597), though so far as “buzzard” was concerned no great
amount of harm could arise. The bird was sent to the Zoological Society’s
Gardens, as Mr. Gurney observes, in July, 1868, having been in my pos-
session since November, i867, and was then pronounced to be a Jugger
falcon. The man of whom I obtained it had some motive for concealing
from ine the source from whence it came, and I was therefore told the story
of its capture related in the ‘ Zoologist’(S.S. 597). Mr. Blyth felt confident
that there was some mistake, and that it had not reached these shores on
its own-accord. This led me to make further enquiry, resulting in satisfactory
information of its having been brought to England in a ship coming from
the Mediterranean Sea, which information T forwarded to the Zoological
Society (the only parties knowing it as a Jugger falcon who had been mis-
informed by me), and which I then considered sufficient contradiction. Mr.
Gurney knew of this at the time —IVilliam Jeffery ; Ratham, Chichester.

Osprey in County Waterford, —An osprey was shot on the south coast of
Tveland, near the village of Dunmore, County Waterford, at the latter end
of September. It appeared to be following the fish, of which there were
Ernest Jacob. (‘ Field,’ October 23, 1875.)

Osprey near Birmingham.—<An osprey was shot on the 25th of October,
while fishing on Witton Pool, where it had been observed, and repeatedly

great numbers in the harbour.

fired at, for some days previously. This specimen, which I have now in
voae 4
process of preservation, is a nearly mature female, measuring two feet in
length, five feet five inches in expanse of wing, and weighs three pounds
five ounces and a half—Montagu Browne. (Id., November 6, 1875.
?

4760 THE Zoo.ocist—JAnuary, 1876,

Peregrine Falcon, Great Northern Diver and Wild Geese near Merton
Hall, Norfolk, —W bile attending to Lord Walsingham’s museum at Merton
Hall, one of the keepers brought me, on the 4th of November, a fine
peregrine falcon which had been caught in a trap ; it was a male bird, and
in fine plumage. A great northern diver was shot on the 7th of November
on Thompson's Lake, where from the Ist to the 16th I saw wild geese
‘feeding in hundreds. In the morning the geese would leave the lake,
flying over the Hall, sometimes hundreds in a flock, to Wretham Mere.
I have ever seen so many together in England before. When in Califormia
with his lordship on a Natural History expedition I have seen large flocks
of these birds, but nothing equal to the numbers that I saw in Norfolk.—
Thomas Eedle; 40, Goldsinith’s Row, Hackney Road, Loudon.

Kite, Hen Harrier and Hobby in Nottinghamshire.—During the first
week in November a very fine specimen of the kite was shot by Mr.
Charlton’s keeper at Chilwell; it was a female and in very beautiful
plumage. This hawk, which is now very rare in England, has only oceurred
on two or three occasions in this county. A hen harrier was shot near the
Trent Bridge in November; it was a female, and in good plumage- I have
seen a male of this specics about here all the summer, but never could hear
if they had nested. In July last I shot a female hobby: it was about
9 p.m. and quite dusk. ‘The bird was flying about a pond when T first saw
it: I quite thought it was a nightjar: it was niost probably feeding on
hats, great numbers of which were constantly flying over the pond during
the summer evenings.—J. Whitaker; Rainworth Lodge, Mansfield.

Roughlegged Bazzard in Yorkshire—A specimen of the roughlegged
buzzard was shot at Kirklevington, near Yarm, on the 26th of October, and
is now at Mr. Ward’s, the naturalist, for preservation. This bird, with its
mate, has been seen about here for the last mouth. I send you this informa-
tion, as it is a bird not often seen in England.—IW. Richardson. (* Field’ of
November 6, 1875.)

Curious Capture of a Buzzard.—A few days ago I heard from a game-
keeper that a large “kite” had been trapped on a farm in this neighbourhood,
and was being kept alive for me; so this afternoon I called at the place,
when it proved to be—as I fully expected it would—only a common buzzard.
It had been taken in a gin set at the mouth of a rabbit-burrow in a thick
hedge, which seems to be rather a queer place for a buzzard, unless it was
chasing the rabbit from the outside, and was captured as it dashed down
after it. It is a young bird of the year, and its leg but little injured,
although its beauty has been sadly spoilt by the unfortunate manner in
which both wings have been clipped. — Gervase I. Mathew; H.M.S.
‘ Britannia, Dartmouth, December 4, 1875.

Marsh Harrier at Slapton Ley,—A male bird of the marsh harrier, in
the second year’s plumage, was shot by a keeper at Slapton Ley, on

a

THE ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1876. 4761

Monday, November Ist, while in the act of taking a coot. It is the only
specimen I have ever known to occur in this neighbourhood. — R. P
Nicholls ; Kingsbridge.

Montagu’s Harrier near York.—By the inclosed report of a meeting of
the York Field Naturalists’ Society, you will see that a specimen of
Montagu’s harrier, shot lately near York, was exhibited. There is no
mistake.—J. S. Wesley; Wetherby. (‘ Field,’ October 23.)

Great Gray Shrike at Fulham.—I have recently received a fine male
specimen of the great gray shrike (Lanius Hacubitor), which was shot at
Fulham.—Thomas Eedle.

Chiffehaff in December.—I saw a chiffchaff this morning in a garden
here busily searching for insects under the leaves of Euonymus japonica.
I was at the time standing at a window, the bird not being more than a
yard distant from me.—J. Jenner Weir ; Lewes, Sussea, December 6, 1875.

The Coal Titmouse of the Continent,—Will the discriminating readers
of the ‘ Zoologist,’ more particularly those who are resident in the East,

oblige me by looking out for the coal titmouse of the Continent (Parus ater
of Linneus). Messrs. Sharpe and Dresser have made a species of our
insular form under the name of P. britannicus.. The chief distinctions are
that in P. ater the back is ‘‘a clear slaty-blue,” while in P. britannicus it
is “grayish, with a strong wash of yellowish olive.” Only two or three
specimens have been recognised as British at present, but no doubt when
the distinctions are known others will turn up. Prof. Newton throws some
doubt on its value as a good species (‘ British Birds,’ i. 492), but it is—to
say the least of it—as deserving of specific rank as the whitebeaded
longtailed titmouse (Acredula caudata (Linn.) and the northern marsh tit
(P. borealis, De Selys-Longchamps, Acad. R. de Bruxelles, vol. x., No. vii.,
p. 5), which haye no lack of supporters at home and abroad.—J. H. Gurney,
jun.

The Blackeap’s Head in Winter.—Mr. Wharton asks any of your readers
who have wintered in the same countries as the blackeap to let him know
their experieuce as to the retention or not of the black head. I was in
Algeria in February, 1870, and I found this charming warbler very abundant.
1 remember counting as many as thirteen one day on one tree, but I never
found any males with red heads, though I was aware of Canon Tristram’s
having met with them in Palestine, and took particular pains in dissecting
all T shot. I cannot agree with the Editor of “ Yarrell,” when he says the
blackeap is a bird of passage in Algeria, for I have not the least doubt that
it is in the Atlas all the winter. ‘The date when I saw thirteen on one tree
was long before the migratory tide had set in, and I feel no doubt that those
birds had been there all through December and Janaary. I shot a specimen
at El Ateuf, a Mzab town, some four hundred miles into the Sabara.—
J. A. Gurney, jun.

4762 THE Zoo.Locist—J sNUARY, 1876.

P.S.—Mr. Wharton will find that the sundry records of blackcaps seen
and shot in this country (chiefly in Ireland) in the winter, for the most
part mention the examples to be blackheaded.—J. H. G., jun.

Black Redstart near Loddeswell.—A male black redstart, in full plumage,
was procured near Loddeswell on the 8th of November, and its mate was
with it: others have been seen in the neighbourhood.--R. P. Nicholls.

Black Redstart at East Looe, Cornwall, — Black redstarts have been
very numerous this year—I have seen as many as four in a short walk;
they were frequently to be seen on the houses and in the streets of Looe,
busily feeding, in November. I had at one time in the scope of my
binocular two redstarts, one white wagtail, one gray wagtail, two Yarrell’s
wagtails and a stonechat. All the redstarts I have seen this year have been
in gray plumage.— Stephen Clogg.

Waxwings without Wax (S.S. 4723).—In reference to a notice upon this
subject by Mr. Gurney, jun., I offer the following remarks. In upwards
of ninety skins sent to me from Lapland, collected by poor Wheelwright’s
collectors, I selected seven with the following characteristics :—One has
the smallest possible vestige of a red wax appendage; six have very small
drops, from one to three. In these seven birds the yellow mark‘ngs and
eross band of white in the primaries are wanting. Each secondary is,
however, tipped with white; and the white feathers to which the red wax
ought to be appended are there, but smaller than usual; the vellow at the
tip of the tail is also paler. Of the seven specimens four were killed in
January, one in March, one in February, and one is without label. Ouly
one of the specimens is dressed, and that isa female. The rest of the
skins are also properly defined. These birds contrast much with the fine,
pale-plumaged birds, with their seven or eight drops of wax, and fall
brilliant yellow colour. What is the cause I will not venture to suggest.
The birds do not show any appearance of general moulting, and it is
certainly not sexual. I suppose they are ill-developed waifs in the waxwing
community. ‘The appearance of wax is certainly very irregular, as seen
When a large number of specimens are together, varying from eight spots
to one.—C. R. Bree; Colchester.

Shore Lark in Moly Island.—'I'wo shore larks were noticed on Holy
Island, about fifty miles north of Neweastle-on-T'vne, on the 15th of October
last, by Mr. Isaac Clark, of Blaydon, one of which he shot, and it is now in
my collection along with two others which [ obtained from Mr. Thomas
Robson, of Swalwell, in whose memorandum-book [ see one of the latter (a
female) was purchased for one shilling and sixpence in Newcastle Market
on the 28th of June, 1851, of a birdeatcher, who had it ina cage with a
number of sky larks caught on the banks of the Tyne; it, however, died on
the 22nd of October, in the same year.—Thomas Thompson ; Newcastle-on-
Tyne, November 20, 1875.

THE ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1876. 4763

Nesting of the Hawfinch at Beverley.—Last May I had brought to me
two sets of eggs of the hawfinch, taken the same day in one of our commons
called Westwood. ‘The lads who had taken them were at a loss to find out
to what birds they belonged; indeed I myself mistook them for the eggs of
the common bunting, until they told me where they had been taken and
the situation of the nests. I need scarcely say I was somewhat astonished
at the discovery of the hawfinch’s eggs so near the town, not having
previously heard of an instance of the hawfinch breeding in this district ;
but there was no mistake, as oue of the nests had been left in the white-
thorn bush just as they had found it, and I went and examined it myself to
make certain. After telling the lads never to take eggs unless they saw the
old bird on the nest and properly identified it, I gave a good exchange of
other eggs and took possession of the hawfinch’s eggs. I have been informed
that a hawfinch’s nest containing four young ones was taken in a wood
a few miles from Sheffield the summer before last (1874) and the young
ones reared.—F’. Boyes ; Beverley.

Macqueen’s Bustard, Caution! —Let me give a word of caution about a
supposed British-killed Macqueen’s bustard, which has found its way into
Norfolk, duly labelled and handsomely cased, which, if not noticed and
corrected now, is sure in a few years to pass current as a genuine
‘ Britisher,” like many other birds which I could name, on the strength of
a ticket. I saw the specimen in question last Tuesday at the house of
Mr. Gunn, and instantly recollected that [ had seen it before, viz. at the
Argyll Street Auction Rooms in London, in 1871, where it was sold as—
“ Lot 689. A Macqueen’s Bustard, shot at Harwich in 1823, and preserved
by Hall, of Finsbury Square.” I then “spotted ” it as being the same one
which was in Martin Barry’s catalogue, where, to give an air of probability,
we have the additional information that it was “ obtained in company with
the little bustard,” i.¢. the specimen formerly Mr. Yarrell’s, and knew that
if it came out of that collection its authenticity was simply worthless.
Several severe criticisms on the Barry catalogues—which are supposed to
have been compiled from his note-books after his death—will be found in
the ‘Ibis’ for 1863. They contain all sorts of unheard-of rarities, which
I will not give further publicity to; but any who wish to read them will
find several of the grossest at p. 477 of the ‘Ibis’ for 1863.—J. H.
Gurney, jun.

Spotted Gallinule near Kingsbridge On Wednesday, November 3rd,
a male specimen of the spotted gallinule was killed near Kingsbridge, —
R. P. Nicholls.

Cranes near Inverness. —On the 6th of November four cranes appeared
in a field on the banks of the Nairn at Inverernie, about nine miles from
Inverness. Two were shot by Mr. Hill’s party on the 8th, the other two
remaining in the neighbourhood till the 11th, when they appeared to leave

4764 Tue ZooLocist—J ANUARY, 1876.

for the west. Mr. Edwin Ward, of Wigmore Street, to whom I forwarded
these birds for preservation, says that one of them is a fine mature male
specimen ; the other a young female.—R. S. Hills. (* Ivield,’ December 4.)

Black Stork at Lydd, in Kent.— You may be glad of a few corrections
concerning the black stork shot at Lydd, in Kent, in May, 1856 (Zool. 5160
and 8.8. 2648.) It was killed by Mr. Wellstead, at Fairfield Brae (not
Fairfield Brae), and was stuffed by Mr. Jell (not Gell). It is in the
collection of Mr. Clifton Simmons. It was originally bought for sixpence ;
and afterwards I am told thirty pounds was offered and refused for it. For
these particulars I am indebted to Mr. Jell, the excellent taxidermist.—
J. A. Gurney, jun.

Curious Capture of a Scoter Duck.—On the 26th of November, 1875,
being a stormy day, a man was walking on the beach at Trimingham,
Norfolk, about 9 a.M., and the tide being low he saw a female scoter feeding
between two lumps of clay which had been uncovered by the fall of the tide.
He crept up to it, and the lumps of clay apparently having prevented the
duck from observing him, he caught it in his hand before it could take
flight. The bird was apparently unwounded, but probably somewhat
exhausted by stormy weather; its captor clipped one wing, and fed it on
soaked bread. He brought it to me alive eight days after he caught it, when
it appeared to be in good health, and he then gave me the above account of
its capture—J. H. Gurney ; Northrepps, Norwich, December 4, 1875.

Bartailed Godwit.—L shot one of these birds this afternoon on the mud-
flats opposite Dittisham. It was by itself, and in good condition, so it is
strange what it was doing in this country so long after the departure of its
companions.— Gervase I". Mathew ; December 4, 1875.

Avocet in Ireland.—I have the pleasure of recording the visit of a pair
of that very rare visitant to Ireland, the avocet, to the Moy Estuary this
winter. I first had the good fortune of meeting them on the 28th of
October, when I was returuing from wigeon-shooting down the river; they
were feeding in the shallow water on the sands, along with some green-
shanks, and I at first took them for an albino variety of that bird, as the
difference in size was not at first apparent in. the evening light until I got
a closer view of them, which their tameness enabled me to obtain, as they
permitted me to bring my punt within almost fifteen yards of where they
were feeding: ‘They appeared to feed by passing the bill with a side move-
nent through the water, apparently scraping or sweeping the bottom, with
the conyexity of the bill; and the swinging movement of the body and neck
from side to side, when feeding, looks so very odd and peculiar that it at
once attracts the attention of the observer, even if the curiously marked
black and white plumage did not do so. Next morning I again met them
as they were resting at high water on the strand, under one of the fields
here, but they shortly after left the strand, aud flew about two hundred

THE ZooLocist—JANvuARY, 1876. 4765

yards farther off, and, as I thought, pitched in the shallow water near
where the bank was just appearing at the first of ebb, but on going round to
watch them again I was surprised to see that they had swam away about fifty
yards from where they had first alighted, and while I continued watching
them, for nearly half an hour, they kept swimming head to wind, and rising
on the little waves as buoyantly as ducks, thus proving that they could
make right good use of their half-webbed feet, although Montagu says that
they have never been observed to take to the water for the purpose of
swimming, and that the palmated feet seem only intended to support them on
the mud. The avocet (according to William Thompson) appears to be of
very rare occurrence in Ireland: he mentions only nine birds having been
met with from the year 1767, when the first Irish known specimen was
shot by Mr. Bevin in the lotts near the North Wall, Dublin, up to January,
1848, when a pair were shot by Mr. William Crauford, of Lakelands, in
Cork Harbour, and which birds are now, I believe, in the very fine collection
of Irish birds of Dr. Harvey, of St. Patrick’s Place, Cork.—Robert Warren,
jun.; Moyview, Ballina, November 16, 1875.

Avocet and Pectoral Sandpiper in Durham.— In his ‘ Birds of Nor-
thumberland and Durham,’ Mr. Hancock says of the avocet, “only one
taken” (p. 124). ‘It has, however, occurred at Tees-mouth twice or three
times. A birdstuffer and shooter at Stockton, who knows it perfectly, told
me that he once saw one shot, but could not induce the man—who was,
T have no doubt, a pitman on very high wages—to part with it for money.
The fellow preferred to eat it, and gave him the legs to remember it by.
Many a rarity is consigned to the spit through ignorance, but in this case
it was wilful waste of a rare bird. Mr. Hancock also only gives one
occurrence of the pectoral sandpiper; but I can refer to two other instances
—one near Hartlepool in October, 1841 (Yarrell, ‘ British Birds,’ Ist ed.,
Preface), and one in or near the Tees-mouth, August, 1853 (Morris's
‘Naturalist,’ 1853, p. 275). Probably they were both really killed at
Tees-mouth, which is very near West Hartlepool, and which at low tide
presents a wide expanse of mud, formerly (before Middlesborough sprung
into existence) more attractive to waders than itis now. ‘The existence of
Mr. Hancock’s work may perhaps not be generally known to your readers.
It is by far the most complete catalogue which has yet appeared on the
birds of the North of England; yet I have seen no reviews of it, and it
was only on entering Quarritch’s shop the other day that I accidentally
learnt of its existence.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Ducks and Partridges laying in the same Nest.— A friend of mine
found a French partridge’s nest with fourteen eggs and three tame duck’s
eggs in it, which is an interesting parallel to the French partridge’s and
teal’s eggs being found together, which Mr. Stevenson wrote to you of (S. S.
2869). In the former it was probably the partridge which had laid to the

SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. F

4766 Tue ZooLocGist—JANUARY, 1876.

duck’s—in the latter, the duck which had laid to the partridge’s.—J. H.
Gurney, jun.

Reported Occurrence of the King Duck at Maldon.—A fine specimen of
the female king duck was shot on the River Blackwater, at Maldon, on the
28th of October, and is now in the hands of a naturalist for preservation.—
Richard Poole. (‘ Field,’ November 6.)

Longtailed Duck at Hunstanton.—A longtailed duck (Harelda glacialis)
was shot by me on the Hunstanton marshes on the 27th of October.—
Charles F. A. Bagot; Castle Rising. (Id.)

Information Wanted about the Worcestershire Tropic-bird.—Among
the 409 species in the Introduction to Gould’s ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’
T see no mention of the tropic-bird. In the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1871 two sup-
posed occurrences are treated of (S. S. 2666, 2725), and with regard to the
former of the two my father when at Worcester obtained a few additional
particulars from the curator of the Museum, who informed him that it was a
red-tailed tropic-bird; that it was stuffed by an animal-painter and bird-
stuffer named Pitman (now deceased) for a gentleman whose name he could
not remember, who brought it after it was mounted to the Museum,
intending to present it to the collection (in a work published in 1856 it is
erroneously stated to be in the Museum), but meeting Mr. Walcot there he
gave it to him instead; that Mr. Walcot lent it with other stuffed birds to
the Museum for exhibition, but after a time took them all back to his own
house, where they remained until about thirteen or fourteen years ago,
when his entire collection was sold fo a gentleman at Pennoch’s Court, near
Worcester; that about 1867 this gentleman’s birds also shared the same
fate, being disposed of in lots by Mr. Matthews, auctioneer, and that the
tropic-bird was one of them, but what became of it nobody now knows.
There is the chance that this note may fall under the eye of some one who
can give the desired information. Phaéton ethereus has occurred at Heli-
goland Island (‘ Naumania,’ 1851, part ii., p. 16), as kindly pointed out to me
by Prof. Newton, and in Norway (Degland and Gerbe’s Ornith. Europ., ii.,
p- 363). I doubt I am not giving the original references, but it is sufficient
to show that there is some plausibility for considering that it may be a
genuine straggler to England. Probably, on the above authority, Dr. Bree
inserts it in his list of doubtful species at the end of the ‘ Birds of Europe.’
Likewise Blasius and Dubois have admitted it into their respective cata-
logues. The Worcestershire specimen would seem to have been P. rubri-
caudus, Bodd., but not the Lancashire one. If anyone knows what has
become of it we may ascertain which it was. I think it is more likely to
have been P. ztherius, and under that name it is given by Mr. Lees, in his
interesting article on the “ Birds of the Malvern District” (J. c.).—J. H.
Gurney, jun.

Black Tern in Durham, — Mr. J. Sclater (S. S. 8439) records a black

THE ZOoLoGist—J ANUARY, 1876. 4767

tern in Durham, and mentions its being the first of the species he had met
with. There is no doubt that it is very scarce in the county, and I am
sorry I have not sooner informed you that I obtained a young one at Tees-
mouth in 1867; and in August, 1868, I saw three which had just been shot
about four miles from the town of Darlington: they were also quite young.
But it occasionally occurs in the adult state. Mr. Green, taxidermist, at
Stockton, showed me two old ones; and another shot in June, 1850, at
Bishop Auckland, is recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 83036) by Mr. Duff.
No mention is made of it either in Hogg’s ‘ Catalogue’ (Zool. 1187) or in a
list of the “ Birds found in the Neighbourhood of Darlington,” contributed
by the late Mr. William Backhouse to Longstaffe’s ‘ Darlington: its Annals
and Characteristics ;’ but Mr. Backhouse appears to have procured two from
Tees-mouth (Zool. 1262).—J. H. Gurney, jun.

On Adams’ Diver (Colymbus Adamsi) in England.—Prof. Newton, in his
article, reprinted in the ‘ Zoologist’ for September (S. 8. 4607), says that
Adams’ diver has been met with in Europe. In the ‘ Proceedings of the
Zoological Society’ for 1859 (p. 206) will be found remarks by Dr. Sclater
on the exhibition of a specimen killed in England.—Zd.

Abundance of Mackerel in Mount’s Bay.—I omitted to record at the
time that in August and September last Mount’s Bay was full of mackerel
and scad (horse mackerel), which continued on the shore for over a fortnight.
At high-water time they could be baled up in buckets at our pier-head here.
This sort of thing happens about once in every eight or ten years. This is
the third time it has occurred within my recollection, which covers over
twenty-seven years. The remarkable feature of the visitation this time was
the occurrence with the mackerel of whitebait. I had very many specimens,
and I tested them scientifically as well as gastronomically, and I have no
doubt they were genuine whitebait, but I gathered from them nothing to
help me to a conclusion one way or the other that they were the young:of
herrings. About the same time a large quantity of whitebait were taken in
St. Ives Bay.—Thomas Cornish ; Penzance, December 13, 1875.

Red Band-fish at Plymouth.—A beautiful specimen of the red band-fish
(Cepola rubescens) was caught in the harbour on the 16th of November last,
and was kept alive for many hours——John Gatcombe ; December 14, 1875.

Heavy Salmon.—The ‘ Field’ of November 6th records the weight of several
salmon taken during the preceding week. In the Tweed Mr. Pryer killed

"eleven fish, weighing together 200 lbs.—the heaviest weighed 26 lbs. and the

others close on 20 lbs. each; the Duke of Roxburgh two, 30 lbs. and 20 lbs.
respectively ; Mr. St. Paul two, of 25 lbs. and 22 Ibs. respectively ; Mr. Mal-
colm one of 80 lbs.; Mr. Denison one of 24lbs. In the North of Scotland,

Mr. John Milner took three fish, weighing 24 lbs., 23 lbs. and 21lbs.; Major

4768 THE ZooLocist—JI ANUARY, 1876.

Forbes one of 241bs.; Captain Leith Hay one of 24 lbs. and one of 22 lbs. ;
Dr. Forbes three, of 26 lbs., 24 lbs. and 23 lbs. ; Major Norie two, of 25 lbs.
and 22Ibs.; Mr. Hunter two, of 27 Ibs. and 21 lbs. ; Captain Burnett two,
of 241bs. each; Mr. Littlejohn one of 28 lbs. ; and a vast number of fish
weighing at least 20 lbs. each.

Helix pomatia.—I notice in the ‘ Zoologist’ for November last (S. S.
4705) a reply of Mr. J. E. Harting to an observation made by the Editor
upon the colour of Helix pomatia. I have not seen the plate in Mr. Harting’s
book; but this I know, that a white Helix pomatia is comparatively un-
common. ‘The typical colouring of the shell is yellow or yellowish white,
brown-banded, the latter colour generally being more or less diffused over
the shell, in some cases giving it a deep brown colour. Ihave had hundreds
of the species in my possession at various times, and out of the whole
number have met with but two white—or rather, I ought to say, whitish—
shells: these I labelled in my cabinet “albida,” thinking that Dr. Gwyn
Jeffreys’ description of that variety—‘*shell whitish or colourless” (Brit.
Con., vol. i., p. 177)—was a sufficient warranty for my so doing; but a
friend of mine, an experienced conchologist, who saw them, took exception
to the name, thinking them not white enough. I have twenty shells of the
typical colour in my collection, from five counties, none of which have any
pretentions to whiteness. As this species is not uncommon on the chalk, it
is probable that in many instances where the shells occur they become,
by the action of the chalk, denuded of their epidermis, as is the case with
Helix aspersa and H. nemoralis in the same situations; the outer layers of
the shell then, being exposed to the action of the elements, would become
white, as a “dead” shell, and somewhat like “a lump of chalk.” As the
couplet from ‘ Hudibras’ quoted by the Editor would seem to imply that
he is not convinced of the correctness of Mr. Harting’s statement as to
colour, I send specimens of Helix pomatia, showing the grades of colour
and markings common to the species, and think they will prove that he is
correct.—G. Sherrij/-T'ye ; Handsworth.

Arocecdings of Scientitic Societies.

Zootocican Socrery or Lonpon.

November 16, 1875.—Oszenrr Satyiy, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair.
The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to the
Society’s Menagerie during the month of October, and called particular

THE ZooLoGisT—JANUARY, 1876. 4769

attention to a Scolopaceous Courlan (Aramus scolopaceus) from South
America, purchased 6th October, 1875, and a Binturong, presented by
Captain A. R. Ord, October 19th.

Mr. Sclater exhibited the upper horn of a two-horned Rhinoceros that
had been shot in March last by Lieut.-Colonel C. Napier Sturt, in the Valley
of the Brahmapootra. Mr. Sclater remarked that this seemed to prove
conclusively the existence of a two-horned species of Rhinoceros in Assam,
which would probably turn out to be the same as that from Chittagong, now
living in the Society’s Gardens. :

Mr. Sclater read an extract from a letter addressed to him by Dr. N.
Funck, Director of the Zoological Gardens, Cologne, stating that the bird
figured in Mr. Sclater’s recent article on the Curassows as Pauxi galeata,
var. rubra, was the true female of Pauxi galeata.

Mr. H. Seebohm exhibited and made remarks on a series of rare and
interesting birds and eggs from the tundras and deltas of the Petchora
River, North-Eastern Russia, collected there by Mr. J. A. Harvie Brown
and himself during the present year.

Mr. A. H. Garrod read some notes on the Manatee (Manatus americana)
recently living in the Society’s Gardens.

Dr. Giinther read a third Report on the Collections of Indian reptiles
obtained by the British Museum, and gave descriptions of several species
new to Science.

A communication was read from Mr. E. Pierson Ramsay, containing a
list of birds met with in North-Eastern Queensland, chiefly at Rockingham
Bay. A second communication from Mr. Ramsay gave a description of the
eggs and young of Rallina tricolor, from Rockingham Bay, Queensland.
A third communication from Mr. Ramsay contained the description of a new
species of Peecilodrys, and a new genus and species of Bower Bird, proposed
to be called Scenopeus dentirostris, from Queensland.

A communication was read from Mr. Sylvanus Hanley, containing the
description of a new Cyclophorus and a new Ampullaria, from Burmah.

A communication was read from Dr. J. S. Bowerbank, containing further
observations on Alcyonellum speciosum, Quoy et G., and Hyalonema
mirabile, Gray.

Mr. Arthur G. Butler read a paper on a collection of butterflies from the
New Hebrides and Loyalty Islands, and gave descriptions of some new
species. A second paper by Mr. Butler contained particulars of a small
collection of butterflies from Fiji. Mr. Butler also read the descriptions of
several new species of Sphingide.

A communication was read from Mr. W. H. Hudson, containing remarks
on herons, with a notice of a curious instinct of Ardetta involucris.

A communication was read from Dr. Otto Finsch, in which he gave the
description of a new species of Crowned Pigeon from the southern end

4770 THE ZooLoGist—JANUARY, 1876.

of New Guinea, opposite Yule Island: Dr. Finsch proposed to call this
bird Goura Scheepmakeri, after Mr. C. Scheepmaker, of Soerabaya, who
had transmitted a living specimen of it to the Zoological Gardens,
Amsterdam.

December 7, 1875.—Gronrcer Busk, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair.

The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to the
Society’s Menagerie during the month of November, and called particular
attention to a female Beisa Antelope from Eastern Africa, presented by the
Sultan of Zanzibar, and received November 8th, 1875; also to two all-green
Tanagers from Brazil, purchased 16th November, 1875, which were new to
the collection.

Mr. Sclater read an extract from a letter addressed to him by Mr. H. A.
Wickham, on the occurrence of the large blue Hyacinth Macaw near
Santarem, on the River Amazons.

Mr. Sclater exhibited and made remarks on a skin of Hypocolius
ampelinus, Bp., obtained by Mr. W. T. Blanford, in Upper Scinde, to the
west of Shikarpur.

Professor Owen read the twenty-second part of his series of memoirs on
Dinornis. This part contained a restoration of the skeleton of Dinornis
maximus.

Mr. J. W. Clark read a paper on the Eared Seals of the Islands of
St. Paul and Amsterdam, to which he added a description of the Fur Seal
of New Zealand from specimens kindly furnished by Dr. Hector. Mr. Clark
further read copious extracts from the narratives of the older explorers in
these seas, and attempted to reconcile the notices given by them with the
subsequeut descriptions of naturalists.

A communication was read from the Rey. R. Boog Watson on the generic
peculiarities of the distinctively Madeiran Achatinas of Lowe.

A communication was read from Dr. Hermann Burmeister, Director of
the National Museum, Buenos Ayres, containing the description of a new
species of Dolichotis, which Dr. Burmeister proposed to call Dolichotis
salinicola.

Mr. W. T. Blanford communicated particulars respecting some large
stags’ horns, obtained by the Expedition to Western Turkestan, to which
the late Dr. Stoliczka was attached as naturalist, said to have been brought
originally from the Thian Shan Mountains. These horns were of very large
size, each measuring fifty-one inches in length round the curve. Mr. Blan-
ford, considering that these horns clearly showed the existence of a species
hitherto undescribed, gave a full description of them, and proposed to give
the name of Cervus eustephanus to the animal to which they belong.

Dr O. Finsch communicated some notes on Phcenicomanes Lora, Sharpe,
and Abrornis atricapilla, Blyth, and pointed out that the first-named bird is

———————————

Tue ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1876. 4771

identical with Iora Lafresnayei of Malacca, while Abrornis atricapilla, said
to be from China, is in fact a Myiodioctes pusillus, Wilson, a well-known
North-American bird. A second communication from Dr. Finsch contained
the description of a bird from the Arfak Mountains, New Guinea, which
appeared to form a new genus and species: this Dr. Finsch proposed to call
Pristorhamphus Versteri. A third communication from Dr. Finsch gave
the characters of six new Polynesian birds in the Museum Godeffroy at
Hamburg.

A communication from Mr. J. Caldwell contained some notes on the
Zoology of the Island of Rodriguez. ,

Dr. E. Yon Martens communicated a list of the land and freshwater
shells collected by Mr. Osbert Salvin in Guatemala in 1873-74.—P. L.
Selater.

ENntomoLogicaL Society or Lonpon.

December 1, 1875.—Sir Srpney SurtH Saunpers, C.M.G., President, in
the chair.

Donations to the Library.

The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the
donors :—‘ Mémoires de la Société de Physique et d’Histoire Naturelles de
Genéve,’ tome xxiv., premiére partie; presented by the Society. ‘ Bulletin
de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou, 1875,’ No.1; by the
Society. ‘Bullettino della Societa Entomologica Italiana,’ vol. vii., trimes. 3;
by the Society. ‘ Bulletin de la Société d’Histoire Naturelle de Toulouse,’
vol. ix., fase. 2; by the Society. ‘Verhandlungen des Vereins fiir Natur-
wissenschaftliche Unterhaltung zu Hamburg, 1871—74;’ by the Society.
‘Proceedings of the Linnean Society,’ Session 1874-75 ; ‘ Additions to the
Library of the Linnean Society, 1874-75 ;’ by the Society. ‘Journal of
the Royal Agricultural Society of England,’ vol. xi., pt. 2, no. 12; by the
Society. ‘A Collection of the Arachnological Writings of Nicholas Mar-
cellus Hentz,’ edited by Edward Burgess; by the Boston Society of Natural
History. ‘Mémoire sur les premiers états de l’Hepiale Louvetie (Hepialus
lupulinus),’ par Xavier Raspail; by the Author. ‘Nouvelles Recherches
tendant 4 établir que le prétendu Crustaceé décrit par Latreille sous le nom
de Prosopistoma est un veritable insecte de la tribu des Ephémérines par le
Professeur N. Joly ;’ by the Author. ‘Catalogo de los Insectos Chilenos
por Don EK. C. Reed;’ by the Author. ‘ L’Abeille,’ tome xii., livraison 16;

_by the Editor. ‘Newman’s Entomologist’ for December; by the Editor.

‘ Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine’ for December; by the Editors. ‘The
Zoologist’ for December; by the Editor. ‘The Canadian Entomologist,’
no. 10; by the Editor. ‘Transactions of the Watford Natural History

4772 Tue ZooLocist—JANUARY, 1876.

Society and Hertfordshire Field Club,’ vol. i., part 2; by the Society.
‘The Naturalist: Journal of the West Riding Consolidated Naturalists’
Society, no.5; by the Society. ‘Petites Nouvelles Entomologiques,’
no. 136; by the Editor. ‘La possibilité de la Naturalisation de la Lepti-
notarsa decémlineata, examinée au point de vue de la concurrence vitale,’
par A. Preudhomme de Borse;’ by the Author.

Election of Subscriber.

Thomas Chapman, Esq., of Buchanan Street, Glasgow, was balloted for
and elected a Subscriber to the Society.

Exhibitions, &c.

Mr. W. A. Forbes exhibited a variety of the Burnet Moth (Zygena
Filipendule), with yellow (instead of red) spots, of which he had bred several
from larve taken near Winchester. They were bred with others of the
ordinary colour; but he believed that the variety was natural and not caused
by extraneous circumstances.

Mr. G. C. Champion exhibited specimens of Anisotoma oblonga, Er.,
taken by him near Farnham, and A. curta, Fairm., from Esher, Surrey.
The latter was new to the British list. Also A. Algirica, a new species
taken by Mr. Rippon in Algiers. ‘They had all been described by Mr. Rye
in the ‘ Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine’ for this month.

Mr. William Cole exhibited carefully-executed drawings of the pups of a
species apparently belonging to the Dipterous genus Ephydra, which he had
taken clinging to the stems of grass below high-water mark near Southend.
The water whence it was taken was brackish. He also exhibited the larve
and perfect insects in spirits.

The President stated, with reference to the numerous parasites found on
Osmia tridentata, that M. Jules Lichtenstein, of Montpellier, had recently
obtained the Zonitis preeusta from the cells of this bee; and likewise the
Euchelius vetusta, Duf., from its desiccated adult larvae, in the same way
that Halticella Osmicida effects its metamorphosis, thus making the thir-
teenth parasite recorded as affecting this Osmia.

Paper read.

The description of a new Coleopterous insect was communicated by
Professor Burmeister, of Buenos Ayres, who had named it Obadius insignis,
in honour of Professor Westwood, on his attaining the age of seventy years,
on the 22nd December, 1875.

New Part of ‘ Transactions.’
The third Part of the ‘ Transactions’ for 1875 was on the table-—J/’. G.

SS eee er

THE ZooLoGisT—FrEBRUARY, 1876. 4773

Ornithological Notes from Norfolk.*
By H. Stevenson, Esq., F.L.S.
(Continued from Zool. S. §. 4635.)

JuLy, 1875.

Golden Plover.—A small flock was seen at Northrepps towards
the end of this month.

Common Wren.—A nest of this bird, with young, was found on
the 14th at Northrepps, built, like the nest of a goldcrest, on the
end of a low bough of a silver fir.

Hooded Crow.—A single bird seen at Trimingham on the 12th,
and one on the 27th. Had not improbably remained through the

summer.
AUGUST.

Migratory Waders.— Heard redshanks and other Tringe
whistling over the city, for the first time this autumn, on the 5th,
about 12 p.M.; the night very dark with a drizzling rain. Again
on the 28th, at 9.80 p.m.; the night very dark, with rain, and the
wind N.N.E.: I heard several curlews over the city and a “ mur-
muration” of small Tringe, with the whistling of redshanks at
times. On the following night, with a bright starlight sky, single
curlews seemed to be passing at intervals between 8 and 9 P.M.

Late Nest of Song Thrush.—Young thrushes, scarcely able to
fly, were being fed in my garden on the 18th by the old birds,
being, I believe, the third brood of this year. A pair of blackbirds
had reared their third brood by the last week in July.

Fulmar Petrel and Redthroated Diver.—A fine specimen of this
petrel was shot at Burnham Overy about the middle of the month,
and a redthroated diver shortly before, at the same place.

Stone Curlew.—A flock of at least thirty of these birds were
flushed this autumn from a turnip-field at West Harling, and I hear
favourable accounts of their increase, of late, in other parts of the
county.

Waterhen.—An adult waterhen, killed by a dog at Northrepps
on the 28th, had so completely moulted the quill-feathers of both
wings as to be quite unable to fly.

* T am indebted to Mr. J. H. Gurney for the notes of occurrences at Northrepps
and other plaves on that part of our coast.—ZH. 8.

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. G

4774 THE ZooLoGisT—FEBRUARY, 1876.

Curlew Sandpiper.—A single specimen was shot at Cley on
the 31st.
SEPTEMBER.

Stone Curlew.—Two young birds, still unable to fly, were found
at Kelling, near Holt, and on the 9th a flock of about thirty were
seen at the same place.

Snipe.—A jack snipe was shot at Felbrigg on the 6th, and about
twenty full snipe were flushed the next day on Beeston bog.

Swift—A single bird was seen at Blakeney on the 8th.

House Martins.—Qn the 7th, about 10 a.M., I observed a flock
of over a hundred of these birds settling on the lofty roof of a
chapel close to the city, which, after a time, dispersed all at once,
not a bird remaining; and as only a straggler or two occurred
afterwards in that locality, I presume they had collected together
preparatory to migration. About the same time a similar gathering,
but on a much larger scale, was observed by a friend of mine, at
mid-day, at East Harling. Hundreds of house martins settled in
rows upon the telegraph-wires which pass through the main street,
and by their numbers attracted general notice. Each wire was
lined with a compact mass of birds, sitting shoulder to shoulder, all
with their heads one way, their tails forming a straight line below
the wire, and others arriving and hovering over the first arrivals,
fluttered on to either end of the line and “closed up” like soldiers
on parade. When scared by the crack of a whip or other noise
in the strect, they rose in a dense mass, flying round for some
minutes, then simultaneously commenced settling on the wires, as
before, dropping one by one into their places with the most perfect
order, and this continued for some time till they disappeared
altogether from the neighbourhood. Young birds were being fed in
the nest at Northrepps on the 27th.

Great Snipe.—Several of these birds were shot in different parts
of the county in the early part of the month.

Marsh Harrier.—A specimen with the yellow head, and much
of the same colour on the shoulders, was shot near Yarmouth on
the 12th.

Ring Ouzel.—First seen at Northrepps on the 12th, and again
on the 15th.

Partridge perching.—An unusual occurrence was witnessed at
Sheringham on the 14th, when an English partridge was flushed,
like a “redleg,” from off a fir tree.

ee ee

anes

THE ZooLocist—FEBRUARY, 1876. 4775

Snow Bunting.—First seen at Blakeney on the 15th.

Waders.—A small flock of ruffs seen at Blakeney on the 15th,
and one shot. On the 28th a little stint and a purple sandpiper
were killed at the same place.

Hooded Crow.—First seen at Northrepps on the 27th.

Spotted Ratl_—One shot at Horning about the middle of the
month.

OCTOBER.

Summer Migrants.—A turtle dove seen at Northrepps on the
Ist, and a swallow at Keswick on the 80th. Two immature red-
starts were also seen at Northrepps on the 16th, and a nightjar was
killed at Aldborough on the 2nd.

Autumn Migrants.—Several large flocks of sky larks were
observed, on the 9th, passing to the N.W., between Sheringham
and Blakeney. Fieldfares first seen at Northrepps on the 13th.
First woodcock seen at Northrepps and one at Beeston on the 14th;
on the same date a gray wild goose, a shorteared owl and a ring
ouzel were seen at Northrepps.

Roughlegged Buzzard.—One shot at Hemblington on the 23rd,
and one near Yarmouth shortly before.

Spotted Rail.—One sent to Norwich to be stuffed on the 14th.

Merlin.—One seen at Northrepps on the 17th, and an adult male
shot at Beeston on the 23rd.

Great Gray Shrike.—An apparently immature bird shot at Hun-
stanton on the 16th, and one at Yarmouth about the same time.

Common Buzzard.—A buzzard was seen at Northrepps on the
25th, mobbed by rooks; and on the 26th another was trapped at
Rackheath, near Norwich.

Fagle.—One seen at Northrepps on the 27th. -

Harrier.—A hen or Montagu’s harrier, in female plumage, was
seen at Trimingham on the 27th.

Shore Larks.—Four shot at Yarmouth about the middle of the
month. ;

Little Gulls.—Three little gulls killed at Yarmouth.

Bewick’s Swan.—One adult and one immature shot at Yarmouth.

Sandwich Tern.—A single specimen shot near Yarmouth about
the second week in October.

Purple Heron.—A young bird of this species, as recorded by
Lord Kimberley in ‘Land and Water’ of October 23rd, was shot

4776 Tue ZooLocist—FEBRUARY, 1876.

in a field on his estate at Hingham, near Kimberley, just prior to
the 15th.
Longtailed Duck.—A single bird shot in the marshes at Hun-
stanton on the 27th: sex or age I could not ascertain.
Osprey.—A bird which had been seen a day or two before at
Burston, near Diss, was shot on the 25th at Redgrave Hall, in the
adjoining county.

NOVEMBER.

Eagles. —Two eagles were seen at Herringfleet, on the Ist,
mobbed by rooks, which caused them to ascend spirally till they
were almost lost in the clouds. About the 12th an eagle was seen
at Sheringham, and a young sea eagle was shot at Holkham on the
18th, and another at Burgh St. Peter on the 27th.

Woodcocks.—Fifteen couples were shot at Sheringham on
the 5th, and a good many have been met with near the coast at
Yarmouth.

Rooks migratory ?—A large increase of rooks (apparently migra-
tory), accompanied by great numbers of jackdaws, were observed
both at Northrepps and Sheringham on the 7th. A white rook,
which had been seen about Sheringham for two years, was observed
to be persecuted, at this time, whenever it attempted to feed,
probably by the migratory rooks and it soon after disappeared.

Nightjar.—One shot at Hickling on the 6th—unusually late for
this species.

Great Northern Diver.—One was shot on the 7th on the mere
at Thompson, near Watton.

Gray Shrike-—One shot at Thorpe, near Norwich, on the 12th.

Purple Sandpiper.—A specimen sent up from Yarmouth on
the 13th.

Wild-fowl, Snipe, §c.—The heavy and continuous rains early
in the month, which flooded all the low-lying parts of the
county, particularly in the “broad” district and the “fens” about
Brandon and Lakenheath,—where, from the fen banks giving
way, thousands of acres were laid under water,—drove many snipe,
plover, and other marsh birds on to the uplands, whilst the greater
part, no doubt, quitted the county. Fowl in Jarge numbers, I am
told, frequented the shallow waters, but were unapproachable by
the gunners, and at Surlingham over a hundred duck and mallard
were observed in one flock, but the Norwich market, at least,

THE ZooLocist—FEBRUARY, 1876. 4777

showed no signs of their abundance. Large flocks of peewits
appeared close to the city, and many gulls frequented the shallow
waters on the surrounding meadows.

Rednecked Phalarope.—A specimen of this now rare species
was shot on Hingham Mere.

Peregrine.—An immature female was shot at Rackheath early
in the month, and an old male was trapped at Thompson on
the 4th.

Merlins.—Two immature birds, killed in this county, were sent
to Norwich to be stuffed about the middle of the month.

Shore Larks.—Two shot at Yarmouth on the 6th, and others
seen with snow buntings.

Glaucous Gull.—An immature bird shot at Yarmouth about
the 25th.

Common Buzzard.—One seen at Roughton, mobbed by rooks,
on the 9th, and another at Cromer on the 12th, possibly the
same.

Gray Phalarope.—A specimen, in full winter plumage, was
shot at Beeston on the 24th.

Wood Pigeon.— Large flocks were observed at Northrepps,
passing to the S.W., on the 15th.

House Martin.—A single house martin was seen at Keswick on
the 20th, and two were observed at Thorpe, near Norwich, on
the 23rd.

Little Auk.—One picked up dead on the Kimberley estate on
the 30th.

Harriers.—Three hen or Montagu’s harriers, in female plumage,
were seen at the same time at Trimingham about the 22nd.
Another, also in brown plumage, was seen at Northrepps on
the 26th.

DECEMBER.

Winter Migrants.—The unusually deep snow in the first week of
December, from twelve to fourteen inches on the level, seemed—in
the absence of any really severe frost—to have but little effect upon
the feathered tribe. No starving redwings and fieldfares crowded
into our city gardens, as last year, and my Pyracanthus berries

- remain in all their beauty, whilst the abundant crop of berries on the

holly this winter was left untouched for Christmas decorations.
Glaucous Gull.—Another immature bird killed at Yarmouth.
Goosander.—A fine old male shot at Yarmouth.

4778 THE ZooLocist—FeEBruary, 1876.

Wild Geese and Swans.—A flock of twenty-four gray wild geese
were seen flying low at Northrepps and forty-three wild swans at
Weybourne, on the 4th.

Harfinch—A hawfinch was caught in an unbaited steel rat-
trap, which had been set on the ground for a rat, in a garden at
Keswick.

Bean Goose.—On the 18th a wild goose of this species was shot
out of a flock of four at Runton, near Cromer.

Magpies.—On the morning of the 24th seven magpies were seen
at Sheringham, six being in one flock and the seventh in an
adjoining field. So scarce has this species become of late years
as a resident in this game-preserving county that there is little
doubt these were recent arrivals on that part of the coast, but from
whatever quarter they may have visited us, as migrants, this is
not the first time I have heard of as many being seen between
Sheringham and Weyborne.

Eagle.—On the 31st a fine eagle, mobbed by rooks, was ob-
served, at no great height, passing over the garden at Northrepps
Hall, and created much stir amongst the poultry.

Henry STEVENSON.
Norwich, December 28, 1875.

Ornithological Notes from North Lincolnshire.
By Joun Corpeaux, Esq.
(Continued from S. S. 4710).

NoVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1875.

Great Gray Shrike—The great gray shrike, a female, in im-
mature plumage, was shot at Spurn Point about the end of the
last week in October, by E. Wheldrake, of that place.

Snow Bunting.—November 8th. First flight of snow buntings—
all immature. More on the 10th, with several old birds.

Shorteared Owl.— November 10th. Heavy rain on previous
night from N.W. First shorteared. owl seen.

Goldcrested Wren.—- Mr. Bailey, of Flamborough, informs me
that hundreds of these little birds were seen on the headland in
October; also that during the first week in November many flocks
of lapwings, larks and snow buntings came in from the east—the
sea. He further remarks that north-east winds with fogs are always

TuE Zoo.ocist—FEBRUARY, 1876. 4779

the most favourable conditions for large arrivals of migrants on
the headland.

Dipper.—Two have been shot during the autumn on small
streams near this place; both belong to the English form (Cinclus
aquaticus, Bechstein), having the lower part of the breast chestnut-
brown.

Bartailed Godwit.—Godwits have been extremely abundant on
our coast during the autumn and up to the close of the year. A
blacktailed godwit, a female, was shot at Spurn during the
autumn. It is the only occurrence of this species which has come
under my notice at this season, during a period of twenty years.

Purple Sandpiper.— December 7th. Shot an example this
morning from the foot of. the Humber embankment in this parish.
They are rarely met with within the river, although common enough
at Spurn and along the coast in the fall.

Scaup and Goldeneye Duck.—The young of both sexes have
been extremely abundant on the river. Old females, both scaup
and goldeneye, much less commonly met with; rarer still is the old
male scaup. I have not, this season, met with a single example of
the old male goldeneye. In the dusk of evening we not unfrequently
hear goldeneyes passing over this place on their way to some
inland feeding-grounds: they return to the river before daylight
in the morning.

Bullfinch.— Perhaps the most marked ornithological feature,
during the last two months, has been the great abundance of these
beautiful birds. We find them in almost every garden, and hear
their plaintive note from each hedgerow and copse: they are
certainly far in excess of our local residents, and appear slightly
larger and more richly coloured than local birds.

Snipe.—Were abundant early in December, during the frost
and snow, in all their usual haunts. On the night of the 9th of
December there was a thaw, and on the 8th, on walking over
ground where on the previous day they were numerous, I only
succeeded in killing three full snipe and two jacks. There is no
_bird more sensitive to changes of the weather than the snipe—one
day in certain localities most abundant, the next all are gone. In
this case our snipe had not gone far, or left the district, and since
the breaking up of the frost till this time have always been found
during the day amongst turnips, or rather congregated in the
moistest and softest places in the turnip-fields, rising very wildly

4780 THE ZooLoGistT—FEBRUARY, 1876.

and in wisps. I have even flushed and shot both the common
and jack snipe on the high wolds in turnip-fields, on stony and
perfectly dry layer. We frequently hear snipe in the evening at
dusk passing to and fro, when they leave the high land turnip-
fields and go to the marsh drains and ponds to feed, returning
without fail to cover during the day. With the first sharp frosts
we are sure to find them permanently settled at all their usual

aquatic haunts.
JoHN CoRDEAUX.
Great Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire,
January 4, 1876.

A few Ornithological Notes from Guernsey.
By Cecit Smiru, Esq., F.LS.

As I have been making a short stay in Guernsey, from the 5th
to the 23rd of November, I send you a few notes on the birds,
though my experiences were not very interesting. The weather
the whole time was excessively rough, gale after gale of wind
varying from S.E. to W. and N.W., and | think in consequence of
these gales birds—especially shore birds—were unusually scarce,
for I found few but turnstones and ringed dotterels (which were
numerous), a few flocks of curlews and one large flock of oyster-
catchers. As, however, several birds were obtained in the islands
whilst I was there, all but two of which I saw in the flesh, I think
it may be worth while shortly to mention them.

Peregrine Falcon.—A peregrine, a young bird of the year, was
killed in Alderney a few days before I arrived.

Merlin.—Two merlins, both young, were shot in the Vale, and
I saw a third near Cobo.

Shorteared Owl.—The rough weather seems to have brought an
unusual number of shorteared owls, as several were brought in to
Mr. Couch, the birdstuffer, whilst I was there.

Tithys Redstart.—I\ saw several pair of tithys redstarts, in the
same sort of places as those I saw last time. (See ‘ Zoologist’
for 1872.)

Snow Bunting.—There were a few small flocks of snow buntings,
and one, a young bird, which had been killed by a boy with a
catapult, was brought in to Mr. Couch.

Nightjav.—On the 12th a nightjar was brought to Mr. Couch.

THE ZooLoGIstT— FEBRUARY, 1876, 4781

Though this was a late date for the nightjar, this bird had
lived well, for its stomach was completely crammed with black
beetles — not our common domestic nuisance, but small flying
black beetles.

Gray Plover.—One freshly-killed gray plover was hanging up
in the market, but I did not get a shot at one, or even see one
alive.

Gray Phalarope.— Several gray phalaropes were killed. All
' except one, the skin of which I kept, were in the ordinary autumn
plumage, but this one, I suppose, had assumed perfect winter
plumage, as the entire back was a regular gray, without one single
dark or margined feather left.

Rednecked Grebe.—Several rednecked grebes were shot, and
two or three were brought to Mr. Couch. The rednecked seemed
to be the common grebe here this autumn.

Sclavonian Grebe.—Only one Sclavonian grebe was killed, as
far as I could find out, and I saw another fishing as close to the
wall of the north arm of the harbour as it cleverly could get, as the
wall afforded some protection from the gale that was then blowing.

Shag.—The rough weather drove a good many shags inside the
harbour, where they remained diving and fishing all day.

Arctic Tern.—A young arctic tern was killed somewhere near
the harbour just about the time I got there. I kept the skin, as it
is not very common in Guernsey.

Fulmar Petrel.—On Sunday, the 14th, during a tremendous gale,
I picked up a fulmar petrel dead on the shore near Cobo. This
seems to be almost a new bird in Guernsey, as it is not mentioned
in Professor Ansted’s list, nor is there a specimen in the Museum ;
but I do not think much of this, as neither are very reliable. Since
he has been in the island Mr. Couch has never had one through his
hands, still the bird must have occurred occasionally under similar
circumstances.

The Birds in the Museum.—Since I wrote some notes from
Guernsey in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1872, I am glad to say the Museum
has been a little attended to by one of your correspondents from that
island. The local birds have been got together; those that can be
proved to have been killed in or near the island are distinguished
by a different coloured label. This, I am informed, has been
rather a troublesome work, as the trustees and persons officially
connected with the Museum seem to have shown the usual amount

SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. H

4782 THE ZooLoGiIst—FEeBRuUARY, 1876.

of official obstructiveness. I am glad, however, that many of the
birds have been saved from the destruction that seemed at one
time to threaten them. The other collections, especially that of
local shells, are being put into a little better order; and there are
rumours that when the new Market-place, now building, is finished,
a proper room or rooms will be provided for the Museum, and that
the trustees intend to bestir themselves, and have the whole of the
collections in the Museum properly arranged.

Are Guernsey Birds British 2—A question arose some time ago
in the ‘ Zoologist,” which was discussed in several numbers, Are
Guernsey birds British ? A good deal was said as to geographical
position, proximity to the coast of France, the probability of
fraudulent dealers picking up foreign skins and selling them at high
prices, and other matters, but I do not remember that much was
said as to the birds themselves; so perhaps, though [ do not wish
again to raise the discussion, you will allow me to say a few words
as to the birds themselves, and these seem to me to be essentially
British. In fact, 1 have always found much the same birds, and
in the same average numbers, as on the south coast of Devon.
Tithys redstart, snow bunting, goosander, redbreasted merganser,
grebes, &c., seem to make their appearance much about the same
time and in much the same numbers. Occasional stragglers, such
as hoopoes, golden orioles and rosecoloured pastors certainly do
not appear more frequently or stay longer than in the South of
England. Motacilla lugubris, and not M. alba, is the common
wagtail, though 1 have no doubt the latter is to be found. The
only bird I have found rather more common than on the Devon
coast is the Kentish plover, but it is by no means more common
than in other parts of the English coast. By-the-bye, I have
always considered this bird only a summer visitant to the islands,
and probably breeding there, as I shot a pair in Guernsey on the
2nd of July, and saw others in Alderney about the same time; but I
have never shot or seen one in my autumnal visits about November,
yet I see Mr. Harvie Brown mentions having seen them at Herm
in January feeding with the ring dotterel: he does not appear,
however, to have shot one. Some other birds, such as the slender-
billed curlew, marsh sandpiper, Nyroca pochard, and others men-
tioned by Degland and Gerbe as more or less regular visitants to
Normandy and Picardy, and other parts of the North of France are
either not found at all or are extremely rare in Guetnsey and the

ee

THE ZooLocist—FEBRuUARY, 1876. 4783

neighbouring islands: they may possibly occur in Jersey, but

I have had no shooting experience in that island.
CECIL SMITH.
Bishop’s Lydeard, near Taunton,
January, 1876.

Ornithological Notes from Devonshire and Cornwall.
By J. Garcomsg, Esq.

(Continued from Zool. S. S. 7919.)

NoveEmMBER, 1875.

3rd. There was an immature black redstart, apparently just
arrived, flitting about this morning among the cabbages in a small
garden inside a fort at the Devil’s Point, Stonehouse. Weather
mild and the wind south, but it had been blowing and raining hard
during the previous night. This species often frequents gardens in
the vicinity of the coast.

llth. A fine northern diver was killed to-day off Millbay,
which was still in nearly full summer plumage, a few gray
and white feathers only appearing about the head and throat, the
back, shoulders and wings being beautifully spotted with white.
I have known one in this state of plumage as late as the middle of
December. Purple sandpipers seem to have arrived in numbers
during the past month: I saw some feeding on the rocks at the
Point this morning, and many have been shot. Another black
redstart has also made its appearance.

15th. This morning I saw three more black redstarts on the
coast in the neighbourhood of Plymouth.

16th. There was a large northern diver, in the immature or winter
plumage, off the Devil’s Point, and on the 17th another was killed
in the Sound, and one seen in Stonehouse Pool. On the 20th I saw
one shot, which IJ afterwards examined, and found the stomach to
contain a crab, some whitish worms, and a few small stones. Divers
seem to feed largely on crabs, as I have often found their stomachs
full of them.

22nd. Observed two black redstarts hopping about on the
rocks under the Plymouth Citadel; wind N.E., and very cold.
Mr. Luckraft, birdstuffer, has lately had a very nice variety of the
male blackbird sent in, the whole head of which was pure white,
with the exception of a small black bar or patch on the back of the

4784 THe ZooLoGIstT—FEBRUARY, 1876.

poll. It seems strange that some varieties should be so regularly
marked. A few days since I saw a sparrow which had a pure white
feather on each side of the tail and another in either wing, giving
it a very pretty appearance when flying.

28th. Wind still N.E. and bitterly cold. Another northern diver,
some sheldrakes and immature goldeneyes killed, and large flocks
of wigeon seen off the Mewstone. Black redstarts appear to suffer
much from the cold, are very tame, and may be seen hopping and
puffed up on the grass above the cliffs, instead of on the rocks
below. The severe weather has also been disastrous to the green
woodpeckers, many of our birdstuffers having received as many as
seven or eight in a week for preservation.

DECEMBER, 1875.

2nd. Wind N.E. and very cold. There was an Iceland gull in
the harbour this morning. I also noticed a fine old male black
redstart in a quarry at Stonehouse.

8rd. A male black redstart at Bovisand, near Plymouth, which
showed a white patch on the wings, but very little black on the
breast. There were also numbers of gulls, curlews, an oystercatcher,
and several cormorants on the rocks, but no divers on the coast.
Woodcocks, snipes, lapwings, wigeon and teal are very plentiful in
our markets.

7th. Wind N.E., with a slight fall of snow. Sky larks, in small
flocks, were observed, from just after daylight until dusk, flying
across the Sound from east to north-west, but were not accompanied
by fieldfares or redwings, as they usually are during or after snow.

9th. To-day I saw a little stint, killed near Plymouth, which was
in full winter plumage, much resembling that of the dunlin at this
time of the year: Ido not remember ever having known one to
remain so late in this locality before. Two black redstarts were
captured alive by a birdcatcher this morning, and an adult male
goldeneye was brought to a birdstuffer at Stonehouse. Scoters are
very numerous on the coast, and I have noticed a few tufted ducks
in the market.

14th. There was a large northern diver off the Plymouth Hoe
this morning, and at Mr. Lucraft’s, in Stonehouse, I examined a
Cornish chough recently killed: its stomach contained the remains
of Coleoptera and very fine sea-sand. Gray plovers and a few
sheldrakes have lately been received by our birdstuffers.

THE ZooLocist—FEBRvUARY, 1876. 4785

16th. This morning I was much interested in watching the
actions ofan eared grebe. On the eve of diving it would invariably
sink its body a little, and go down with a sudden dart forwards.
The true divers also sink their bodies a little before they disappear.
Two bitterns have been brought to Mr. Peacock for preservation,
one of which was killed near Bodmin. Great blackbacked gulls
are now beginning to make their appearance, which they generally
do just before Christmas.

19th. There were three northern divers off Firestone Bay this
morning, two of which would turn almost completely over on their
backs, with one leg in the air, during the act of preening the
feathers of the breast; they had also a singular habit, whilst
swimming, of thrusting out one leg from behind, which they waved
high above water, like a fan. Several immature smews and
goosanders have been obtained lately near Plymouth, likewise one
longeared and several shorteared owls.

JOHN GATCOMBE.
8, Lower Durnford Street, Stonehouse,
Plymouth.

Notes on the Occurrence of Rare Birds in Norfolk and Suffolk.
By Mr. T. E. Gunn.

Osprey.—A fine male specimen, in the second year’s plumage,
was shot on the 28th of October, at Redgrave, in Suffolk: it had
been observed for several days previously fishing in the river. On
dissection I found the stomach empty, the bird being very fat.

Peregrine Falcon.—An immature female of this species was
observed for several days on the Taverham estate, near Norwich,
feeding on ring doves, or “wood pigeons,” as they are familiarly
called here, and on the morning of the 10th of November it was
seen by one of the gamekeepers to strike down a pigeon, which it
began to devour, but being disturbed by the keeper, who appeared
on the scene, it took flight, alighting on a tall tree close by. The
keeper proceeded to set a number of steel-falls, or traps, around
the remains of the victim, into one of which her ladyship walked
on her return to finish her breakfast, and was soon dispatched by
the keeper, and sent to me the following day to be preserved. It
proved to be in good order and very fat—its plumage clean and not
a feather amiss. Since its arrival in that neighbourhood the bird had

4786 Tue ZooLocist—FEBrvary, 1876.

apparently kept itself amply provided with food, as the numerous
remains of pigeons found about the park fully proved: its stomach
contained pieces of pigeons’ flesh and a good many of the feathers.
On the 8th of December an immature male was shot at Yarmouth,
which was also sent up to me: this was doubtless a bird of the
year, the plumage being much paler than in ordinary examples,
more especially about the head and neck, reminding one, at first
sight, of the immature summer falcon. This bird was also ex-
ceedingly fat and weighed twenty-two ounces.

Merlin.—On the 18th of November a male, in mature plumage,
was shot at Taverham: its stomach was filled with the remains of
a greenfinch, and I also found attached to the outer coat of the
stomach a single threadworm, measuring ten inches in length. ~

Roughlegged Buzzard.—This species seems to have arrived in
rather considerable numbers on the eastern coast during the month
of October. The first came to hand on the 20th of October, from
Yarmouth, and proved on dissection to be a male; the second, also

‘a male, on the 3rd of November, was killed on Gunton Cliff, near
Lowestoft; on the 5th of the same month I received a female, killed
at Palling, on the Norfolk coast; three days after another female
from Leiston, Suffolk; and on the 23rd a male from Burlingham,
near Norwich. In December I received a male (a very small bird),
on the 8th, from Yarmouth, and on the 23rd another male was shot
at Hareland. All these specimens were immature birds, and passed
into my hands. I heard of many others being seen in various parts
of the two counties, showing that they were pretty well dispersed.
The roughlegged buzzard apparently prefers those localities where
rabbits are in the greatest abundance, these animals apparently
constituting their principal food, as shown by their stomachs being
partially filled with rabbits’ fur. In the stomach of one I examined
I found the remains of a large water vole; and in the stomach of
the last-named buzzard were the remains of a large common brown
rat, the head, legs, and tail of which were swallowed whole.
All the specimens were in good plumage, and rather fat in
condition.

Montagu’ Harrier.—An example was obtained, on the 18th of
December, at Burgh St. Peter, which proved to be an immature
male, a few feathers of the mature dress showing over some parts
of its plumage.

Great Gray Shrike.—1 have seen but one example this season ;

THE ZooLocist—FEBRUARY, 1876. 4787

it was a female, killed at Yarmouth on the 18th of October: it
weighed two ounces two drachms.

Albino Blackbird.—A fine female bird was obtained: in this
neighbourhood on the 23rd of October last, and passed into my
hands. The entire outside surface of its plumage was pure white,
but in skinning it I found the basal half of some of its feathers,
particularly a patch or two on its breast, of a dusky black ; it had
a perfect yellow beak; legs, toes and claws of a pinkish flesh-
colour. The eyes of albinos, either mammals or birds, are in-
variably weak, being of a paler colour, generally pinkish, as in the
case of white rats and mice, and is assumed at birth; but in this
example the eyes were of the normal colour—i.e. dark brown;
this and the fact of the darker colour in the basal half of some of
its feathers, as just mentioned, would seem to indicate that its
plumage was at first either in its normal state or partly so, and that
its feathers had afterwards undergone their change of colour: this
is probably, in some way, connected with the diseased state of the
bird’s liver, which on dissection 1 found to be quite black. The
bird itself seemed rather fat and in plump condition.

Ash-coloured Swallow.—In the ‘ Zoologist’ for October, 1875
(S. S. 4665) I recorded the occurrence of an albino of this species
on the 11th of September. A few days after—viz. on the 24th of
the same month—an ash-coloured variety was brought me, having
just been procured at Gorleston, near Yarmouth: it was an im-
mature bird, and on dissection proved to be a female. The whole
of the upper parts of its plumage are ofa pale brownish ash-colour ;
throat pale dull reddish; the under parts of a cream-colour, inclining
to pale ash under the wings and tail-feathers. Each tail-feather,
excepting the two centre ones, shows the delicate spot of white;
irides pale brown; beak and legs pale flesh-colour.

Purple Heron.—This is a very rare species in Norfolk: two
examples only have passed under my notice previous to this season.
On the 25th of September last an immature specimen, and very
probably a bird of the year, was shot at Hingham, by Mr. Muskett,
of that town, and presented by him to the Earl of Kimberley, who
brought it to me himself the following day to be preserved for his
lordship’s collection. His lordship informed me that when first
flushed by Mr. Muskett (who was snipe-shooting at the time) it
rose from a drain, and having the appearance of a rather strange
looking bird to him, he marked the place where it alighted, which

4788 Tue ZooLocist—FeEBruary, 1876.

was on the edge of another marsh-drain, and with the assistance of
a friend who was with him at the time it was again flushed, when
a successful shot was made. It is a female bird, and very fat.
Its stomach contained a little brackish matter and a few hairs,
apparently from the coat of a water vole. It is in precisely the
same state of plumage as the other two Norfolk examples I have
referred to. The following are its principal dimensions :—

Total length, beak and tail included —- - 35 inches.
Wing, carpal joint to tip - - - - 14” as
Fully extended wings, to extreme tip ofeach - 4 feet 4 ,,
Bill along ridge of upper mandible - . 42 ,,
Tibia - : : - - . : ba
Tarsus : - - - : - - Ay +3;
Middle toe and claw” - - : 4z ,,
Tnner 52 ; : - - - - 33 =«C«y,
Outer 3 - - . - - 4} ,,
Hinder sj - - - . : Be icles
Tail - - - - - - : = Ada ss
Hind claw or curve = - - : - ae
Weight - - : 2 Tbs.

The second, third and fourth primary quill-feathers are of equal
length and longest in the wing; the first and fifth of equal length;
but shorter than the above named.

Great Snipe—This species seems to have arrived during the
autumn in larger numbers than usual. In the ‘ Zoologist’ for
October, 1875 (S. 8. 4665) I recorded the occurrence of four
examples from East Ruston Fen, about two miles north-east of
Stalham, a locality which seems to be rather a favourite feeding-
ground with this species, as a few individuals are invariably ob-
tained there each season. In October I received a fifth specimen
from the same locality, and three most beautiful examples from
Burgh St. Peter, between Stalham and Great Yarmouth; and on
the 10th of November (a rather unusually late date) a male, which
came to hand the following day, was killed on the estate of Lord
Rendlesham in Suffolk. All these snipes were exceedingly fat—
indeed I may say the same with regard to almost all the birds that
have passed through my hands during the present season.

Green Sandpiper.—A male was killed at the river side at Thorpe,
near Norwich, on the 8th of December: its stomach was full of insect
remains, including skins of the larve of some species of Coleoptera.

THE ZooLoGist—I epruary, 1876. 4789

Plumage of the Little Bustard.—With reference to my remarks
on the roseate tint in the feathers of the bustard in the ‘ Zoologist’
for February, 1875 (S. S. 4340), there seems sufficient evidence in
Mr. Gurney’s note (S. S. 4724) to confirm my impression that this
tint is usualin the bustard family, and since writing my former note
I have examined an old dried skin of Otis tetrax, and found this
roseate tint quite as rich as in the fresh examples; therefore there
seems no question that the Rev. A. C. Smith in his communication
(S. S. 4422) overlooked this fact, which quite bears out some of
my remarks in my former note.

Bean Goose.—An immature female was received from Cromer on
the 23rd of December: its stomach was full of grit and vegetable
matter, and the gullet full of grass.

Shieldrake.—Two fine old males in December, one from Yar-
mouth and the other from Westwick.

Bittern.—Two fine males, one on the 15th of November from
Ludham, and the other on the 29th of December from Great
Yarmouth. The stomach of the first was full of frogs’ bones, and
a large one quite entire, which was stretched out full length; and
in that of the other I found as many as a dozen water newts.

Polish Swan.—A pair of swans were killed on Hoveton Broad
on the 4th of December, which I had sent me. I find they answer
to Yarrell’s description of this species. The male measured in
length five feet, and weighed twenty pounds five ounces, and the
female four feet five inches in length, and weighed sixteen pounds
one ounce.

Bewick’s Swan.—Four examples were killed on Breydon, by one
gunner, on the 12th of December.

Goosander.—Several females and young males were killed on
Breydon in December, and on the 5th a fine old male, just killed,
was sent me from the same locality, with two immature male
birds. y

Food of Heron.—In looking over the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1875 I find
a note (S. S. 4341) in reference to the heron preying on birds: this
reminded me of a similar instance I have recorded in my note-book,
and it may not be out of place to mention it in these notes :—
“ January 11, 1875. In dissecting an heron I found in its stomach
an old cock blackbird, almost entire and partly decomposed, and
a water-newt minus the tail.” Having kept the heron in a state of
domestication, I am aware it will refuse scarcely anything at all

SECOND SERILS—VOL. XI. I

4790 Tue ZooLocist—FEBRuUARY, 1876.

resembling food. One I had about two years ago would swallow
almost anything offered it—small birds (both alive and dead), mice,
rats, pieces of animal flesh, bits of leather, boot-laces, paper,
string, &c.

Gray Phalarope.—A fine adult female specimen, in full winter
plumage, was shot on the 23rd of November at Beeston Regis, near
Cromer: its stomach contained remains of minute insects and grit:
the bird was rather thin in condition. On the 15th of December
Mr. O. F. Harmer killed one (a male) on Breydon, which still
retained a good deal of rufous around its throat and neck and on
the margins of its secondaries.

Rednecked Phalarope.—A female, in change of plumage, was
shot on a duck-pond at Hingham on the 13th of November: it was
very tame and apparently well contented, swimming about with the
tame ducks, which did not appear to molest it. Beak and tail
included, the bird measured seven inches and a half in length,
and from carpal joint to tip four inches and a quarter in the
wing.

Rednecked Grebe.—On the 30th of October a fine old female bird,
in nearly full summer dress, was shot on Breydon Water by Mr.R.F.
Harmer. On the 8th of December I received a male from Burgh
St. Peter, having a paler rufous neck; on the 18th another (also a
male, but a younger bird) from the same locality; and on the 30th
another male from Sheringham. I find, on referring to my notes,
that in February, 1865, as many as sixteen birds of this species
passed into my hands: ample opportunity has thus been afforded
me for examination of the nature of their food, &c. One fact in
reference to this species—and indeed with the whole of the grebes
(examples of each of which I have dissected)—has struck me very
forcibly at times; that is, the remarkable rapidity with which the
feathers of the breast and under parts must be produced, or rather
reproduced, as in most of my dissections I*find that, in addition to
its food, a quantity of its own feathers, and in some instances their
stomachs are literally crammed with them—not at any particular
season of the year either, but at all times. This seems to be a most
curious provision of nature, and is, I believe, confined exclusively
to this genus of birds: the feathers are doubtless intended to assist
in cleansing the stomach by absorbing any extraneous moisture
left by its food. I have sometimes seen a mass of quite green
feathers, probably stained by vegetable matter previously contained

THE ZooLocisT—FrBRUARY, 1876. 4791

inthe stomach. Their food consists principally of small fish, frogs,
aquatic insects and vegetable matter. In the stomach of one I found
a roach, quite entire, which measured six inches in length.

Sclavonian Grebe.—On the 15th of December an immature male
was obtained in the river near Earlham Bridge.

Great Northern Diver.—On the 13th of November an immature
male was killed on the Somerleyton Marshes, near Lowestoft; its
stomach contained only some pebbles as large as horse-beans.

Blackthroated Diver.—A female, in the second year’s plumage,
showing all the square white spots on its shoulders, was killed at
Yarmouth on the 8th of December: its beak was black, inclining
to horn-colour at its base: in its stomach were large pebbles and
a quantity of grit. A smaller bird (a female), in the first year’s
plumage, also came to hand from Blakeney at the same time.

Little Auk.—During the prevalence of the recent gales off this
coast two examples of the little auk were sent me, both being picked
up inland; the first, a female, on the 26th of November, at Yoxford,
in Suffolk; and the other, a male, on the 3rd of December, on the
Kimberley Estate, near Wymondham. Both birds were dead; the
last named, upon being skinned, exhibited some recent gunshot
wounds.

Sandwich Tern.—On the 20th fof October an immature female
was shot at Yarmouth: its stomach was filled with small green
bones, consisting principally of vertebra of the garpike. I have
notes of two other occurrences on the Norfolk coast, both adult
birds; in the stomach of one I found’ an almost entire sand-
launce. A few birds are seen about Yarmouth, I believe, during
each autumn, but they do not appear to be often killed.

Little Gull.— During the month of October I received four
examples of this species from Yarmouth, all being killed along the
beach; the first, a female, on the 18th; two days after two more
females, one immature ; and on the 30th a male. The stomach of
one I found filled with barley and a single shell, and in that of

another some bits of fat.
T. E. Gunn.
47, St. Giles Street, Norwich,
January 8, 1876.

Wild Cat.—Having examined a wild cat recently received by Mr. E.
Hargitt from Mr. M‘Leay, naturalist, Inverness, I find it closely resembles,

4792 THE ZooLoGIsT—FEBRUARY, 1876.

both in size and colour, those described by that accurate observer, Professor
Macgillivray. That Mr. Newman is right in thinking the specimen referred
to by Mr. Corbin, as having been shot by Colonel Wright, was not the
veritable wild cat, but a domestic cat run wild, there can be no doubt; for
not only is it particoloured, but a foot shorter than a wild cat described by
Macgillivray, and less by ten inches than the specimen before me, though
somewhat shrunk and distorted. The length given by Mr. Corbin—namely,
two feet four inches—is about the average size of the common domestic cat.
In reply to Mr. Newman’s query, ‘ Has a wild cat, or has any species of
Felis distinct from our domestic mouser, really been found in Britain ?"—
T am convinced there has, though I may fail in demonstrating with precision
in what respect it differs, but will endeavour to point out what is most
remarkable :—(1) it appears that the wild cat exceeds the domestic one in
length by about a foot ; (2) it is proportionately longer in the body and more
slender; (3) the head is smaller and more pointed at the muzzle; (4) the
pure white mystachial bristles much stronger than in the domestic cat;
5) the powerful grooved and blunt canine teeth; (6) the jet-black inner
surface of the tarsus and paws, and whitish claws ; (7) the dense fur and
(elongated pile; (8) the thick bushy tail not tapering; (9) the yellowish red of
the under parts. These are the chief differential points, and Macgillivray’s
description of Felis catus would, with slight alteration, answer for this
specimen—a remarkable coincidence, if not of one and the self-same species.
I need not therefore enter into minute particulars. The general colour of
this male cat is dark gray, deeply tinged with yellow on the head, back and
tail; less so on the sides. On the forehead there are five narrow irregular
longitudinal black bands, blending at the crown before branching off to the
nape, and abruptly terminating on the neck, from which point a central
black band passes down the back, gradually widening towards the rump.
There are on the sides thirteen more or less distinct black rib-like bars.
The tail has seven black rings that gradually darken and widen towards
the extremity, which is of a pure jet black for three inches and three-
quarters—a strikingly characteristic feature. Over the eye there is a band
of light buff, and a narrower one beneath; and in front of the eye a black
patch, and a dark reddish brown one towards the nose, which is black ;
cheeks grayish and yellowish brown; two irregular black bands from above
and below the eye pass under the ear to the neck. Ears dark reddish brown,
tinged with gray and narrowly edged with light yellow. Chin yellowish
gray, a spear-shaped black line separating it from the neck, which is
yellowish, with a gray and white tinge. The chest blackish, but intermixed
with gray and yellow, and a very elongated white nap. On the hind leg
there are six and on the fore leg eight black bars, more or less distinct.
I now give the chief measurements ;—

THE ZooLocist—Fesruary, 1876. 4793

ft. in. ft. in,

Length of head - - - - 42 Thigh = = E 5 2 52

Rs body - - - = 8 , Tarannes:- - - - - 54

tail - : - - 1 14 Fore leg from elbow - - - 54

Total length = - - - - 38 2 Tarsus : - - - - 34

Greatest breadth of head - - 4 Mystachial bristles (the longest) 33

Length of ear - - 2 Upper canine tooth - : : $
Width ofear - - : E Q1

The greatest length of body in the wild cat, the stronger and differently
shaped canine teeth (grooved, too), the more pointed nose and bushy tail, prove
it to be a distinct species. The spine being so much longer than that of the
domestic cat, may there not be a greater number of vertebre? Mr. Hargitt
has two other specimens in his collection, and had a fourth (now in the
possession of Mr. J. E. Harting), all from the same locality—H. Hadfield;
Ventnor, Isle of Wight, December 10, 1875.

‘A Catalogue of the Birds of Northumberland and Durham, by John
Hancock.—I quite overlooked the critical notices of Mr. Hancock’s work by
Mr. Doubleday (Zool. S.S. 4429). Iam very glad that attention has been
drawn to it, and I will offer a few remarks as a pendant :—

Sparrowhawk.—If the late Mr. Doubleday had seen the sparrowhawk, of
which a figure is given—as I have often done—he would never have hazarded
the opinion that it was merely “in the adult plumage of the male.” It is a
variety, and one of the most curious varieties ever shot. In the ‘ Ibis’ for
1859 (p. 479) it is suggested that it comes very near to Accipiter rufiventris,
and it is possible, though not probable, that it may be of that species.

Linnet.— With reference to the plumage of the common linnet, see a note
or two in the ‘ Field’ newspaper of November last.

Our Wagtails.— Under this heading Mr. Doubleday says that if the yellow
and grayheaded wagtails are not distinct he does not know what constitutes
aspecies. Everyone must agree with him here. I am at a loss to under-
stand how the naturalists of Newcastle can consider the yellow wagtail to
be a race of the grayheaded. This may be the key to the asserted nidification
of the latter in three or four instances, which has been already mentioned
in the ‘ Zoologist,’ and is again reiterated. Mr. Hancock says two of the
young and a fine adult female of the grayheaded wagtail were presented to
him (i. c., p. 60), but I should like to know who could distinguish the female
from the female of the yellow wagtail, still less the young. It appears to
me that they are so much alike that it is impossible—J. H. Gurney, jun. ;
Northrepps Hall, Norwich.

Erratum.—In the ‘ Zoologist,’ S. 8. 2718, second line from the bottom,
for “ Larus marinus ?” read L. fuscus, Linn.—J. H. G., jun.

4794 - THE ZooLocisT—FEBRUARY, 1876.

Addendum to a Note on Rare Sea Birds (Zool. S. 8S. 1295),—T see
the first note which I had the honour to send you—and which has been
followed by a goodly array of others—appears in the volume for 1868, and
records without any particulars the following list of rare birds :—little
gull (two), Iceland gull, glaucous gull (five), greater shearwater, fulmar
petrel, spotted redshank (two), little auk (three), great skua and ringed
guillemot. As such brief notes are of no practical use I have taken the
trouble to hunt up the following details:—

The little gulls were shot on the 12th of August and 24th of October,

1867, at Flamborough Head. The former retains just one or two of the

dark lesser wing-coyerts and four brown-tipped feathers in the tail.

The Iceland gull was shot in Orkney on the 26th of October, and having
been packed up to go a long journey immediately after it was killed, it was
almost unfit for preserving.

The glaucous gulls were—(1) an adult from the Orkneys; (2) a specimen
in what has been described as the general dirty-white plumage intermediate
between the old and young, from Plymouth; (3) an immature specimen
picked up by my father in Leadenhall, where it was hanging on the 9th of
December with another, both being said to have come from Yarmouth;
(4) two other immature ones from Yorkshire, shot respectively on the 14th
of December, 1867, and the 24th of January, 1868. From Filey, on the
same coast, I received another on the 26th of October following.

The greater shearwater, like all the British ones which I have seen, was
the Puffinus major of Faber, to be easily distinguished from the cinereous
shearwater by its small black beak. This bird, which was an adult female,
fell in an exhausted state upon the deck of a trawler off Plymouth, was
taken alive to a birdstuffer named Rogers, and sent to me by Mr. Gatcombe.
I noticed that its legs were “ pied” as in the Manx shearwater.

The fulmar petrel was a female, a young bird, and darker than any
which I got afterwards. It was also caught alive at Plymouth on the
24th of October, 1867, and brought to the same birdstuffer as the shear-
water.

The spotted redshanks came from Leadenhall, and the little auk from
the coast of Yorkshire.

The gray phalarope was shot on the Tees somewhere below Stockton by
a Mr. Pennrick Lyth, on the 10th of November, 1867. One of the pomarine
skuas was shot at the same place.

The great or common skua and the “ringed guillemot” were shot at
Flamborough Head on the Ist and 24th of March.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Rare Birds in Lincolnshire.—I have received the following rare birds
during the past month:—Blackthroated diver (male), Sclavonian grebes
(male and female), rednecked grebe (male), and peregrine falcon (male).—
Alfred C. Elliott ; 29, High Street, Stamford.

i ih

Tue ZooLocist—FrBrvary, 1876. 4795

Peregrine in the City of Norwich.— Mention is made in Stevenson's
‘Birds of Norfolk’ (vol. i., p. 10) of a peregrine faleon shot in Norwich
whilst chasing a tame pigeon on one of the bridges. It is also alluded to at
p. 1302 of the ‘ Zoologist.’ As the place of its capture was curious, some
additional particulars which I have gathered may be not unacceptable. It
was shot from Boardman and Harmer’s wharf, in the heart of Norwich, by
Mr. Walter Roper, and fell on Duke’s Palace Bridge. It had previously
darted through the old fish-market in pursuit of a pigeon, almost touching
the fish-tables and passing up the length of the market. It was killed
in September, 1838 (according to the ‘Norwich Mercury,’ as quoted in
N. Wood's ‘ Naturalist,’ vol. iii., p. 223), and the suggestion was that it had
probably come from the Cathedral. It was stuffed by Johnson, and added
to my father’s collection.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Unusual Quantity of Buzzards in Scotland.—In consequence probably
of the unusually severe gales that Scotland, as well as England. has been
lately subjected to, there have been many rare birds driven inland, and
especially a number of buzzards. There are nearly twenty of these birds at
present in Edinburgh, some in dealers’ hands and a few in the possession
of private collectors. All these were Scotch-killed birds, and most of them
were obtained near the east coast.— Alexander Clark-Kennedy ; Edinburgh,
December 29, 1875.

Claws of the Hawk Owl.—The claws of the hawk owl are not bluish black,
as described by Mr. Higgins (S. 8. 3031), but black and white.—J. H.
Gurney, jun.

Blackbreasted Dipper near Filey.—A dipper (one of the blackbreasted
type) was shot on a “beck” at Flotmanby, near Filey, on the 8th of
December. Probably this wasa migrant from Scandinavia. I do not think
any dippers breed near Filey, though they do in some parts of Yorkshire.
Tf some resident ornithologist will keep a sharp look-out for the dippers,
and endeavour to find out whether the blackbreasted type breeds with us,
and if so whether it will mate with the commoner brownbreasted bird, it
might help to decide whether or not we have two species of dipper in
Britain.— Julian G. Tuck; Old Vicarage, Ebberston, York.

Blackbird.—A migration of blackbirds takes place on the coast of Durham
in the early spring, and at the same time rock pipits appear there, and pied
wagtails are very much on the move. I disturbed a great many blackbirds
from some isolated bushes on the 26th of March, 1866, as I was going
along the embankment of the salt-marshes at Tees-mouth, where I had not
before seen one. A hen which I shot, and still haye, was remarkably
dark on the chest, with an entire absence of rufous colouring.—J. H.
Gurney, jun.

Blackcap Warbler near Penzance in December.—I have on a former
occasion reported to you the occurrence of the blackcap in our Land’s End

4796 Tue ZooLocist—F rBRUARY, 1876.

district throughout the year, as well as of the chiffchaff with its subdued
song. I have to-day seen at Mr. Vingoe’s a female blackcap, in the flesh
and in good condition, killed a few miles to the eastward of Penzance.—
Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, December 23, 1875.

Dartford Warbler, Green Woodpecker and Starling at the Land’s End.—
The green woodpecker, for thirty years of my residence at Penzance, was a
bird unknown in the west of Cornwall, with the exception of one or two
occasionally seen at Tulowarren, near the Lizard, and near Truro. The
species is now becoming diffused in every direction about the Land’s End
district, without reference to trees or woodlands. The Dartford warbler,
which I failed to discover myself for many years, may now be seen in
nearly every furze-brake about the district. There is no bird, in point of
numbers, that shows such an extraordinary increase as the common starling,
which resort to our marshes and low shrubberies in countless thousands
throughout the winter. Another fact connected with the starling in our
county is the permanent residence of the bird during the breeding season,
which in former years never was observed, but every year their numbers
have been increasing and extending westward.—TId.

The Stain on the Blackheaded Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala, Gm.).—
The remarkable stain on the chin of the blackheaded warbler,—one of the
best known of Sylviads in Southern Europe,—which led to Lindermeyer's
conferring upon it another and a new specific name, has been commented
upon once already in these pages (S. 8. 2714). It is there stated to have
arisen, in Major Irby’s judgment, from contact with the berries of the
‘pepper tree,” and not, as I surmised, from the Cactus opuntia. It seems,
however, that the point is not dismissed yet, for I observe that in his last
work (* Ornithology of the Straits of Gibraltar’) that author reconsiders his
dictum, and ascribes the stain to three plants—the cactus, the aloe, and
the “pepper tree.” Count Mile, also,—another scientific observer,—
attributes it to the cactus; so I am led to revert to my first guess as the
right one, but whether it was the fruit, the pollen, or the red flower that
gave the stain I am not botanist enough to decide.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Crossbills alighting on Ships.—In my note on the American white-
winged crossbill which flew on board the ‘ Beecher Stowe,’ I omitted to
state that it is not unusual for ships—particularly, I am informed, smacks
which carry a light in their bows—to bring into Great Yarmouth cross-
bills (of the commoner species) which have alighted on the masts and
rigging.—Id.

Starlings and Rooks often peck with their Beaks open.—With reference
to the mandibles of rooks leaving two bayonet-shaped holes in gigantic puff-
balls, I would remind Mr. Sclater that the common startling is said to peck
the ground with its mandibles apart, and not closed, by no less an authority
than our worthy Editor. If he will turn to page 2682 of the ‘ Zoologist’

ee

THE Zoo_ocist—FEBRuUARY, 1876. 4797

(Second Series), he will find that “this bird appears to dig with its mouth
open.” A short time ago I saw a paragraph in the ‘ Field’ newspaper about
a starling with a curiously overgrown under mandible, and on reading it
remembered that I had a similar specimen in my collection, in which the
lower mandible projected quite a quarter of an inch. This I always sup-
posed was caused by an injury from shot; but now, putting two and two
together, I should be more inclined to think that these poor birds may have
worn away their upper mandibles by pricking the ground with their mouths
open, for Mr. Newman has remarked (J. c.) a feature in their digging opera-
tions to be that the upper mandible penetrates the ground, but not the
lower.—J. H. Gurney, jun. ; January 10, 1876.

[Lam greatly obliged to Mr. Gurney for again-calling attention to the
subject, and shall be still further obliged if any reader of the ‘ Zoologist’ will
record his own personal observation on the subject. I have no wish for a
statement of this kind to be received on my own unsupported testimony,
although I had the best possible opportunity of repeating the observation ;
still I desire to preclude the possibility of a mistake-—H. Newman.]

Jackdaws with Pied Heads.—Jackdaws with pied heads not being very
common, I beg to inform you of two. The first I saw in the flesh at the
shop of Mr. Cole, bird-stuffer, Norwich: it was the property of a gentleman
in the city, and was eighteen years old. The second is also a Norfolk
specimen, and was stuffed by Mr. Newcome, a very first-class amateur
taxidermist, who presented it to me: it was shot at Hockwold on the Ist of
March, 1864.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Magpies in Norfolk.—In recording, in his last Norfolk notes, a pair of
magpies at Tilney (S. 8. 4631), Mr. Stevenson records that they are now
very scarce in Norfolk. On the 24th of December I saw seven on a hedge
at Weybourne, and on the 30th I saw six of them again on the same hedge;
so I hope there are still a few left. I observed one last year at Northrepps,
but it is the only specimen I ever remember seeing here. I have, however,
frequently met with them at Weybourne and Sheringham, but never in such
numbers as last month. Thanks to the keeper and his satellites, they are
following in the steps of the raven and the carrion crow, and other birds
which are still common in counties where there is less game. At the same
time there is no fear of our being entirely without them as long as their
numbers are replenished with migrants from the Continent. If these latter
come from Norway, as is supposed, I must say that they show none of the
tameness which they are said to exhibit in that country, for a shyer bird
than the magpie I do not know.—Id.

White Spotted Woodpecker.—It may interest the readers of the ‘ Zoolo-
gist’ to know that James Gulliver, a woodman, of Ramnor Cottage, Brocken-
hurst, has a white specimen of the great spotted woodpecker (Picus major),
shot by. himself in the New Forest in 1878. With the exception of the

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. ; K.

4798 Tue ZooLoGisTt—FEBRuARY, 1876.

crimson feathers on the head and under the tail the bird is perfectly white.
The following year he likewise shot, near the same locality, a specimen
which has the crimson feathers on the back of the head instead of on the
crown, and the top half of the wings and tail-feathers brown instead of
black.—Samuel James Capper ; Huyton Park, Huyton.

Migration of the Swallow and Martin.—In the January number of the
‘ Zoologist’ (S. S. 4757) I am charged by Mr. S. Clogg with having
“mistaken, misunderstood and misquoted” his remarks, and “committed—
to put it mildly—the great error of omitting portions of a sentence in one
case, and adding to another, so as to make the sentences suitable” to my
“views.” This is a heavy, not to say serious, indictment; and there is more
of it, but the charges not so weighty. Well, then, though bearing in mind
the wholesome proverb, ‘ qui s’excuse s’accuse,” I must confess that I did
give him credit for the first line—the only important one, too—and com-
mitted the great error of adding it to his. As to my having misunderstood
him by supposing the remarks referred to “‘ general migration,” the following
quotation is the best answer, proving, too, that the ‘“ wind-bound theory”
was not mine :—‘ A person told me that he had heard that swallows would
not start on their migration whilst the wind was at all from an easterly
direction; * * * the above facts would appear in some measure to
corroborate the idea. * * * All this time*the wind had been in the
east, with the exception of a few hours.” My theory is that the time of
migration depends, not on the wind—whether east or north—but the tem-
perature. As to the charge of making sentences suit my views, I must
decline noticing it. In taking leave of this somewhat vexed question,
I have only to remark that having for nearly forty years paid particular
attention tu the migratory habits of the Hirundines, I thought to give a
brother ornithologist the benefit of it—helping him out of a ‘ muddle”—
when, lo! an attempt is made to drag me into one.— Henry Hadfield ;
January 6, 1876.

[Both Captain Hadfield and Mr. Clogg are far too good men to waste
their own time and their readers’ time in little differences of this kind: let
me take on myself to apologise to each of them for expressions hastily used,
and I believe elicited in the first instance by an inadvertence of my own.—
Edward Newman.)

Stock Dove in Ireland.—Mr. Thomas Darragh, of the Belfast Museum,
reports to me the occurrence, in the County of Down, near Belfast, of two
specimens of the stock dove (Columba @nas). He found them for sale at a
poulterer’s on the 8th of October, 1875. They had been shot and sold by
a person on that day. One of the birds was too much injured to be
preserved; the other, a male,—which I have to-day examined,—is in good
plumage. I am not aware that this southern species has been before
recognised in Ireland.—Clermont ; Ravensdale Park, Newry, Dec. 18, 1875.

THE ZooLoGisT—FEBRUARY, 1876. 4799

Wood Pigeon attacking Peregrine.—On Thursday afternoon, the 28th
of October, 1875, I pulled up the Dart to see if the recent heavy gales had
brought any wild-fowl into the river; but, with the exception of a few herons,
cormorants, gulls, ringed plovers and dunlins, nothing was to be seen.
However, to make up for the absence of anything worth shooting at,
I witnessed an occurrence which perhaps is unusual, and therefore worth
recording. On the side of the river opposite the village of Stoke Gabriel
stands an old barn surrounded by several large and ancient elm trees,
and, while slowly paddling by this spot, a fine and very dark-coloured female
peregrine flew from a neighbouring orchard and settled in one of these trees.
Pulling leisurely on, and keeping an eye occasionally in the direction of
the barn, I presently noticed about a dozen wood pigeons fly over the brow
of an adjacent hill and proceed in the direction of the elm trees, which
they wheeled over with the evident intention of alighting in, or else in the
orchard close by. ‘They continued their manceuvres for a few moments,
when all at once, like an arrow from a bow, out dashed the peregrine into
the midst of them; but the pigeons, with equal swiftness, swooped down
until they almost touched the earth, when, shooting up just as rapidly, they
(with the exception of one) flew off to the woods on the other side of the
river, and the peregrine—who did not appear to be at all anxious to secure
a pigeon, and who doubtless merely chased them for sport—wheeled round
and was sailing off in the direction of the elms, when the solitary pigeon
which had left its companions turned back and actually made two swoops
at her, endeavouring, as far as I could see, to strike her with its wings, but
which attempt the peregrine was easily able to avoid, and, continuing her
flight, resumed her perch amongst the branches of the tallest elm, the bold
pigeon flying off in another direction.—Gervase F’. Mathew; Instow,
November 18, 1875.

English and Egyptian Pigeons—Mr. Newman concludes his observations
on the pigeons of Egypt (S. 8. 3385) with four questions, to which—having
lately studied the Natural History of that country a great deal—I will essay
to give answers. Question ]. Are there one or two species of rock dove
in Britain and Egypt?—I should say one in Britain; two in Egypt.
Question 2. Is the domesticated species in Britain identical with the domes-
ticated pigeons in Egypt?—TI should say not. Question 38. Are the wild
rock doves of Britain identical with the domesticated rock doves of Britain ?—
This must be answered in the affirmative. Question 4. Are the wild rock
doves of Egypt identical with the semi-domesticated rock doves of Egypt ?—
And this also in the affirmative-—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Malformed Pheasant.—There is a malformed nestling pheasant (recorded
Zool. 9792), exactly similar to Mr. Gatcombe’s chick, in my collection.—Jd.

On Fowl and Pheasant Hybrids.—In the summer of 1868 a common
barn-door fowl strayed into the fir-woods at Trimingham, near Cromer,

4800 Tue ZooLocist—FEBRUARY, 1876.

and laid five eggs, which the keeper’s boy sought for and found. They
were fertile, and it appeared that their mother had mated with some cock
pheasant, as they produced five hybrid chickens, which resembled her less
than him. A fox (quite a rarity about here) killed one, the old hen killed
another, two more were caged in an aviary, and the fifth incautiously
strayed to Northrepps, and was shot at Hungry Hills and presented to the
Norwich Museum by Mr. Hoare. I believe it is the specimen recorded in
the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. S. 2057), though the statement that it proved a female
on dissection surprises me very much, it being such a fine and large
bird. To-day (December 7th) I have, in the flesh, another hybrid fowl
and pheasant from the same woods, at Trimingham, being the second
obtained from there this season, and both from the same brood. It is a
small bird, and the keeper gives a gray-coloured hen and a cock pheasant
as its parentage. In all the cases of this not uncommon hybrid which
have come under my notice the pheasant is said to have been the father.
Although there is no county where there have been more, both wild and
tame, than in Norfolk, I suppose they have been reared with success in
other places, and my father saw a good many, tame bred, at Mr. Hart's,
naturalist, Christchurch.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Macqueen’s Bustard and Juggur Falcon.—I beg to inform all readers of
the ‘ Zoologist’ that nothing was further from my intention than to say or
infer that our able, excellent and conscientious naturalist at Norwich,
Mr. T. E. Gunn, was capable of trying to pass off the Macqueen’s bustard
as British, knowing the same to be foreign. Mr. Gunn received it to re-stuff:
it was not in his hands for sale; and his first remark when I saw it was that
he believed it had been mounted from a skin. I have made a somewhat
special study of what are termed doubtful British birds, and I know what
mischief may be done by leaving such a pretender as this unchallenged and
uncorrected. Whilst on this subject, let me thank Mr. Jeffery for his
answer to my note. I feel it is more satisfactory to both of us that the
Juggur falcon’s identity should be set at rest, and the mistake corrected.
If Mr. Jeffery is able to turn to ‘ Land and Water’ newspaper for the 25th of
July, 1868, he will find it had been recorded under its rightful name —Id.

Last Appearances of the Bustard in England.—* A bustard was observed
several times by a friend of mine on the downs near Brighton during the
week preceding Christmas Day. I should like to hear whether it was seen
by any of your subseribers.”"—‘ Field’ of Jan. 15, 1876. ‘In your edition
of January 15th a correspondent speaks of a bustard having been seen on
the downs near Brighton the week before Christmas. I can now inform you
that a bustard, doubtless the same bird, was obtained in the vicinity—. e.,
some ten or twelve miles from this place—on Friday, the 14th of January,
and the specimen is now in the possession of Mr. B. Bates, naturalist, &c.,
of this town. ‘The bird is a female, apparently about two years old—at all

THE ZooLocist—FEBRUARY, 1876. 4801

events, not a bird of the year. It had been observed some little time
previously, and had been seen flying across Pevensey Marsh, and I believe
in other localities. It received its death-wound from a man who saw it
flying over his head. It was hit hard, but did not fall. The next day two
men observed it in a field. It then could not rise, but managed to escape
them by running and fluttering. The individual who had wounded it then
searched for some time fruitlessly, and the bird was discovered at length
lying dead in a hedge. It is a grand bird, weighing eight pounds.—J. F.
Gottwaltz ; South Bank, Eastbourne.” —‘ Field,’ Jan. 22, 1876.

[The first of these records is pseudonymous, and therefore only admissible
in the ‘ Zoologist’ as corroborated by the second. I trust that, owing to
recent enactments on behalf of our wild birds, these “last appearances”
may become of as frequent recurrence as on another stage. — Hdward
Newman.]}

The Eye of the Little Ringed Plover.—It is stated in the account of a
little ringed plover contributed by Mr. Harting (Zool. 9284) that the eye
“ig surrounded by a circle of a beautiful bright yellow, and looks as if it
were set in gold.” I took this to mean that the outer rim of the iris was
yellow, but such has never been the case in the numerous specimens which
I have examined in Egypt and Algeria, and I have little doubt that I have
misunderstood the author’s meaning, which I believe to be that the eyelids
were yellow. It will be satisfactory to me to learn that this is the case, and
to others who may not have fully understood the sense of the passage.—
J. H. Gurney, jun.

American Bittern in Islay—A specimen of this bird was shot in Islay in
the last week of October: it is in splendid plumage. The sex was un-
fortunately not noted—James Lumsden, jun.; Arden House, Alexandria,
N.B. (From the ‘ Field’ of January 22, 1876.)

Stone Curlew.—The author of the ‘Birds of Norfolk’ (vol. ii., p. 63)
appears doubtful whether the stone curlews leave the heaths and uplands
at night to seek food in more cultivated quarters. I can say that this is so,
and the statement of Mr. Rope (Zool. 8. 8. 3867) that they frequent the
sandy heaths in Suffolk by day, and ga out about sunset to feed, tallies well
with my having heard them in Sheringham Park, near Cromer, screeching
and squealing, at 9 p.m. They are never seen there in the day; it is
therefore clear that they come from Kelling Heath, four miles distant,
where I am happy to say that they are on the increase, as I have this year
(1875) seen a flock of fifty. I have been told, too, by naturalists in a part
of West Norfolk, where they are common, that they go down to the fens at
night to feed; yet I know not whether it is more correct to term them
strictly nocturnal or only crepuscular.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Sabine’s Snipe near Penzance.—lI have just seen and examined an inte-
resting specimen of Sabine’s snipe (Scolopaa Sabini). Ihave seen at different

4802 Tur ZooLocist— FEBRUARY, 1876.

times specimens of this variety, but I do not remember ever seeing one so
dark as the present. ‘The upper part of the head, forehead and occiput are
black, with a faint shade of umber-brown extending in a narrow list down
the back part of the neck; this colour—rather lighter in tone—pervades
the whole of the part of the face between the eyes and beak, forming a blotch.
Chin pale ash-brown, immaculate; sides of the breast to the flanks dark
brown, with the feathers margined with buff-yellow; centre part of the
breast down to the belly between the legs without margined feathers, dull
light brown, mixed with buff; belly deep ashy brown, immaculate, extending
to under tail-coverts and vent, where the feathers are again well-defined,
with buff borders. Length of tarsus, one inch and one-eighth; of middle
toe, one inch and three-eighths. The feathers on the back are ovate, becoming
slightly elongated, with a defined point towards the lower part, but in no
way approaching the form of the lanceolate scapularies of the other two
species of common snipe. The black colour of the upper part of the head is
well shown in the plate of Sabine’s snipe in Bewick’s later edition. Ina
former communication to the ‘ Zoologist’ I mentioned my having detected
fourteen tail-feathers in a specimen I examined, thus supporting the opinion
that S. Sabini has no specific value, and is only a variety of the common
snipe: it is quite clear that the present bird is a fourteen-tail-feathered
example. This bird was shot by Mr. John Edward Dennis, of Lariggan,
near Penzance, and he described the bird as having risen in a wild open
moor near the celebrated Lanyon Cromlech, and as having uttered the same
lisping notes two or three times—exactly similar to the well-known notes
of the common snipe.—Edward Hearle Rodd; Penzance, January 5, 1876.

Dunlins Inland.—On the 12th of December we received a common dunlin
from Lower Earlham, near Norwich, which is over twenty miles from the
sea-coast at its nearest point. Its appearance in such a locality was probably
the result of the hard weather. We have also had specimens from the
adjacent parishes of Hellesdon and Keswick at the same period of the
year.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Gray Phalarope near Kingsbridge.x—On the 17th of December a boy
caught a female specimen of the gray phalarope on the mud in the
Estuary: it was in such poor condition that it could scarcely fly—R. P.
Nicholls ; Kingsbridge, December 21, 1876.

The Edible Qualities of the Shoveller Duck.—Tastes differ, or else the
edible qualities of shovellers vary much in different countries. The Rey.
M. A. Mathew says:—‘‘ And here a word in praise of the flavour of the
shoveller, which is quite equal to the well-known delicacy of the teal, if-it
does not even surpass it” (Zool. S. 8. 8826). And again another corre- _
spondent remarks, ‘It is one of the best, if not the very best, of the edible
ducks” (S. 8.6923). With such strong testimony in its favour, I am rather
surprised that we scarcely found them worth shooting in Egypt. We did

THE ZooLoGist—FEBRUARY, 1876. 4803

indeed constantly kill shoyellers, but we hardly regarded them as worth the
plucking.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Wigeon.—There is a pale variety of the female wigeon, which I fancy has
been occasionally taken for the American wigeon. I have had two from
Leadenhall. When I received the first one I supposed it to be the American
wigeon, and, on comparing it with a brace of skins in my collection, the
“mistake is very excusable. My father possesses Mr. Bartlett’s specimen of
the American wigeon, which is the individual figured in Yarrell’s ‘ British
Birds.’ It was the first which was obtained, and it is very doubtful if any
others have been got since.—TJd.

King Duck in Leadenhall Narket.—In writing to you that the female king
duck was a redder bird than the female eider (S. S. 2443), I omitted to add
that my specimen was an unusually brown one. There is not, however, the
least doubt that Mr. Gatcombe and I correctly named it; and it was so
very fresh—for a market bird unusually so—that we were clearly of opinion
it could only have been shot in one or other of “the four seas which girt
Great Britain.” I noted down the following measurements, &c., before it
was skinned. Length twenty-one inches and a half; expanse thirty-seven
inches; webs of feet black; axillaries eight; rectrices fourteen. Let me
here add that I learn from Mr. Gatcombe that a king duck was killed at
Plymouth some years ago, and seen in the flesh by him at a birdstuffer’s
named Mutton.—ZId.

Smew at Slapton Ley.—On the 30th of December a female specimen
of the smew was shot on Slapton Ley.—R. P. Nicholls; January 6,
1876.

Goosander at Slapton Ley.—A young male, a solitary bird, was shot at
Slapton Ley on the 8rd of December, and another (also a young male) on
the 28rd. On the 7th a female was procured out of a flock of seven, near
Avetongifford, on the river Avon; they all appeared to have the female or
young dress. The same person saw three male birds together a few days
afterwards.—Id.

Tropic Bird.—Mr. Gurney, jun., has misread the heading of the Sup-
plementary Birds at the end of my “ List of the Birds of Europe,” which
says :— The following list comprises those birds which have been observed
occasionally in Europe, but which have no real claim to a permanent
position in its Avifauna.” I never said or thought that the tropic-bird
(Phaéton ethereus) was a “ doubtful species.” In the new edition of my work,
just published, I have only one “ List of Kuropean Birds."—C. R. Bree ;
Colchester, January 7, 1876.

Errata.—In my note, ‘* Waxwings without Wax,” in the January number
of the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. S. 4762), nine lines from bottom, for is dressed read
is sexed ; and seven lines from bottom, for pale-plumaged read full-plumaged.

—C. lap B.

4804 THE ZooLoGisT—FEeEBRvARY, 1876.

Great Crested Grebe near Kingsbridge.—On the 24th of December a
female specimen of the great crested grebe was shot near the mouth of the
river Avon.—R. P, Nicholls.

Blackthroated Diver in Somersetshire.—A few days ago, in the shop of
Mr. Petherick, the birdstuffer, at Taunton, I saw a blackthroated diver,
which had been shot near Williton at the latter end of November: it was
an adult bird, in nearly perfect plumage, except that the black on the throat
was slightly mottled with white. This is the rarest of the three British
divers in the West of England, not being common even in winter or young
plumage, and is the first Somersetshire specimen I have seen. A great
northern diver, in very nearly the same plumage, was shot about the same
time in the marsh, which has been much flooded all through November and
December.—Cecil Smith.

Blackthroated Diver in Filey Bay,—At Filey, on the 14th of December,
Mr. Brown showed me a splendid adult blackthroated diver, in almost full
plumage, which was shot in the Bay on the 10th. The immature birds are
not uncommon; several have been met with lately —dJulian G. Tuck ;
December 21, 1875.

Sandwich Tern on Filey Brigg.—On the 18th of December Mr. Brown
sent me a fine male specimen of the Sandwich tern, shot on Filey Brigg on
the 15th. This is by no means.a common species on the east coast, and
certainly the middle of December is not a time when one would expect to
meet with it. My bird was perfectly healthy and in high condition, so
its late stay could not be attributed to a shot-wound or anything of the
kind.—Id.

Glaucous Gull at Flamborough.—On the 27th of November I received
an immature glaucous gull from Flamborough. Several more have been
killed on the coast.—Id.

Little Gulls off Flamborough Head.—Three little gulls (all immature)
were shot by Mr. Bailey, off Flamborough Head, during the first week in
November.—d.

Second Instance of the Audacity of the Skua,—I have another instance
to give you of what I suspect to be the audacity of the common skua
(Stercorarius catarrhactes (Linn.). A gentleman was walking on the shore
in Northumberland, when a bird, which was described to me as a large
gull, made an attack upon him. He warded off its first blow with his arm,
and when it came at him the second time he succeeded, by a quick clutch,
in seizing one of its wings. Unfortunately he had not a tight hold of it,
and the bird—whatever it was—broke away from him and went out to
sea.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

a

THE ZOOLOGIST—FEBRUARY, 1876. 4805

Edible Turtle off the Sussex Coast,—A few days before Christmas Day
the Hastings fishermen found, floating in the British Channel, a large
edible turtle, dead but in quite a fresh condition. They could not find a
purchaser for it whole, so they cleaned out the shell and brought the dorsal
part to me; all the rest of the animal was thrown into the sea before they
came to me, or I should like to have preserved the head or some other parts
of it. The men stated that they found more than a quart of eggs within it.
The carapace measured in length, from front to tail, over the back, forty-
one inches and a half, and its greatest width across the back was thirty-six
inches. How it came into the position in which it was found is unknown, but
it was evident that it had very recently died. Bell does not record the finding
of any specimen of this species in his « History of British Reptiles.’—J. 8.

Bowerbank ; 2, East Ascent, St. Leonards-on-Sea, January 8, 1876.
‘Toads in a Tree.—I have cut the enclosed from the ‘ Kastern Daily Press’
of this day, and send it to you, thinking that you might perhaps like to
insert it in the ‘ Zoologist. —J. H. Gurney ; Northrepps Hall, Norwich,
January 21, 1876.

“Perhaps the enclosed cutting from the ‘ Uitenhage Times’ (South Africa)
of December 10th may not be uninteresting to some of your readers :—
‘A few weeks ago, at the Umgawali Forest, a tree with a trunk of sixteen
feet long being on the saw-pit, when the bark and the first plank had been
sawn off, a hole was found going inwards, the size of a wine-glass, from
which the sawyers scraped out sixty-eight small toads. T hey were each’ the
size of the upper joint of one’s little finger, of a light brown, almost yellow
colour, and perfectly healthy, hopping about and away as if nothing had
happened. All about them was solid yellow wood, with nothing to indicate
how they could have got there, how long they had been there, or how they
could have lived without food, drink or air.—C. Daniels.”

The Westminster Aquarium.—The imposing ceremony of opening the
Westminster Aquarium was performed on Saturday, the 22nd instant, by
H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh. It is constructed on the circulating
system as successfully carried out by Mr. Lloyd at the Crystal Palace:
but, alack! there was neither water nor fishes. The writer of this hoped
to set the engine in motion for the first time, but the absence of the two
essentials nullified his efforts: he intends to report progress next month.—
Edward Newman.

Torpedo on the Irish Coast.— During the first week of December a
torpedo came into my possession, which had been offered for sale in the
Dublin Market along with a number of fish taken by the trawl-boats,
probably off our south-east coast. Like the other examples which have been
recorded from the Irish Seas, this proves to belong to the so-called “ New

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. L

4806 Tue ZooLtocist—FEBRvUARY, 1876.

British” torpedo (Torpedo hebetans, Lowe), which I should prefer to
designate as the “ black” torpedo, since this name would serve to dis-
tinguish it from its rarer English congener, Torpedo marmorata, Risso,
which might be called the “‘ marbled” torpedo. The present specimen is a
female, measuring thirty-four inches in total length and twenty-three inches
in breadth at the widest part; the teeth are small and sharp, pointing
inwards. The colour above a uniform dark brown, slightly inclining to
reddish; below white, with a pink tinge; a narrow band of brown at the
edge. There are no spots on any part of the upper surface, which is per-
fectly smooth, as is also the margin of the spiracles. The stomach was
empty. With regard to the indentation or notch on each shoulder, upon
which Professor M‘Coy relied as a principal character in founding his new
species, Torpedo emarginata (Ann. Nat. Hist., vol. vi., p. 407, 1841), it is to
be observed that the present example, when laid upon its back, exhibits no
indentation whatever; but when reversed, with the dark side uppermost, a
small notch, or rather fold of the skin, is more or less visible, according to
the manner in which the adjoining muscles are strained. The example
agrees in every respect with the admirable figure of Torpedo nobiliana in
Bonaparte’s ‘ Fauna Italica,’ with which it is evidently identical. Thompson
enumerates only five instances of its occurrence on the Irish coast, and it is
remarkable that all these were brought in by Dublin trawlers, like the
present one; he himself examined but one specimen. I am informed that
it is many years now since this rare and curious fish has been brought to
our market.—J. Douglas Ogilby ; 36, Elgin Road, Dublin.

Silvery Hairtail on the Coast of Devon.—On Thursday, the 20th of
January, I recognised, at the shop of Mr. Peacock, animal preserver,
Plymouth, a specimen of that exceedingly rare fish—in British waters
—the silvery hairtail, or blade-fish (Zvrichiurus Lepturus), which had
been captured several days previously (I believe on the 15th) in the
Hamoaze, off Torpoint. Mr. Peacock not being aware of its name or
rarity, and thinking that such a delicate fish (from its compressed form and
its being so long out of water) could not well be skinned and stuffed in the
usual way, had then done nothing towards preserving it, so I at once had it
put into spirit. Its length is two feet eight inches, and its depth above two
inches; colour on the back brownish, and sides very silvery; irides yellow.
The tail is extended into a slender compressed cord. In every respect it
agrees with the description given by Mr. Couch in his work on ‘ British
Fishes,’ who says that the figure given in his book is the only representation
that has been derived from an undoubted British specimen. There are no
fins on the belly, the line of which forms a long, “ sharp, smooth edge.”—
J. Gatcombe ; January 21, 1867.

Giant Gray Mullet.—By the kindness of Mr. Symons, of Mayon House,
I have received from the Land's End a gray mullet, which measures over

THE ZooLocist— FEBRUARY, 1876. 4807

all twenty-three inches and one-eighth, and in greatest girth at the com-
mencement of the dorsal fin eleven inches, and weighs four pounds one
ounce anda half. Accompanying this giant were two others, one twenty
inches and three-quarters in length, and the other seventeen inches and
one-eighth long.— Thomas Cornish ; Penzance, January 12, 1876.

Great Sea Serpent.—‘ Zanzibar, October 21. Captain Dewar, of the
barque ‘ Pauline,’ bound with coals for Her Majesty's Naval Stores at
Zanzibar, when in lat. 5° 18’ 8” S., long. 85° W., observed three very large
sperm whales, and one of them was gripped round the body with two turns
by what appeared to be a large sea serpent. Its back was of a darkish brown
and its belly white, with an immense head and mouth, the latter always
open ; the head and tail had a length beyond the coil of about thirty feet;
its girth was about eight feet or nine feet. Using its extremities as levers,
the serpent whirled its victim round and round for about fifteen minutes,
and then suddenly dragged the whale down to the bottom head first. On the
13th July this or another sea serpent was again seen about two hundred yards
off the stern of the vessel, shooting itself along the surface, forty feet of the
body being out of the water at the same time.”—Rev. E. L. Penny, M.A.,
Chaplain to H.M.S.‘ London.’ “ In confirmation of the recent sea serpent
and whale combat witnessed off Brazil by the barque ‘ Pauline,’ from Shields,
with coals for the guard-ship ‘ London,’ at Zanzibar, a letter has been received
at Plymouth from J. H. Landells, the second officer of the ‘ Pauline.’ He
says there were five whales near the ship; the largest was attacked by a
serpent. The reptile coiled two complete turns round the thickest part of
the whale’s body, and appeared possessed of complete power over the fish.
The whale, in an agony either of pain or terror, was continually throwing
itself half out of the water. He considers the serpent to have been at least
one hundred and fifty feet in length.”"—‘ Reuter,’ November 22, 1875.

[There can be no hesitation in explaining this narrative, if true, to have
reference to a gigantic cephalopod: it would be a marvellous instance of
just retribution, for the whales feed on cephalopods, if the cephalopods every
now and then devour a whale by way of retaliation.—H. Newman.]

Proceedings of Scientitic Societies,

ZooLocicaL Society or Lonpon.
January 4, 1876,—Prof. A. Newton, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the
chair.
The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to the
Society’s Menagerie during the month of December, and called particular

4808 Tue ZooLocist—FEBRvARY, 1876.

attention to a Haast’s Apteryx (Apterya Haasti) from New Zealand, presented
by Baron F. von Mueller, and a night parrot (Stringops hanna from
New Zealand, presented by Mr. T. E. Featherston.

An extract was read from a letter addressed to the Secretary : Mr.
George Brown, dated Port Hunter, Duke of York Island, stating that he
had shipped for the Society to the care of Dr. G. Bennett, of Sydney, two
cassowaries and some other birds from New Britain and Duke of York
Island.

A letter was read from My. R. Trimen, Curator of the South African
Museum, Cape Town, containing some remarks on Canis chama.

Dr. Hector, exhibited and made remarks on three ancient feather-
mats, made by the Maoris of New ‘Zealand, which had been obtained
by Dr. Buller, from a Chief on the Upper Wanganui River.

Prof. W. H. Flower, gave a description of the skull of a fossil species of
of the genus Xiphodon, Cuvier, from a specimen belonging to the Museum
of the Royal College of Surgeons, supposed to have been found near Wood-
bridge, in Suffolk,

Prof. Huxley read a paper on Ceratodus, in which he pointed out the
special characters presented by this remarkable fish in the structure of its
nasal apertures, brain, skull and fore-limb. Prof, Huxley also called atten-
tion to the close connection shown by certain details of structure between
Ceratodus and the Chimeroid fishes, especially as regards the skull.

A communication was read from Dr. Julius Von Haast, containing the
description of a new ziphioid whale from the Coast of New Zealand.

Mr. Sclater read a paper on some additional species of birds from St.
Lucia, West Indies, which had been sent to him by the Rev. J. E. Semper
of that island. The collection contained one very remarkable form which
appeared to be referable to a new genus of Mniotiltide and was proposed to
be called Leucopeza Semperi.

A communication was read from Mr. W. H. Hudson containing some
notes on the spoonbill of the Argentine Republic.

A paper was read by Messrs, Sclater and Salvin, on Peruvian Birds
collected by Mr. Whitely, being the ninth of a series of communications on
this subject.

A communication was read from Dr. Otto Finsch, containing notes on
some Fijian Birds, including description of a new genus and species pro-
posed to be called Drymochera badiceps.

Mr. A. H. Garrod read a note on the cecum coli of the Capybara, as
observed in a specimen recently deceased in the Society’s Menagerie.—P.
L. Scelater.

THE ZooLocist—FesBrvary, 1876. 4809

EntomontocicaL Society oF Lonpon.

January 5, 1876.—Sir Sipney Suira Saunpers, C.M.G., President,
in the chair.

Donations to the Library.

The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the
donors :—‘ Exotic Butterflies,’ part 97; presented by the Author, W. C.
Hewitson, Esq. ‘Mittheilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen
Gesellschaft,’ vol. iii., nos. 5 and 10; vol. iv., nos. 1 and 2; by the Society.
‘Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Glasgow,’ vol. i., parts 1
and 2; vol.ii., part 1; by the Society. ‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society,’
vol. xxvi., no. 164; by the Society. ‘L’Abeille,’ 1875, liv. 17 and 18; by
the Editor. ‘The Zoologist,’ for January; by the Editor. ‘Newman's
Entomologist’ for January ; by the Editor. ‘The Entomologist’s Monthly
Magazine’ for January; by the Editors. ‘Proceedings of the Dublin
University Biological Association,’ vol. i., no. 1; by the Association.

Election of Members.

Messrs. F'. J. Horniman and D. G. Rutherford were ballotted for and
elected Ordinary Members; and Professor W. Dickson, of Glasgow Univer-
sity, and Mr. F. Enoch were elected Subscribers.

Exhibitions, de.

The Rey. R. P. Murray exhibited a collection of Lepidoptera taken by
himself in the Higher Alps, amongst which were some interesting mountain
varieties.

Mr. S. Stevens exhibited a specimen of a dragonfly, rare in this,country
(Aischnia mixta), which he had picked up, nearly dead, in his garden at
Upper Norwood in the middle of November.

Mr. Champion exhibited specimens of Coleoptera, viz., Aleochara hiber-
nica, Eye, taken at Slieve Donardh, Ireland ;*Homalota egregia, Rye, from
Caterham; and Cryptophagus subfumatus, Gyll., taken in the London
district.

Papers read, de.

Mr. H. W. Bates communicated a paper entitled “ Additions to the list
of Geodephagous Coleoptera of Japan, with synonymic and other remarks.”

Mr. W. H. Miskin, of Queensland, communicated a description of a new
and remarkable species of moth belonging to the genus Attacus, of which
a male and a female specimen had been taken in the neighbourhood of
Cape York. He had named the species A. Hercules. The expanse of the
wings measured nine inches, and the hind wings were furnished with tails.
The specimens had been deposited in the Queensland Museum.

4810 Tue ZooLocist—FEBRuARY, 1876.

Mr. C. O. Waterhouse forwarded a paper ‘‘ On various new Genera and
Species of Coleoptera,” belonging to the Geodephaga, Necrophaga, Lamel-
licornia and Rhyncophora.

New Part of ‘ Transactions.’
Part iy. of the ‘ Transactions’ for 1875 was on the table.

Annual Meeting, January 24, 1876.—Sir Sipney Siro SsunDERs,
G.M.G., President, ix the chair.

An abstract of the Treasurer's accounts for 1875 was read by Mr. J. Jenner
Weir, one of the auditors, showing a balance of £286 Os. 11d. in favour of
the Society.

The Secretary then read the following :-—

Report of the Council for 1875.

In accordance with the Bye-laws the Council presents to the Society the
following report :—

Since the last annual meeting, 15 members and subscribers have been
elected, whilst 8 have been removed by resignation or death. The Society
has lost Henry Doubleday, one of the original members, and John Edward
Gray, a former President. Prof. Burmeister has been placed on the list of
honorary members, in the room of the late Prof. Zetterstedt.

The Transactions for 1875 contain 21 memoirs, besides an appendix on
Entomological Nomenclature, the whole forming a volume of 380 pages,
exclusive of the Proceedings, with nine plates. A donation of ten guineas
from Mr. Robinson-Douglas, to be applied to the publication of papers on
British or European Entomology, has been appropriated to Mr. Edward
Saunders’ Synopsis of British Hemiptera-Heteroptera; and the whole
expense of printing the paper on Nomenclature has been defrayed by the
author, Mr. W. Arnold Lewis.

The financial statement of the year may be summarized as follows :—

ReEcrirts. PayMENTS.
Contributions of Members - £190) Publications - - - - £141
Sale of Publications - - : 91) Rent and Office Expenses - - 94
Life Compositions - - - 31/| Compositions Inyested - - 31
Interest on Consols - : - 6| Library - - - - - 5
Donations - - - - 28| Tea at Meetings - - : 12
£346 £283

The unusually large balance in hand of £63 is, however, more apparent
than real, and the greater part thereof will be required to meet expenditure
in the Library, which has been already authorized. So long as the Library
remained in Bedford Row, few purchases were made for want of space ;
whilst its removal to Chandos Street is so recent that time has not sufficed

THE ZooLocisT—FEBRUARY, 1876. 4811]

to do all that is desired. ‘The next step will be to place in the binder’s
hands every volume now unbound, and the Council has given instructions
to that effect.

The largely increased sale of the Society's publications is a satisfactory
feature of the financial summary. And the Council has resolved that, in
future, metropolitan members and subscribers who, in addition to their
subscription for the current year, shall at or before the April meeting pay a
further contribution of half-a-guinea, shall be entitled to a copy of the
Transactions for the year. In other words, a town member, by making this
additional fixed payment beforehand, will be able to place himself, as
regards the receipt of our publications, in the same position as a country
member.

The removal of the Society to its present abode and the re-union of our
Library and Meeting-room under the same roof are unquestionably the
chief incidents of the year in the Society’s affairs. This has necessitated
an alteration in our day of meeting from Monday to Wednesday ; but on
the other hand the original practice of one scientific meeting in each month
throughout the year has been restored.

The Library has been re-arranged ; and some new book-cases have been
presented, for which, and for defraying all the expenses attendant upon
removal, the Society is indebted to Mr. Dunning.

One circumstance which greatly influenced the Council in the selection
of new rooms, was the opportunity afforded, by entering into friendly
relations with the Medical Society, of giving greater facilities for the use of
the Library. In the infancy of the Society, and when our books were few,
the requirements of the case were sufficiently met by a weekly attendance
of the Librarian; but as our stores have accumulated until the Library has
become a valuable repository of works on all branches of our Science, it has
been increasingly felt that some new arrangement was required, and that to
keep the books inaccessible except on one day out of seven was a measure
to be justified only by dire necessity. Consulted or not consulted, the
books ought to be accessible ; and whether the privilege is much used or
little used, our members ought to have the power of consulting them, and
have a right to require that the Society shall do its utmost to render such
consultation possible. It is with great pleasurethe Council announces
that, by availing ourselves of the services of the Sub-librarian of the Medical
Society, who resides on the premises, it will be feasible to have the Library
open every week-day from 1 to 6 p.m., and on the days of meeting till 9
p-m., either for purposes of reference or for borrowing books in accordance
with the Bye-Laws. It is with this view that the Council recommends the
election of Mr. Poole as Librarian.

It deserves consideration whether it would not be desirable to make an
alteration in our Bye-Laws, by repealing the provision which excludes the

4812 Tue ZooLocisTt—FEBRUARY, 1876.

Librarian from the Council, appointing as Honorary Librarian one of our
own body, who shall be ex officio one of the Council, like the Treasurer
and Secretaries, and employing a salaried officer as Sub-librarian. The
Council will be glad to ascertain the opinion of members on this question,
with a view to taking action thereon during the ensuing year. In the
meantime, one of the Secretaries, or some other member of the Council,
will endeavour to attend at the Society’s Rooms on the Wednesday in every
week.

The Conncil gladly avails itself of this opportunity to express its
appreciation of the self-denying manner in which Mr. Janson has facilitated
the new arrangements in connexion with the Library; unable himself to
give a daily attendance at the rooms, he has not allowed his own interest
or desires to stand in the way or interfere with measures designed to extend
the usefulness of the Society. He retires, not without regret, from an
office to which he was first elected in 1850; what was then a mere handful
of books has, during his custodianship, expanded into a library not un-
worthy of the Society ; and the Council feels sure that his services of more
than a quarter of a century will receive at your hands the recognition they
deserve. e

The Librarian is not the only officer who retires. The Treasurer and
the junior Secretary do not desire re-election; and the Bye-Laws require
us to choose a new President.

It is seldom that so many changes occur simultaneously in the Society's
staff. But in electing Prof. Westwood to the chair, the traditions of the
past will be preserved ; and relying on the co-operation of all the members,
the Council has confidence in the future of the Society, whose continued
prosperity betokens a widening sphere of usefulness.

January 24, 1876.

The following gentlemen were elected Members of Council for 1876 :—
Sir John Lubbock, Bart., Sir Sidney Smith Saunders, Professor Westwood,
and Messrs. H. W. Bates, A. G. Butler, G. C. Champion, J. W. Dunning,
F. Grut, R. McLachlan, R. Meldola, Rey. R. P. Murray, H. T. Stainton,
and J. Jenner Weir.

The following officers were elected for the year 1876 :—President,
Professor Westwood, M.A., F.L.S., &c.; Treasurer, Mr. J. Jenner Weir;
Secretaries, Messrs. F. Grut and R. Meldola; Librarian, Mr. W. E. Poole.

The President read an-address on the progress of Entomological Science
during the past year, which was ordered to be printed.

A yote of thanks was given to the President and other officers for their
~ services, especially to the Treasurer (Mr. McLachlan) and the Librarian
(Mr. Janson) on retirement from their offices.—F’. G..

Tue ZooLtocist— Marcu, 1876. 4813

Notes from North Devon and West Somerset.
By the Rey. Murray A. MATHEW, M.A.

DECEMBER, 1875.

10th. Bishop’s Lydeard. Saw a little flock of tree sparrows
to-day, a species I have not yet detected breeding in this neigh-
bourhood. Mr. Cecil Smith describes it as extremely local in
Somérsetshire, and speaks of a colony established at Wivelis-
combe. A few summers since I noticed this sparrow at Burnham
in this county, and was told by Dr. Morris, a brother of the Rev.
F. O. Morris, that it nested in some pollard willows about which I
had seen several of the birds. _.

11th. A freshly killed landrail was hanging up to-day in a poul-
terer’s shop in Taunton; and in the market I counted upwards of
a score of woodcocks which had probably fallen to the guns of
shooters of small birds. In hard weather woodcocks are frozen
out of the large woods, and resort to orchards, withy beds and
sheltered hedgerows, where they may often be seen upon the
ground. Indeed, one day this winter, when there was no frost, I
saw two woodcocks upon the ground in a wood we were shooting,
and one of our party actually shot one while it was squatting under
a bush. No doubt the instinct of the birds leads them to repose
confidence in the close resemblance between the shades of their
plumage and the colour of the ground when strewn with withered
leaves, and they often lie close and escape being flushed, although
a beater or a dog may have passed within a few feet of the spot.
I recollect one day a keeper and IJ had both emptied our guns at
rabbits when we became simultaneously aware of a woodcock sitting
almost under us upon a moss-covered stone. Directly the bird
caught our eyes it took wing and made off; but would probably
have remained motionless had we failed to detect it.

I heard to-day of a fine specimen of the black-throated diver,
almost in complete plumage, having being sent to the Taunton
-birdstuffer. It had been obtained on a pond on the estate of the
Countess of Egremont, near Williton, and Mr. Cecil Smith tells
me it is the first instance of this diver, so far as he knows, having
occurred in the county. The birdstuffer at the same time had
received a great northern diver in an advanced state of plumage

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. M

4814 THE ZooLoGisT—M arcu, 1876.

from the flooded country not far from Taunton, and a Manx
shearwater from Watchet.

22nd. Siskins and common redpolls were noticed to-day on
some alders by the village brook. About this date a little auk was
caught on the Taw, near Barnstaple, and brought to the local bird-
stuffer; and a second fine example of the roughlegged buzzard
trapped on Exemoor was sent in by the keeper of Mr. F. W.
Knight. The winter of 1875-6 has been a great one for rough-
legged buzzards ; numbers having occurred in Scotland, Norfolk,
and other parts of the United Kingdom. Mr. Clark-Kennedy
describes (S. S. 4795), the capture of twenty buzzards in the
neighbourhood of Edinburgh, but does not mention whether these
were Buteo vulgaris or Archibuteo lagopus. They were probably
the latter.

29th. Driving down the lane from Bagborough to Bishop’s
Lydeard this morning, I noticed a gray shrike, which I took to be
Lanius excubitor, in the hedge.

8]st. Towards the end of the year the Barnstable birdstuffer
received a very curious buzzard which had been trapped in North
Devon. This bird is of a dark olive-brown all over, the colour
appearing iridescent on the scapularies and upper wing-coverts.
It has feathered tarsi, and is a larger-looking bird than any speci-
men of the roughlegged buzzard with which I have compared it,
and stands higher on its legs, the tarsi measuring three inches and
a half in length, while those of A. lagopus are less, a female mea-
sured by Mr. J. H. Gurney having its tarsi but two inches nine
lines; and one described by Mr. Sharpe, in his book on the
‘Birds of Prey,’ three inches and one line. Mr. Gurney, senior,
informs me that a melanism of A. lagopus is extremely rare, while
dark varieties of an allied North-American species, A. Sancti-
Johannis, are not infrequent. It is thus probable that the dark
buzzard I have been describing belongs to the American species
of Archibuteo ; if so it is its first occurrence, as far as Mr. Gurney
knows, in Europe.

JANUARY, 1876.
A sharp frost, with alittle snow. Flushed a green sandpiper from
a warm ditch close to my house this morning, and saw it on
several occasions subsequently. ‘This is a bird which yearly
becomes scarce. I am told it used to be frequently seen on the

THE ZooLocist—Makcu, 1876. 4815

margins of the cattle-pits iu many of our fields, and Mr. Cecil
Smith believes it formerly bred with us. The one seen to-day is
the first I have come across in a six years’ residence in this
parish.

22nd. Observed the occurrence of a great bustard on the Sussex
Downs, recorded in the ‘Field’ for this date. Surely there must
be some mistake about the weight, which is put down at eight
pounds, and the bird is described as an unusually fine example
and in its second year. A young bustard would scale nearer six-
teen than eight pounds: the old males weigh as much as twenty-
five or even thirty pounds. The birdstuffer in Taunton showed
me a fine old male goosander to-day which had been shot in the
moors near the town.

29th. A fine mallard smew, in very perfect plumage, was in the
hands of the Taunton stuffer to-day. It had been obtained on
North Curry Moor, a considerable distance inland for an oceanic
diver.

FEBRUARY.

8rd. Sniping to-day over some high ground near Ilfracombe, we
sprung a little flock of short-eared owls from some high grass on a
swampy spot. They were of all shades of colour: the darker ones
were no doubt young birds, while the light-coloured ones (some
looked almost white as they flitted heavily away) were the heads
of the family.

4th. We were shooting on the Braunton Burrows to-day, where
my brother noticed a little rail running on the ground between
some clumps of the tall spiked rush, and shooting it picked up a
very beautiful example of Baillon’s crake.

Murray A. MatTHew.
Bishop’s Lydeard, February 8, 1876.

Notes from Castle Eden. By Mr. JoHN ScCLATER.
(Continued from Zool. S. 8. 4750.)

JuLy, 1875.

Woodcock.—In the last week of July a young bird was shot
near Castle Eden: the man who shot it did not know what it was.
The bird had a strange appearance on the wing: he had shot at
and missed it some days before. “ Itwas in the moult, pen-feathered,

4816 THE ZooLocist—Markcu, 1876.

and had part of its first coat on.” This is the only instance |]
know of the woodcock breeding in this neighbourhood, but Mr.
Hancock says, in his ‘ Catalogue,’ that a nest with four eggs were
taken at Medomsley, on the Derwent, in April, 1872; and in the
same year three broods were found in Chopwell Woods, in the
valley of the Derwent; and that several other nests have occurred
in Northumberland and Durham, adding that “ between the years
1868 and 1872, seven nests of the woodcock were found on the
banks of the Tyne, between Dilston and Prudhoe, in April and
May.” Although the Tyne seems to be a favourite locality, there
are no doubt many other scattered instances unknown or unrecorded
in both counties.
August.

Lesser Blackbacked Gull.—Plentiful on the coast.

Merlin.—-On the 11th a young female was taken in a pole trap
on the sea banks. 1 was for a long time rather puzzled with this
specimen on account of its sporting a dark brown moustache or
whisker, and having its eyes encircled with black, as iu the young
female redfooted falcon. Its general markings and dimensions,
however, are certainly those of a merlin; and Dr. Tristram, to whom
1 have shown the bird agrees with me in this decision, but says it
might be easily mistaken for a young hobby.

Chiffchaff and Willow Wren.—On the 16th I heard the notes
of the chiffchaff close to my window: it was a young bird. Next
day I heard the song of the willow wren; also a young bird. On
the 27th I again heard the song of the willow wren.

Teal.—On the 31st large flocks of teal appeared on the coast,
chiefly young birds. A young female I obtained had the breast
so red as to have the appearance of being stained with blood;
indeed it was not till 1 had sponged it with hartshorn that I could
decide it was not, and it was only the gloss and smoothness of the
feathers to the touch that saved it from being plucked.

SEPTEMBER.

Woodcock.—On the 11th I saw a woodcock in the Dene; ano-
ther on the 14th, but it might have been the same bird: this or
these were most likely home-bred birds, as I have little doubt the
majority of “early woodcocks” recorded from time to time are
bred in the district where they are seen, but generally escape
obscryation until covert shooting commences.

THE ZooLocGist—Marcu, 1876. 4817

Missel Thrushes and Blackbirds.— 25th. I have noticed
for the last few days that these birds are feeding almost entirely
on haws, which seems to me very unusual, considering that the
weather is so open. .

Song Thrush.—\ was stealing along a footpath in the Dene,
trying to get a shot at some wood pigeons that were sitting on a
tree, when a tapping noise attracted my attention: thinking it was
a woodpecker, I began to scan all the nearest trees. Seeing nothing,
I walked quietly through some bushes in the direction from which
the noise came, and there I saw a song thrush pegging away with
its beak at a rotten hazel: the stick was lying on the ground, the
thrush standing by it with both feet on the ground, and must have
been thus engaged fora considerable time, judging by the quantity
of chips. The bird was probably seeking for insects ; but although
I took the bark off carefully and broke up a quantity of the stick
Ifound none This habit of the thrush was entirely new to me.
I have three or four times seen them breaking snail-shells, but
never in the manner quoted by Mr. Hancock from the work of Mr.
Charles St. John, who says of the thrush :—“ When it finds a snail
which it cannot extract from the shell it carries it to some favourite
stone which happens to have a convenient chink in it, pinning the
shell so that it cannot slip, and then soon breaks it up, using its
strong bill like a pickaxe.”. Now I much doubt whether a thrush
could succeed in extracting a snail without first breaking the shell.
However, in every instance which has come under my notice, the
thrush held the snail in its beak; and if it missed its hold it would
stand by motionless until the snail again exposed itself sufficiently
for the bird to regain its hold, when it would again seize the snail,
and keep hold of it until it had so smashed the shell against a
stone as to be no longer a protection to the snail: just as they
will patiently keep hold of a large worm until they succeed in
drawing it quite clear of its hole; but, as soon as they find the
worm has lost its grip, they will lay it down—close to or even
covering the mouth of the hole—until they have mangled it to
their liking.

OCTOBER.

Thrush.—On the 8th I observed that a great number of thrushes
had arrived in the Dene.

Heron.—On the same day | saw a heron sitting on the top of a
fir tree.

4818 Tue ZooLtocist—Marcu, 1876.

Goldcrest.—On the 18th I saw a flock of goldcrests flitting about
a hedgerow near the sea.

Kestrel.—I examined the stomach of a male kestrel taken in a
pole trap. I found it contained five large caterpillars and a small
beetle.

Fieldfare.— On the 21st I saw a single bird, the first this season ;
no more until the 28th, when I saw seven.

Woodcock.—1 hear of a good many having arrived in the neigh-
bourhood.

NOVEMBER.

Royston Crow.—A great many have now arrived. I do not
remember ever finding so few birds on the sea-shore as at present:
there is seldom anything to be seen but a few kittiwake gulls and
a few great blackbacks, mostly young birds, one or two whimbrels,
and a pair of carrion crows.

Jack Snipe.—On the 5th, oue killed by flying against the tele-
graph wires. A day or two since a goldcrest was picked up on the
railway, probably killed in the same manner.

Sparrowhawk and Woodcock.—The gamekeeper here and two
others were wailing by appointment to meet some shooting gen-
tlemen in the Dene. The keeper, having just given his gun to one
of the men to try his hand at a rabbit or two, sat down: the next
instant he observed a woodcock on the open ground about fifteen
yards in front of him, and a sparrowhawk sitting on a tree watching
it; a second or so brought another sparrowhawk, and then came
a third to the same spot. The keeper broke silence by calling out
to the man to bring his gun, when off went the woodcock, followed
by two of the hawks, the other few away in an opposite direction.
One of the hawks was seen to strike at and miss the woodcock;
they then got out of sight. I have not before heard of the
sparrowhawk hunting in company.

Fieldfare.—25th. Large flocks of fieldfares have appeared in the
Dene. On the 26th many more were moving southward.

Golden Plover.—80th. Immense flocks are at present on the
coast.

DECEMBER.

Fieldfare and Redwing.—4th. I do not remember ever seeing
so many as are now about the Dene, and fortunately for them there

are extraordinarily large quantities of haws for them to eat; but the

THE ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876. _ 4819

silly creatures throw nearly as many to the ground as they consume
on the tree; these become covered with snow, and are therefore lost
to them; but the pheasants gain by it, for they have less difficulty in
obtaining them. I have noticed the pheasants this winter feeding
on the berries of a shrub, on the lawn, which I never before saw
them eat; the name of the shrub, I am told, is “ Parry’s thorn.”

Song Thrush.—Has entirely disappeared since the frost and
snow set in. ;

Wood Pigeon.—I have noticed for the last three months that
there are not more than from twenty to thirty wood pigeons about
the Dene, and they move about in one flock; nor do I meet with
them in the fields in this neighbourhood. This appears to me
very remarkable, considering the immense numbers usually to be
seen here. After appearing in such vast numbers in December,
1874, they left us all at once, almost to a bird; and it is curious
that not more than one-fourth of the usual number have been seen
since; but few having bred here last season, the farmers declare it
“a good job.”

JoHN SCLATER.
Castle Eden, Durham.

Note on Picus leuconotus. By Epwarp Newman.

From a note by Mr. Gurney, jun., it appears that Mr. Gould has
identified a specimen obtained at Halligarth by the late Dr. Saxby
(S. S. 4695) as the whitebacked woodpecker (Picus leuconotus of
Bechstein) ; and the Rev. S. H. Saxby has added an interesting
note from his brother’s journal (S. S, 4723), mentioning the un-
usual size of the cutaneous nerves in the woodpecker family, as
well as the closeness with which the skin adheres to the body—
a subject to which Mr. Corbin alludes in another communication.
I have taken the liberty of offering a few more lines on the subject
of the Halligarth woodpecker, the first record of which will be found
at page 7932 of the first series of the ‘ Zoologist ;’ but the specimen
was then supposed to be the greater spotted woodpecker. The
addition I now desire to make is from a letter of my late friend
Henry Doubleday, whose practice it was to criticise each number
of the ‘ Zoologist’ as it appeared, for my private benefit, and who
never had the slightest intention of hurting the feelings of his

4820 Tue ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876.

brother naturalists; but so long a time (thirteen years) having
elapsed since it was written, and since both ornithologists now
enjoy that “grata quies” which is the eventual lot of all men,
whatever their opinions, I think I need no longer hesitate to give
publicity to Mr. Doubleday’s views. After expressing a very decided
opinion on Dr. Saxby’s communication my friend proceeds:—

“No woodpeckers ever appear ‘in great numbers’—mostly one
or two atatime. No woodpecker frequents the roofs of houses, or
dung-hills, or meddles with horse-dung on the open ground among
heather, or feeds upon mountain-ash berries.”

I will now extract the final statement about these woodpeckers
as published at page 7932 of the first series of the ‘ Zoologist,’
and reprinted at page 138 of Dr. Saxby’s invaluable ‘ Birds of
Shetland’ :—

“In a recent number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 7754) I recorded
the capture of two specimens of the spotted woodpecker (Picus
major) in the island of Unst. During the next few weeks many
more were killed, not only in Unst, but also throughout nearly the
whole extent of the Shetland Isles: the wind was blowing steadily
from the south-east at the time. I am also informed that about
the same time several were killed in Orkney.

“The sudden and almost simultaneous appearance of ‘large
numbers of this species in various localities, where it is evidently
considered an uncommon visitor, is a fact well worthy of the
attention of ornithologists, inasmuch as a careful investigation
might tend to throw considerable light upon the question of migra-
tion. It would be interesting to ascertain the proportion of the
sexes among those specimens which were obtained, as well as the
direction of the wind at the time of their arrival. Having heard
that woodpeckers only attack such trees as are unsound, I was at
first unwilling to kill more than the two already mentioned, but as
the leaves began to fall, observing that large portions of the bark
had been stripped from some of the healthiest and most vigorous of
the trees in Dr. Edmonston’s garden at Halligarth, I at length
obtained a very reluctant permission to shoot as many of the
unfortunate but mischievous birds as ventured within the forbidden
enclosure. To those of my countrymen in Old England who have
never wandered far from their own green woods, and to whom the
loss of a few small trees would be a matter of little importance, the
above may appear a somewhat cruel proceeding, but for all that it

Tue ZooLtocist—Marcnu, 1876. 4821

was a necessary one, otherwise it would not have been sanctioned
by Dr. Edmonston, who is too thorough a- naturalist to coun-
tenance anything like wanton destruction of life, and who, it should
be borne in mind, has for the last twenty years and upwards been
very successfully endeavouring to introduce trees and shrubs into
the island, notwithstanding the ill-natured ridicule with which his
early attempts were received by certain of the inhabitants who
ought to have known better. Having thus so far justified myself,
I will confess that no less than seven birds fell to my gun alone;
besides this, many others were brought to me from various parts
of the island; but, strange to say, not one female was to be found
among them, and, with one single exception, all were first year’s
birds. The first two presented nothing unusual in their appearance,
but on taking the third one into my hand J at once remarked the
worn look of the bill, tail and claws. I immediately suspected that
this was caused by the scarcity of trees having driven the bird to
seek its food among stones and rocks, and, upon opening the
stomach, my suspicions were confirmed by the discovery, among
other insects, of several small beetles which are found only upon
the hills. I may mention that these beetles are very abundant in
Shetland, although I do not remember having seen any of the kind
in England: they are about the size and shape of one-half of a
split-pea, black, edged with scarlet.* I afterwards saw spotted
woodpeckers on various parts of the hills, on walls, and even on
high sea-cliffs ; I also saw them on roofs of houses and upon dung-
hills, and although several were killed upon corn-stacks I never
found any grain in the stomach. They were frequently to be met
with upon the ground among heather, where at all times they
were easily approached, but more particularly in rainy or misty
weather, when, their plumage becoming saturated with moisture
rendering them too heavy for a long flight, many were stoned to
death, by boys.

“Those in the garden fed largely upon seeds of the mountain
ash, which they broke open to procure the berries, sometimes
dropping a whole cluster upon the ground and descending to feed,
but more frequently breaking the berries to pieces as they hung
upon the trees. But even in the garden they did not confine them-
selves to the trees: at one time they might be seen busily searching
among moss and dead leaves; at another in the midst of a tuft of

* The beetles referred to are Chrysomela sanguinolenta.
SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. N

4822 Tue ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876.

coarse weeds; and again intently examining the spiders’ webs
upon the walls.

“Tt was quite a common occurrence to see them in open meadows
scattering aside the horse-dung with their bills, and thus procuring
abundant supplies of worms and grubs. I once crept very close
to one thus engaged, and was amused to observe how cleverly it
used its bill, first striking off large masses, and then dashing them
into fragments in all directions by a rapid and peculiar movement
of the head from side to side. Although telescopic evidence is
usually of a somewhat doubtful nature, yet I spent many a happy
half-hour in observing these interesting birds by means of a
powerful pocket-glass. In this manner I could see them climbing
the face of a large rock or of a rough stone wall, curiously peering
into every crevice, and occasionally varying the amusement by a
smart tap or two upon the unyielding surface of the stone. I once
saw two upon the ground engaged in desperate combat, tearing,
fluttering, and tumbling about in a most comical manner, at the
same time uttering a shrill noise, which was half scream and half
chatter. Upon my approaching a little too near they hastily took
wing, and were immediately afterwards to be seen perched upon
the top of a neighbouring rock, enjoying the warm sunshine, and
apparently already in happy forgetfulness of their ‘little difference.’
The longer the birds remained in the island the more worn their
tails and claws became, but it was only in a very few instances
that any injury to the bill could be detected. I carefully dissected
several of the victims above mentioned, but without observing
anything particularly worthy of note, with the exception, perhaps,
of the large size of the cutaneous nerves, and the closeness with
which the skin adhered to the body. I should be glad to ascertain
whether these peculiarities have been remarked in the green
woodpecker, for possibly that bird’s well-known susceptibility to
atmospheric influences may thus be in some measure accounted for,
though why such a peculiarity should be so strongly developed
only in certain genera is a question of a totally different nature,
and one upon which I will not at present hazard my own imper-
fectly matured conjectures.”

It occurs to me to make two remarks in reference to the subject:
Jirst, that I have the most entire confidence in every statement
Dr. Saxby has published; and secondly, that Mr. Doubleday could
not by any possibility have been acquainted with the habits of Picus

THE ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876. 4823

leuconotus, and therefore may have erred in making his objections
to Di. Saxby’s statement.
Epwarp NEwMAN.

Ornithological Notes from Devonshire and Cornwall.
By J. GATCoMBE, Esq.

(Continued from Zool. S, 8. 4785.)

JaNuARY, 1876.

Cornish Chough.—Judging from the specimens occasionally
received by our local birdstuffers, I should think that the number
of choughs on the Cornish coast has been gradually increasing
within the last ten years. On the 4th instant I examined two at
the shop of Mr. Luckraft, Stonehouse, and found the stomach of
one to contain the remains of a large dung-beetle and, as usual, a
quantity of fine sea-sand. What a great pity it is that these
interesting birds should be killed at all!

Gannet.— During the past week hundreds of gannets have
appeared in the channel off Rhame Head, near Plymouth, when
several were obtained both with the gun and baited fish-hooks.
One man described their numbers as being so great that they
appeared, when fishing, to “ fall like a snow-shower”—not a bad
simile, I think.

Shorteared Owl and Black Redstart.—January 8th. Observed
some redstarts on the coast; wind N.E. and very cold. Two more
shorteared owls have been brought to Mr. Peacock this week ; one
was an unusually large specimen, the stomach of which contained,
besides mice, some feathers and the entire leg of a redwing. There
were some immature goldeneyes and tufted ducks in the market
to-day.

Plumage of Guillemot and Razorbill.—January 13th. These
birds are exceedingly plentiful on our coasts just now, and I was
rather surprised to find that many of the former had already
acquired their full breeding dress. I was also informed by a friend
that some were killed three weeks before in the same forward state.
From which it would appear that the winter dress of the adult
guillemot is of but short duration. Almost every razorbill was in
perfect winter plumage, a very few dark feathers only just appearing
on the throats of one or two of them.

4824 THE ZooLoGist—MakCcH, 1876.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.—January 20th. One of these pretty
little birds was shot in the vicinity of Plymouth, and another heard
in the woods of Port Eliot, St.Germans. The cold weather seems
to have greatly affected the young herons in this neighbourhood,
so many having been lately killed and brought to our birdstuffers.
Several redthroated divers have appeared in Plymouth Sound
within the last week.

Strange Captures of the Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon.—A week
or two since I examined a fine adult male kestrel, which had been
captured in the following singular manner:—A gentleman living
near Plymouth observing a hawk intently engaged in tearing up a
thrush which it had just killed, thought he would cautiously creep
up behind it, and to his great surprise was thus allowed to come so
close as to capture it by placing his stick on its back before the
hawk was aware of his presence. It then began to show fight in
the most determined manner, and was so much injured in the
struggle that it had to be killed. The poor bird is now stuffed and
under a glass shade with the headless thrush in its grasp. Such
voracity is rarely met with in the kestrel; and, strange to say, the
bird was very fat, and altogether in the finest condition. A large
portion of the flesh of its victim, mixed with feathers, was found
just swallowed. A very similar occurrence took place some years
ago near Plymouth. A labourer at work near the coast saw a
peregrine falcon strike down a gull (Larus canus) a few hundred
yards from where he stood. He then approached the spot with
the greatest caution, and so intent was the falcon upon her prey
that this man actually put his foot on her back and held her down
whilst he untied his garter, with which he secured his prize. The
peregrine was admirably stuffed by Mr. Bolitho, of Plymouth, in
the act of devouring the gull, and is now in the possession of
Mr. W. E. Matthews, of Plymouth.

JoHN GATCOMBE.
Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Devon.

Hedgehogs in Ireland.—tIn one of the late editions—if not the very
latest—of Bell’s ‘ British Quadrupeds,’ it is stated that there are no hedge-
hogs in Ireland. This is a mistake. There are plenty, at least in Leinster.
Lately I kept some in my garden in boxes full of hay, and with holes to
get in and out as they pleased. In summer they fed on snails and slugs;
iu winter I gave them bread and milk. I never knew them to sleep more

Tue ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876. 4825

than three or four daysatatime. They first appeared to become somnolent
on the 81st of October: four weeks afterwards they again became lively, and
mixed quantities of leaves and grass with their hay beds. I weighed them
about once a week, with the following results in pounds and ounces :—

Tb. oz. tb. oz. tb. oz. tb. oz.

February, 1875.—Male -_ eo 1 143 1 133 —
Mareh—Male- - - - - - 1 12} — 111 —
May—Male - - - - - - 2 43 2 3 ay OT 2. -
June—Male = -| - -~ - 114 — 2 4 2 4
Female - - - — — £10 —
July—Male - - - - 2 64 2 12 2 13 115
HeMmaAleo gee sn og Oe a laut) p hea 1138
August—Male - - - - - 2 1 2-3 2 24 a
Female - - - ies ap! 1 123 1 123 al
September.—Male - - - - 2 2 2 2 — 2 2
Female- - - fea 112 — 1 114
October.—Male - - - - 114 1 13 114 113
iemaloy @eaere ey 3) ol 29 1 9 1 14} 1 153
November—Male - - - - 1 103 1 10% 1 103
Female E 1 9 1h at) Yr 9 1 93
December.—Male - - - - 1 8} 1 83 1 8 1 8
Female => wali 46 Lows ak? aw
January, 1876.—Male - - - 1 7} i aes Tae pats!
Female - - 1 63 1 63 — —

The female died on the 9th of January, 1876, and the male on the 8th of
February next following. I have had other hedgehogs that died. There
must be something wanting to their health in an ordinary garden; and
T have concluded that it is not right to keep them in confinement.—A/fred
Webb; 74, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, February 8, 1876.

[I observed the mistake in the Second Edition of Bell’s ‘ Quadrupeds’ on
the very day of publication, and wrote to the author respecting it. With that
obliging courtesy with which he has ever received any observation of mine,
Mr. Bell immediately admitted the error, and had a slip printed for pasting
in each copy of the work; this was doing every thing in his power, and as
the error does not occur in the first edition, we may assume it was intro-
duced by his assistant editors: it was fully noticed at the time in the
‘Zoologist.’ The weights are interesting, showing that hedgehogs are
heavier in summer than in winter, and also that the males are almost
continuously heavier than the femsles.—Hdward Newman.]

Wild Cat.—In the ‘ Zoologist’ for February (S. 8. 4791) I note Captain
Hadfield’s communication on the wild cat. It may interest you to know
that for some weeks past a pair (male and female) of the veritable Felis Catus
have been exhibited alive in Glasgow, and have called forth a good deal of
local discussion. They were brought forward at a meeting of our Society—the
Natural History Society of Glasgow (vide ‘Glasgow Herald’ of 29th January)

4826 Tue ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876.

—on the evening of the 25th January, by the owner. I examined them care-
fully both on this and on a prior occasion, and am thoroughly satisfied as to
their identity. They are undoubtedly wild cats, as the term is rightly
understood in Scotland—typical Felis Catus. They were also sent from
Inverness-shire,—doubtless from the same locality as Mr. Hargitt’s speci-
mens,—and I have one in our collection here also from Inverness, and
another from Sutherland. Captain Hadfield’s description answers well for
the male in every point, as far as I can speak from memory. Notably the
head is smaller and more pointed at the muzzle, and I may add flatter than
in ordinary specimens of our domestic cat; the tail is short, bushy, and not
tapering. These differences, along with the distribution and arrangement
of the markings, are what I take to be distinctive. ones, and are very
apparent in the Glasgow specimens. The female is a much smaller animal,
and is said to be younger, but the markings and above-mentioned pecu-
liarities are equally apparent. Size, and roughness of coat, I do not think
can be considered of much importance if taken apart from the other items
of description, because tame cats run wild often attain to a large size. As
to the right to specific distinctness of our domestic cat, that is another
question. I only speak of the visible differences between a wild cat (vera)
and a tame cat run wild,—or in other words, between a wild cat (Felis
Catus) and a wild tame cat (Felis domesticus). It may further interest you
to hear that Mrs. Puss is fairly in the way of becoming doubly interesting,
and we may look forward to seeing a family of “real ringtailed squealers”
in due course of time. I did not measure the specimens.— John A. Harvie
Brown ; Dunipace House, Larbert, February 3, 1876.

Arrival of another African Leopard.—The collection of the Zoological
Society has just received an African leopard, called ‘“ Mesa,” which was
captured in the province of Mozambique, Quintangonha district, and
brought up by hand by Captain d’Adriao, of the Portuguese navy. Subse-
quently she was given to Mr. Elton, H.B.M. Consul, who sent her home,
under the kind charge of Lieut. Willison, R.N., by the Union 8.8. Com-
pany’s Line, to be presented to the Zoological Gardens. Mesa, the leopard,
had a brother, whose tail unfortunately was injured, and Mesa so attentively
licked and nibbled at the wound that the whole tail eventually disappeared,
and the brother died of gangrene. She is, however, perfectly quiet and
docile, and was petted like a cat at H.M. Consulate previous to sailing
for England.—‘ I’ield,’ February 5, 1876.

Enormous Elephant’s Tusk at Zanzibar.—One of the first things that
attracted my attention was an ivory merchant's store, in which was a lot of
the finest ivory I had ever seen, so infinitely larger than the largest Cey-
lonese tusks that I stopped to examine them. The Arab owner pointed to
one giant in a corner by itself, and on my asking its weight pointed to some
Arabic numerals marked on it, and explained, through my interpreter, that

THE ZooLocist—MarcH, 1876. 4827

it was a single tusk, no fellow to it being known, and that it weighed 360 Ibs.
It was reserved, and specially set aside to be sent to Mecca. I judged its
length to have been about nine feet, and its girth was prodigious. Probably
the elephant had but this one; the other being destroyed by some disease,
the whole vital force had gone to form this mighty mass.—H. L. Layard.
(‘ Field, February 5, 1876.)

Rare Birds in Essex.—The following rare birds have come into my
possession this winter (1875-76) :—

Great Gray Shrike-—A male, in full plumage, was shot at Ramsey, near
Harwich, on the 9th of November: its stomach contained a house sparrow.
* Gray Phalarope-—A specimen, in full winter plumage, was shot at
Harwich on the 24th of November.

Sanderling.—Seven were shot on the beach at Dovercourt in November.

Great Crested Grebe.—A specimen was shot at Dovercourt on the 26th of
November.

Rednecked Grebe-—One was caught by a dog in a pool of water on the
sea-shore at Dovercourt on the 26th of November.

Eared Grebe.—Two specimens of this pretty little grebe were shot on
the river Stour, at Harwich, on the 3rd and 10th of December.

Blackthroated Diver —Two specimens (male and female) of this rare bird
were shot in Harwich Harbour on the 20th of December.

Tufted Duck.—A pair were shot in the harbour on the 12th of January.

Redbreasted Merganser.—Twelve of these birds (all females and immature)
were sent me from Dovercourt. One killed itself by flying against the
lighthouse.

Goosander.—A female was shot in the harbour on the 17th of January.

Gull with Black Head—On Sunday, January 9th, whilst walking on the
Esplanade at Harwich, I saw a gull with a black head as far as the eyes.
The bird came quite close to me, soI am not mistaken. Could it have
been the blackheaded gull? I never saw one have a black head before
March.—F’. Kerry ; Harwich.

Small Birds and Reed Beds.—It is well known how attractive a bed of
reeds is to several species of birds; for instance, who living in a favourable
locality has not seen the countless numbers of the swallow tribe which
frequent and roost in such situations in the latter days of summer? or of an
evening who has not watched the large flocks of starlings which resort to
the same roosting-place? or seen the whole reed-bed almost alive with a
host of the sprightly wagtails as they flit and dance, with a merry note,
from one part to another? Doubtless the insects found amongst the rushes
are the great attraction during the day time or evening; but why is such a
locality chosen to roost in? Is the temperature of such a situation more

4828 THE ZooL_octsTt—Marcu, 1876.

evenly balanced, and consequently more agreeable, than in a shrubbery or
a wood? and why is the reed-bed chosen only in the autumn? One
evening at the end of October I saw a flock of some thirty or forty small
birds upon some alders near the river, which by their gestures I thought
were lesser redpolls. I watched them for some time, and found that my
conjecture was correct, only that a few siskins were amongst them, which
in habits they much resemble. After feeding upon the alder seeds for some
time the whole flock descended from the trees to a reed-bed at no great
distance, where, after some amount of twittering and shifting quarters,
I believe they settled down to roost. I had never seen these tiny and
interesting birds in such a situation before at roosting-time, although I
have seen the lesser redpoll more than once amongst the reeds, inspecting
them during the day time, and indeed their roosting in such a place may
be well known to many other readers of the ‘ Zoologist,’ who perhaps will
explain to us the reason why such a roosting-place is chosen by many species
of birds.—G. B. Corbin; Ringwood, Hants.

[This predilection of birds for reed-beds has frequently been noticed.
I have often observed and been unable to explain it, except on the theory
that it is a protection against cats: reeds always grow in wet places, and
cats have a peculiar antipathy to wetting their feet—H. Newman.]

Food of Peregrine, &e.—In Mr. Gunn’s remarks on rare birds in Norfolk
and Suffolk in the ‘ Zoologist’ for January (S. 8. 4785) there is a notice of
a peregrine trapped by a keeper on the Taverham estate, near Norwich.
The poor bird had been observed for some days in that locality feeding
upon wood pigeons, and from the numerous remains of these birds found
in the park it was evident that there had been many victims. Were our
larger birds of prey permitted to go unmolested for a few years we should
doubtless hear less than we do now of the destruction caused by wood
pigeons. The late enormous increase of these pests in every part of the
country—a nuisance alike to the farmer, the game-preserver and the sports-
man—is undoubtedly mainly due to the destruction of our larger Falconide.
The wood pigeon is the natural food of these birds, and from its habits,
large size, and attractive colour, far more likely to be knocked down than
either pheasant or partridge. When will our gamekeepers and their
employers learn wisdom, and understand that the presence of the larger
birds of prey on their estates is not incompatible with plenty of game?
Now, however, no sooner is a large hawk seen, or its presence suspected,
than Velveteens and his myrmidons are on the alert, and uo time or trouble
is spared till the poor victim falls to steel-trap or gun. From Mr. Gunn's
note on the roughlegged buzzard, seven examples of which have lately
passed through his hands, it appears, from the fur found in their stomachs,
that rabbits constituted their principal food; he also found the remains of a
water vole and a common rat. We believe the amount of running vermin,

Tue ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876. 4829

inimical to game, destroyed, both,by the common and roughlegged buzzard,
more than counter-balances any occasional raids on the rabbit-warren. A
friend lately told me that in June, 1872, he went down a rock in North
Wales to a buzzard’s nest: there were two young partly-fledged birds in
the nest, and besides them lay two moles, two stoats and a pine marten.
I could say much more on this subject did time permit. I have read
Captain Morant’s most amusing and interesting book on ‘ Game Preservers
and Bird Preservers,’ and although I fully endorse his opinions on many
points, I cannot agree with him in recommending the annihilation of the
larger Falconide. There is a great deal of sound common sense in his
book ; but there are always two sides to a question.—John Cordeaux ; Great
Cotes, Ulceby, February 4, 1876.

Notes on the Roughlegged Buzzard.— Confirming Mr. Gunn’s experience
(S. 8. 4786), I also found unmistakable fur of the rabbit in a roughlegged
buzzard shot here on January 22nd. With regard to the common buzzards
mentioned by Mr. Stevenson as seen by us (S.S. 4775, 4777), we thought they
were such at the time; but I am disposed now to think they were the rough-
legged species, which has occurred in some numbers. Several have occurred
at Northrepps before, but not for a long time. I believe the last one was
many years ago. Capt. Hadfield doubts if this buzzard would prey on any
ducks except lame ones (S. S. 1058). In October, 1868, an example was
seen hovering over some tame ducks near Saxmundham, and was shot in
the act of swooping at one of them. This has been recorded (8. 8. 1513,
1697). Ihave one other observation to make, which is that Yarrell seems
in error in remarking that the roughlegged buzzard shows a preference for
marshy districts (‘ British Birds,’ 1st ed., vol. i., p. 82), but perhaps if any
one has any evidence in support of this statemeut he will advance it.—
J. H. Gurney, jun.; Northrepps, near Norwich.

Buzzards,—Roughlegged buzzards have been unusually abundant this
autumn and winter in Scotland, especially in the counties of Perth (east
coast) and Stirlingshire. A few of the common buzzards have also been
obtained, but the former species has been much the more abundant of the
two. Mr. James Lumsden, some time ago, at a meeting of the Natural
History Society of Glasgow,* made mention of most of the specimens ob-
tained, and Mr. Robert Gray also took notice of them at a meeting of the
Royal Physical Society in Edinburgh. Since then several more specimens
have been added to the list—John A. Harvie Brown.

Common Buzzard.—A common buzzard in my possession was caught in a
somewhat similar place—if not manner—to that mentioned by Mr. G. F.
Mathew. A gamekeeper near Wantage, in Berkshire, was going his usual
rounds one morning (I think in June, 1853, but have not my notes to hand),

* Natural History Society of Glasgow, Session xxy., 1875-76, third meeting of the
Session, 26th November, 1875. See the ‘ Glasgow Herald’ of December 4, 1875.

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. o

4830 Tue ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876.

when a retriever, which had been at his heel, suddenly rushed forward and
pinned something in a thick quickset hedge, which eventually proved to be
a buzzard, which had in some way got entangled or jammed in the thick
hedge. The keeper, with more sense than most of his brethren, took it
home with him and kept it alive, and it subsequently passed into my pos-
session, and a capital bird it is. With a clipped wing, it has the run of our
walled kitchen garden, a treatment which combines the advantages of
preserving the bird’s health in the highest degree, and also requiring a
minimum of attention. As a bird-scarer, I have always found a captive
hawk a complete failure, which no doubt is a very general experience,
although I feel sure a handicapped hawk keeps his eye on the small birds,
even when one would the least suspect it. The gardener was one day
defending the early peas from the attacks of small birds, and having shot a
sparrow walked forward to pick it up, but before he could do so out strutted
the buzzard from behind the peas, and ran off with it. Their run always
reminds me of the pictures of hunted ostriches; with wings partly raised,
head lowered and neck outstretched, they stride away in grand style and at
a great pace. This winter, whenever a spell of sharp weather has brought
redwings and fieldfares about, the gardener has occasionally shot one for the
buzzard’s benefit; he tells me that they (or at least the individual in
question) quite understand the use of the gun, and keep on the look out for
the spoil, so much so that when he the other day winged a redwing, which
began to run, this buzzard was after it, and caught it directly. As buzzards
are said to breed in captivity, and have done so on two or three occasions at
the “ Zoo,”—although, from one cause or another, the young have never
been reared,—I was anxious to try my luck. Mr. Bartlett very kindly
gave me a mate for my bird from the Zoo: the only difficulty was as to the
sexes; I believed my bird to be a female, as it is a very big one; so he
promised me the smallest specimen he had, by way of making sure of
getting a male, and it is the smallest buzzard I have seen. It is a good
deal different from my old one, besides the size; the cere, legs and feet being
of the palest possible yellow, while in my old one they are bright yellow;
and the plumage, which in my old one may be roughly described as brown
on yellow ground, in this specimen is brown on white—more like the
markings of a female sparrowhawk; but these are, doubtless, in no way
sexual differences. My old bird proved itself to be a female, as on several
occasions this summer the garden labourers, while at their work, observed
her collect two or three pieces of stick or straw, and then sit for a few hours
upon this apology for a nest. The gardener and this bird are repeatedly
having some amusing “rows.” One day, seeing her tramping about on a
newly-sown bed, he drove her off, but directly he turned round to go away
she also turned and came after him. About this time, too, she hit upon
the ingenious method of “scoring off” him by pulling up (with her foot)

Tur ZooLtocist—Marcg, 1876. 4831

the labels stuck into the ground to mark where seeds were sown, and
among others pulled up two marking the position of tall and dwarf varieties
of some annual intended for bedding out in the flower-garden, and he had
to trust to guess-work not to plant the dwarf variety at the back of the
border with the tall variety completely eclipsing it in front. At one time a
tame jackdaw used to visit our kitchen garden, climbing up the wall by
means of a lean-to shed: the gardener for many successive days caught it
and put it back again; but at last he left it to take its chance, and it was
very happy in the garden for some few days, until at last, in an evil moment,
it endeavoured to appropriate this buzzard’s food, which she had dropped.
This appears to have been more than she could stand, for pouncing down
upon the jackdaw she killed it, but without in the least mauling it or
attempting to eat it, though no doubt, as she had dropped her own food,
she was not hungry. However, no kind of animal food comes amiss to me—
this unlucky jackdaw was very acceptable to my otters. I have not had an
opportunity of trying my buzzards with any snakes, but have seen a buzzard
(I did not identify the species), in a forest in Bavaria, eating one. They
will eat frogs, though they do not finish them up clean, but leave the hind
legs. To my surprise my tame bird refused to eat the only mole I have
yet offered her, although I believe I gave her a fair trial. The garden
labourers say they forage a good deal for themselves, during the open
weather, among the slugs, worms, &c.— Alfred Heneage Cocks; Great
Marlow, Bucks, January 25, 1876.

The Melanism of Montagu’s Harrier—At Zool. S.S. 2260 is a letter
from Mr. B. Bates, of Eastbourne, about a black Montagu’s harrier,—a
melanism now pretty generally known,—and at page 2306 is another letter
from him saying that its mate and young ones had been seen and the latter
shot. In this second letter Mr. Bates gives a description of the young, and
wishes to know if they differ from the common Montagu’s harrier. I have
seen one of them, and am able to say that it does not differ in any degree
whatever. I have also seen the old female, which was afterwards shot, and
that agrees in plumage with a normal female Montagu’s harrier. This is no
corroboration of the hereditary theory propounded at page 42 of the ‘ Birds
of Norfolk. —J. H. Gurney, jun.

Gregarious Habit of the Longeared Owl—About the middle of this month
(January) I was shooting in a wood in this parish when five longeared owls
got up. One of the keepers said that they had come from the adjoining
parish of Trimingham, where, for at least half a dozen years, there have
been a party of about six, and where I have paid them several visits (¢f.,
p- 3045). In spite of the numbers which are to my knowledge killed by
the keepers, it is now a very numerous species on this coast, and I under-
stand it is on the increase in other parts of England.—Id.

Abundance of the Shorteared Owl near Kingsbridge—Great numbers

4832 Tue ZooLocist—MarcHu, 1876.

of the shorteared owl (Otus brachyotus) have made their appearance this
season in this district. Many have been shot, and on several occasions
six, eight, ten and even twelve have been flushed in a single field— Henry
Nicholls ; Kingsbridge, Devon.

Barn Owl and its Castings.— The other day I was examining some
pellets or castings of the barn owl, and found they consisted principally of
entire skulls of the house sparrow. There was one skull of the short-tailed
field mouse, and to my surprise one of the common shrew, showing that if
hard up the bird will overcome the repugnance it has to shrews as food.—
Robert Mitford ; Haverstock Place, Hampstead, July 9, 1876.

Great Gray Shrike in East Yorkshire.—This bird seems to have been
scarcer than usual in this part of the county this autumn. When the tide
of migratory birds sets in from the north, and woodcocks, shorteared owls,
redwings, fieldfares, &c., make their appearance on this coast, a few great
gray shrikes are generally shot, but so far only one specimen has come
under my notice; it was shot at Spurn the last week in October, and was a
very clearly marked bird. Mr. Richardson, in whose hands I saw it for
preservation, had saved the body for my inspection, but it was in such a
bad state IT could not make out the sex, and was unable to ascertain its age,
though, judging from its general appearance, it would be taken for an old
bird, the markings were so distinct and pure; still its breast was barred,
and we are told in Prof. Newton's ‘“‘ Yarrell” that this is an unmistakable
sign of youth: we are also told, quoting from Sharp and Dresser, that the
double white bar on the wings—caused by the basal half of the secondaries
and primaries being of that colour—is more fully developed in adult birds.
I wish to point out that I have just compared a few specimens, and am
inclined to think, with all due deference to such an eminent authority as
Prof. Newton, that the barred breast is not always a sign of youth: the
younger birds are no doubt more distinctly barred (though I am not quite
sure that this is so in all cases); nevertheless, adults—birds showing the
double bar very clearly, and having their secondaries broadly margined with
white—have still their breasts slightly barred, whilst I have a bird without
any trace of bars on the breast, and apparently a fine old bird that has not
the double bar on the wings.—F’. Boyes ; Beverley.

PS. Since the above was written, I have heard of at least four specimens
of this bird being obtained in East Yorkshire.—/’. B.

The Claim of the White-collared Flycatcher to a Place in the British
List.—Messrs. Pratt and Sons, the well-known taxidermists, informed me
that they saw a pied flycatcher with a distinct white collar on the 24th of
April, 1871, at Brighton, which may have been a white-collared flycatcher
(Muscicapa collaris). ‘This species was introduced by Mr. Gould into the
British list. In his ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ began in 1862 and completed
in 1873, he has given a beautiful figure of it. I fear it must, however, be

THE ZooLocistT—ManrcH, 1876. 4833

turned out again. As long ago as 1837 it set up its claim to be a British
bird in the same author's ‘ Birds of Europe,’ upon which authority it was
subsequently inserted in Jenyns’ ‘ British Vertebrates’ (p. 98), among the
indented birds without descriptions; and it is also placed in the doubtful
list at the end of Doubleday’s ‘ Nomenclature of British Birds;’ and other
books which I do not know of may possibly notice or include it. But what we
have to do with is its more recent admission into Gould’s ‘ Birds of Great
Britain,’ for which I am mainly accountable. I stated to Mr. Gould that in
Mrs. Clarke’s collection I had seen an undoubted male specimen which she
believed was shot in Norfolk, and which was marked in the Catalogue as
“a fresh specimen.” Since then that noble collection—containing among
other rarities, one of the most perfect specimens of the great auk known to
exist—has been most generously presented to the Norwich Museum, and I
have been able to look it over at leisure. With the assistance of Mr. Reeve,
the Curator, I have made a slight but rather important discovery concerning
the white-collared flycatcher. The birds are all marked with small tickets,
and this one is marked “ No. 3,” corresponding, as I hitherto supposed,
with “ No. 38*” in the Catalogue; but there is also another “ No. 3” in the
case, which is a pied flycatcher, and another “ No.3” in the Catalogue. It
is therefore impossible to say to which in the case ‘“ No. 3” in the Catalogue
(the one marked as ‘‘a fresh specimen ”’) refers, but the inference naturally is
that it refers to the pied flycatcher, and this is strengthened in my mind by
observing that two other foreign birds have been admitted, evidently in
mistake for their duller and commoner English representatives. The
gentleman who formed the collection made it a rule to admit none but the
very finest specimens obtainable, and I suspect that the white-collared
flycatcher was selected and put in as a very bright example of the pied
flycatcher.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

On the Redwing Nesting in England.—The first supposed instance of
the redwing’s breeding in England, brought forward by Mr. Feilden in a
quotation from the ‘ People’s Magazine,’ appears to have been recorded in
the ‘ Zoologist’ before (see Zool. 6563, 6638, 6675). I say supposed,
because, from the evidence there given, it appears very doubtful what bird
the eggs were really laid by. At the same time I have no more doubt that
the redwing does occasionally stay and nest than I have of its singing in
England, though both these events are very much rarer than certain writers
would have us believe.-—Id.

Curious Situation for a Robin's Nest.—I was shown a nest the other
day as curious as any that have been recorded for a long time, in regard to
the situation which the bird (a robin) adopted. A velvet scoter had been
stuffed and cased, but the glass of the case had been accidentally broken.
Through the fracture the bird obtained ingress, and in the case it made a
snug nest under the velvet scoter’s tail, and laid some eggs, I believe; but,

4834 Tur ZooLtocist—Marcn, 1876.

as might be expected, they were not hatched. This adds another to the list
of curious places chosen by robins to nest in—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Unusual Situation of a Redstart’s Nest.—In the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1869
(S. S. 1801) is an account, by Mr. J. Ranson, of a redstart building its nest
on the branch of a trained pear tree. Last May, whilst in pursuit of
Melita Euphrosyne, I started a redstart from the bottom of a small haw-
thorn; and on searching I found the nest carefully hid in the midst of a
large tuft of grass, and containing five eggs. To be sure that I was not
mistaken in the bird, I retired a short distance and waited till it returned
to its nest; the bird on its re-appearance confirmed my first impression.
This is a curious departure from the redstart’s usual custom of building in
a hole.-—John Kempster; 4, Prince’s Place, Clifton, February 8, 1876.

Migratory Flock of Wagtails.— During the severe weather of the 15th
and 16th of January we had a large migratory arrival of wagtails here. On
the 16th there were several hundreds along the banks of the river, prin-
cipally of the white and pied species (if they are distinct) and a few gray
wagtails amongst them. The wind was N.E. at the time and bitterly cold ;
on the change of wind to the S.W., a few days later, the greater number
departed. On the 29th I saw a grayheaded wagtail—the only one this
winter.—Id.

Grayheaded Wagtail— There are some remarks in the ‘ Zoologist’ for
February (S. S. 4793', on my ‘ Catalogue of the Birds of Northumberland
and Durham,’ by Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., on which I wish to say a few
words. Mr. Gurney doubts my assertion as regards the breeding of the
grayheaded wagtail in our district. The so-called Budytes flava and B. Rayi
are both well known to me; and, at page 60 of the ‘ Catalogue,’ I give a
detailed account of the whereabouts and the capture of the birds in question.
I went myself to the spots where the nests were, and saw the old birds, as
well as the young, before they were shot; and in the ‘ Catalogue’ I state how
the young of B. flava differs from that of B. Rayi. I think this ought to
have sufficed, and saved my friend the trouble of making those remarks.
He goes on, however, to say, “But I should like to know who could
distinguish the female (of the grayheaded) from the female of the yellow
wagtail, still less the young.” If Mr. Gurney will call upon me in New-
castle, I will undertake to prove to him in five minutes how to distinguish
between the two females (when they are well developed), and I think after
he has examined the large series of these interesting wagtails which I have,
he will perhaps see there is reason for saying “he does not know what
constitutes a species.” I have read the criticisms made by the late Mr.
Doubleday, and those by others in the ‘ Field’ newspaper (which Mr, Gurney
alludes to), but I see nothing in any of them to alter in the least the opinions
I have stated in the ‘Catalogue.’ Should at any time, however, facts be
brought forward sufficient to make me change those opinions, I should be

ay

Tue Zootocist—Manrcn, 1876. 4835

the first to acknowledge they were wrong.—John Hancock; 4, St. Mary’s
Terrace, Newcastle-on-Tyne, February 15, 1876.

The Calandra Lark a British Bird.—The Calandra lark (Melanocorypha
Calandra (Linn.) is said to have occurred once at Plymouth and once at
Exeter. With regard to the latter specimen I have my doubts about it ;
nor is the former entirely without suspicion, though the specimen which is
in my collection has not the appearance of having been a foreign skin.
When I purchased it I obtained, through Mr. Gatcombe’s intervention, the
following certificate :—“I certify that this Calandra lark was killed by
St. John’s Lake, and I had it in the flesh and mounted it myself.—
Abraham Pincombe.” It is said to have been killed by a man named
Kendall, now dead. It agrees very well with specimens obtained by me in
Spain and Algeria.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Whitewinged Crossbill near London, — When you have perused the
enclosed note, I think you will agree with me that we have had without
doubt a visit from a specimen of that rare bird, the whitewinged crossbill,
in the vicinity of London.—Robert Mitford ; February 9, 1876.

[I subjoin the letter obligingly forwarded by Mr. Mitford, and written by
his son :—

“‘ Bast Molesey, February 7, 1876.

« My dear Father,—The bird in question was by itself when I saw it—
once, and then only for a second or two. It was very shy. Ross saw it two
or three times, but he has not seen it lately: it has always been by itself,—
no others of the same or any sort of crossbill were with it,—although during
the time it was about Lady C.’s place there were a good many of the common
crossbill there. Just at that time, a fortnight or three weeks ago, I was up
there a good deal, and saw several crossbills every day I was there. Ross
knows all the birds he saw there just as well as I do, and he told me before
I saw the bird in question that he had seen a beautiful crossbill with white
bars on its wings (these were his own words). I immediately thought of
the whitewinged crossbill. * * * Although I only saw the bird for an
instant, yet I feel perfectly convinced it was a crossbill, because it had a
peculiar flight ; the black and white bars on the wings were very conspicuous,
and such as I had never seen before in any bird.”

I believe I had the pleasure of first recording the occurrence of a second
species of whitewinged crossbill in England, in the ‘ Zoologist’ for November,
1848, and of correctly applying the specific name and synonyms as now
adopted, but my late friend Henry Doubleday, as there stated, deserves all
the credit of detecting that the species generally known by that name was
not identical with the whitewinged crossbill of the Continent. In the third
edition of his ‘ History of British Birds’ (dated 1856), Mr. Yarrell confirms
this decision of Mr. Doubleday’s, and points out that De Selys-Longchamps,
in his ‘Fauna of Belgium,’ had previously differentiated the two birds.

4836 THE ZooLtocist—Marcu, 1876.

Mr. Yarrell has paraphrased the differentiation, as under, at page 28 of his
second volume :—

The American Whitewinged Crossbill. The European Whitewinged Crossbill.
Loxia leucoptera (Gmel.). Loxia bifasciata (Nilsson).
fulvirostra (Latham).
In size smaller than a sparrow. In size larger than a sparrow.
Beak small, very much compressed, the Beak almost as large as that of the
points slender and elongated. common crossbill; less compressed

than the same part in the American,
and the points less crossed over and
less elongated.

The tail greatly forked. The tail less forked.

The males I have seen have the plumage The males I have seen have the plumage
of a brilliant crimson, the tail black ; dull brick-red, the tail-feathers more
the feathers with little or no bor- obviously bordered with yellow.
dering.

Inhabits the United States of America Has been observed accidentally in winter
and about Hudson’s Bay. in Belgium, England, Sweden and

Bavaria.

It would appear from this that Loxia leucoptera is a purely North-
American bird, and Loxia bifasciata merely an accidental winter visitor in
Europe. It was not admitted by Temminck into the second edition of his
‘Birds of Europe.’ According to Harting’s ‘ Handbook,’ between twenty
and forty specimens of Loxia bifasciata have been obtained in Britain, and
six of Loxia leucoptera, besides a large. flock seen near Banff by Thomas
Edward, and reported in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1859. Of course it cannot be
decided to which of the two species the bird seen by Mr. Mitford belongs.—
Edward Newman.|

Starling’s Mode of Feeding.—May I ask Mr. Gurney, jun., to turn to
page 3648 (S. 8.) of the ‘ Zoologist,’ where he will find a short note of mine
on the starling’s mode of feeding? and I will only add that, from what
I remember then seeing I am inclined to think that both mandibles are
thrust into the ground, or rather, as I before said, into the grass-roots, and
if seen would, I think, leave similar impressions to those left by the rooks on
piercing the puff-balls. I should be glad to hear whether starlings have been
observed to pierce the bare ground in the same manner. Perhaps you will
allow me to ask—supposing it to be a habit of the starling to seek for grubs
in the manner indicated—how comes it that so few upper mandibles are
worn away in the operation?—John Selater; Castle Eden, February 3,
1876.

Starling Feeding with open Beak.—With reference to the note in the
February number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (8. S. 4796), I have repeatedly observed
the starlings, on the lawn behind my house, “ picking the ground with their
mouths open,” not being aware at the time that there was any controversy

——

THE ZooLocist—MarcH, 1876. 4837

on the subject. The beak of a starling seems to be an inferior instru-
ment, or at least wielded with very inferior power to that of a blackbird
or a thrush.— W. Southall; Almeley, Sir Harry’s Road, Birmingham,
February 14, 1876.

Starlings Pecking with Beak open.—Some years ago I had a tame
starling, which was a most impudent though confiding little pet, and often
afforded us many pleasant moments watching his interesting habits. One
of his most favourite amusements was to perch on the back of one’s hand,
or stand close to it when it was extended flat on the ground with the
fingers pressed close together. He would then insert his beak between
the fingers, open his lower mandible, and strive to force them apart,
peering, when he had accomplished this feat, for anything which might be
hidden beneath, and was often rewarded for his trouble by the discovery of
some tid-bit which had been placed there for his especial benefit. From
watching the habits of this pet, added to careful observations made a few
days ago as four birds were feeding beneath our windows at Instow, I have
come to the conclusion that the beak is not thrust into the ground open,
but that immediately it has pierced the ground to its base the lower
mandible is opened to its widest extent, and the bird, whose eyes are fixed
so near the base of its bill, can easily detect and secure any creature in the
little round space it has opened out to view. Tame jackdaws that I kept
had also the habit of pushing their beak between one’s fingers, and trying
to prize them apart by suddenly opening the lower mandible ; and I dare
say many of your readers have noticed a jackdaw place its beak beneath a
stone, and endeavour to raise or turn it over by the above movement. My
little starling was a most knowing creature, and it was great fun watching
him with a piece of bread and butter: there was no digging or pecking
then, but he deliberately turned his head down, and with a side motion of
his lower mandible against the upper, completely scraped off all the butter,
without eating a morsel of the bread; but, with all his little quaint ways,
he was—like his companions, the jackdaws—a terrible thief.—Gervase F.
Mathew ; H.M.S. ‘ Britannia,’ Dartmouth.

Migration of Rooks.—In Mr. Stevenson's notes for November (Zool. 8.8.
7466) he remarks on the large increase of rooks, apparently migratory, at
Northrepps and Sheringham on the 7th. In a letter which I received from
Heligoland, dated Christmas Day, 1875, Mr. Gitke says, speaking of this
last autumn’s migration, “an abundance of rooks there has been, as nobody
ever witnessed before on this island: these last ten years together have
certainly not seen here so many of these birds as this one autumn alone.”—
John Cordeaux; February 3, 1876.

Jackdaws with Pied Heads.—Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., in the ‘ Zoologist’
for February (S. S. 4797), mentions two instances of jackdaws with pied
heads. I can now adda third, which came under my notice some years

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. P

4838 Tue Zootocist—Marcu, 1876.

ago, and which I recorded in the ‘ Huddersfield Naturalist’s Journal’ (vol. i.,
p. 148). The bird was an adult male, and was shot in this neighbourhood
in June, 1861. I have now in my possession an old jackdaw very prettily
pied with white feathers on the wing-coverts and rump, somewhat in form
of a crescent now the wings are closed; it has also a patch of white on the
abdomen, and each of the outer tail-feathers are also white.—T. E. Gunn;
Norwich, February 5, 1876.

Woodpeckers,—I can bear testimony to the correctness of the remark
quoted from the journal of the late Dr. Saxby (S. S. 4723), as to the “ close-
ness with which the skin adheres to the body” of woodpeckers, and this is
especially the case down the vertebra, where it sometimes seems as if the
skin is glued to the flesh, so firmly does it adhere. I have also observed the
same thing, but in a less marked degree, in a specimen or two of the barn
owl, but in every instance the bird was in poor condition: I never observed
it in a bird that was fat. Woodpeckers are seldom fat, though sometimes
plump—at least this is the case with the few I have handled; but I have
no wish to prove that leanness is the cause of adhesion to the skin, although
it has a tendency in that direction.—G. B. Corbin.

[The rarity or almost entire absence of the common green woodpecker in
the Isle of Wight has long been a subject of great interest with me. The
naturalists residing in the island repudiate this idea, and a correspondent
for whom I have the most sincere respect assures me that he clearly
recollects his grandfather having told him that he had once seen a green
woodpecker in the island. 'The Rey. C. A. Bury also says (Zool. 915), “ The
green woodpecker is generally distributed over the county, and, although so
abundant on the opposite coast of Hampshire, is with us a rarissima avis:
R. Lee has seen it once.” Has this bird a disinclination to cross salt water ?
and has a similar distaste for the briny deterred Picus martius from visiting
Britain ?—Edward Newman.]}

Plumage of the Great Spotted Woodpeeker.—The white woodpecker
(Picus major) having a red head, mentioned by Mr. Capper (S. 8. 4797), is
evidently in immature plumage. The young of both sexes have the crown
of the head red: this is entirely lost in the plumage of the adult female,
and retained only at the back of the head in the male. This forms the
chief distinction in the sexes in mature plumage. I remember in two
instances having specimens of Picus major (in the adult state) with partly
brown wings and tail.—T7. FE. Gunn.

Erratum.—Zool 8. 8. 4750, eight lines from the top, for summer falcon
read lanner faleon.—T. L). G.

Toucans in England in the Seventeenth Century.—The following are two
curious extracts from old works which treat of Natural History. Apparently
they refer to the same species, though not to the same bird. No one would

think now of letting the toucan into our fauna, yet these old worthies looked

ee Pe

a

“

THE ZooLoGist—Mancu, 1876. . 4839

upon it as a migratory straggler. Possibly they were two birds which had
escaped: the Zoological Society has had many living specimens sent over
from America; and yet it is odd that their owners did not take better care
of them, great rarities as they must have been in that day.

“In the year 1644 the Pica Brasiliensis, or Toucan, whose beak is. near
as big as its whole body, was found within two miles of Oxford, and given
to the Repository in the Medecine school, where it is still to be seen; which
argues it a bird of a very rank wing, there being a necessity of its flying
from America hither, except we shall rather say it might be brought into
England by ship, and afterwards getting away, might fly hither.”"—E tract
from Plot's ‘ Natural History of Oxfordshire’ (1677).

“The Brazilian Magpye; this was driven upon the coasts by the violent
hale-storm described in Mr. Burgher’s first Plate, and found dead upon the
sea-coasts in Lancashire.” — Extract from Leigh’s ‘Natural History of

Lancashire’ (1700).

This storm is stated to have taken place about 1698; the plate referred
to is a picture of it in the book. On another plate is given a figure of the
toucan, copied from Willughby.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Wall Creeper (Tichodroma muraria) in Lancashire.—On the 8th of May,
1872, a fine specimen of this continental species was shot at Sabden, a
village a few miles from here, at the foot of Pendle Hill, and as I am not
aware of its ever having been noticed before in this country, I send below
the particulars, It was seen flying about by itself,—its bright colours
drawing the attention of a lot of mill-hands,—did not appear to have a
mate, and was at length shot by a man named Edward Laycock, who took
it to Mr. W. Naylor, of Whalley, an accomplished naturalist, and who

has for many years been President of the Accrington Naturalist’s Society.
Large slugs had been used to kill it, and it was so mangled that Mr. Naylor
could not determine the sex, and had great difficulty in making it at all
presentable; however, it was managed somehow, and remains in his pos-
session still. It was noticed at the time that the grasshopper warbler
(Avicula locustella) was heard for the first time that spring on the same day.
The following are its dimensions, &c., as taken from the stuffed specimen :—
Tip of bill to tip of tail, five inches and seven-eighths; wings, outstretched,
tip to tip, eight inches; bill, seven-eighths of an inch; hind claw, thirteen
sixteenths of an inch; middle front claw, fifteen-sixteenths of an inch ;
tarsus, one inch and one-eighth. Top of head, back, and upper tail-coverts
ash-coloured. Throat and breast gray, becoming much darker, almost black,
on the belly, vent and under tail-coverts, which last are tipped with white.
Tail-feathers black, ten in number; the two outer on each side white-tipped ;
the rest tipped with ashy-gray. Primaries underneath, a white band at the
base, and a rhomboidal white spot three-eighths of an inch long towards the
top on the inner webs. Secondaries underneath, a pale reddish band at the

4840 Tue ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876.

base on the outer webs, and about the centre of each feather a triangular
pale red mark on inner webs. Primaries above have a rhomboidal white
spot as underneath. A bright crimson bar, about one inch wide on the
average, runs across primaries and secondaries, the colour being on the outer
webs, and the secondaries having a triangular spot as underneath. Greater
wing-coverts a mixture of crimson and ash-colour, with black tips. Lesser
wing-coverts same colour, without the black tips. Bill slightly bent.—
FS. Mitchell; Clitheroe, Lancashire, February 12, 1876.

[The reader is referred back to the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1874 (S. S. 4664),
where the occurrence of a specimen of Tichodroma phcenicoptera at
Stratton Hall is recorded by Mr. Bell. Are these the same bird? and
has the Linnean specific name of muraria lasted long enough? It is very
characteristic of the habits of the bird—Hdward Newman.]

The Nuthatch (Sitta cesia, Wolf).—* A little bird, sometimes seen, but
often heard in the Park at Woodstock from the noise that it makes,
commonly called the Wood-cracker: described to me (for I had not the
happiness to see it) to be about the bigness of a Sparrow, with a blue back,
and a reddish breast, a wide mouth and a long bill, which it puts into a
crack or splinter of a rotten bough of a tree, and makes a noise as if it
were rending asunder, with that violence that the noise may be heazd at
least twelve score yards, some haye ventured to say a mile from the place.”—
Extract from Plot's ‘ Natural History of Oxfordshire’ (1677).

This is evidently the nuthatch, a species not omitted by Willughby, as ~

Mr. Plot supposed. The account he gives of its habits is not accurate.
Though it can, as is observed in Yarrell (‘ British Birds,’ 4th ed., vol. i.,
p- 474), make a good noise upon a nut when it has fixed one in a chink,

yet it does not make nearly so much as a woodpecker, nor does it do it in,

the same manner. Tunstall was the first to notice the mistake (Syn. of the
Newe. Mus., p. 61), and after him Montagu (article Green Woodpecker),
but Pennant and Donovan quote the passage with approbation.—J. H.
Gurney, jun.

The Roller.—The beautiful roller has occurred in several well-authen-
ticated instances in Norfolk, but Mr. Stevenson remarks that except in
two or three cases he has been wholly unable to trace the specimens
(‘ Birds of Norfolk,’ vol. i., p. 311). I have just ascertained the fate of one
of these lost rarities, which was shot at Antingham, near here, and, still
better, had the specimen presented to-me. It appears that it was taken
to Mr. Spink, a barber and birdstuffer (why do these trades so often go
together ?) at North Walsham, and some attempt was made to keep it alive,
but, being a good deal shot in the legs, it died on the third day. My father
happened to be passing through, bought the bird, and gave it to the gentle-
man who has now most kindly—after having it in his possession thirty
years or more—made a present of it to me. The earliest notice of the

OEE Ee a

THE ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876. 4841

roller in Great Britain is by Sir Thomas Brown in 1664, and the next,
apparently, by Borlase in 1765 (see p. 41 of additions to Borlase, ‘ Natural
History of Cornwall,’ in the ‘Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall’).
This latter is said to have passed into Donovan's collection, which was
dispersed in 1817. Linneus, with his usual accuracy, says that rollers feed
on small frogs, which is perfectly true.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

The Barn Swallow of America,—I have a specimen of the American barn
swallow (Hirundo horreorum, Barton), which is interesting from the place of
capture. I am told by the taxidermist of whom J purchased it that his
nephew caught it on board ship, three hundred miles off the island of Cuba.
The following are points of distinction, given in the ‘ North American Birds’
(vol. i., p. 339), between the English swallow and the American—too much
stress must not be laid on them, as they are very variable :—‘ Hirundo
rustica is perfectly distinct, though closely allied. It differs essentially
from the American H. horreorum in much longer outer tail-feathers, and in
having a very broad continuous collar of steel-blue across the jugulum,
entirely isolating the chestnut of the throat; the abdomen appears to be
much more whitish than in the American species.” The supposition that
H. horreorum is a visitor to this country (Zool. 5035, 5039; ‘ Birds of
Middlesex,’ p. 124) has met with no confirmation. General opinion decided
that it must be the Egyptian swallow (H. Savignii, Steph.), which, from
geographical reasons, was more likely, and which in the adult bird has the
under parts dark chestnut ; but now the opinion seems to be that it is only
examples of H. rustica (which in a certain state of plumage are very chestnut
underneath, though not so much so as H. Savignii), which have been mis-
taken for something rarer in different parts of Europe. Mr. Dresser says
that he has “‘as yet failed in finding any example of Hirundo Savignii from a
' locality north of the Mediterranean” (‘ Birds of Europe,’ pt. xxxvii.)—Id.

Late Swallows and Martins.— On the 13th of November last martins were
seen by my friend Mr. Montagu Knight, of Chawton House, in this neigh-
bourhood, and in the previous year swallows were flying on the 12th and
martins on the 2Ist of November.—Thomas Bell; The Wakes, Selborne,
Alton, Hants ; January 24, 1876.

Swallows in December.—Straggling members of the Hirundines were
occasionally seen up till the end of November, but the snow at the beginning
of the following month seemed to cut short their wanderings. On the
morning of the 14th or 15th of December, almost before the sun had risen,
I saw three swallows flying dreamily and silently about a stack of chimneys
in the street. The snow had disappeared, but there had been a sharp frost
during the night, and the swallows, which were doubtless birds of the year,
looked quite out of place skimming over the frost-covered tiles of the houses.
Where could they have been, and what were their powers of abstinence ?—
G. B. Corbin.

4842 Tue ZooLtocist—Marcu, 1876.

Stock Dove-—The stock dove (Columba enas) has been commoner than
usual this autumn, and I think I may say that it is increasing considerably
in this neighbourhood. This bird used to breed plentifully in the rabbit-
holes in the warrens on the wolds, and when these were brought under cul-
tivation they were of course dispersed, and I at first thought the increase
might have arisen from this source; but now that I meet with them breed-
ing almost everywhere, and quite close to the town, I begin to think they
must be on the increase. Their mode of nesting is very various, some-
times on the ground under whin bushes, and when the warrens were
ploughed out many nested the first year at the bottom of the hedges near, but
they have all disappeared from there now, and breed in the same situations
as the common ring dove—if anything higher up in the fir trees. I have
found several quite at the top: they are very fond of the hole in a tree,
when such is to be found suitable; but the demand very much exceeds the
supply, and they have in consequence to be content with the holes about
the roots. Our low grounds are much frequented by them in the winter
and spring, and I have noticed they are usually in flocks by themselves or
in pairs, and not mixed with the ring dove, though in the woods both kinds
flock together. ‘They resort to the same places for food as the ring dove—
viz. old stubbles, reeds, &c.—and in snow to the tops of turnips. ‘They are
much more frequently seen in the game shops now than formerly ; at least I
think so. The keepers hereabouts call them “ rock pigeons,” not distin-
guishing between them and the true Columba livia. The latter bird, by
the way, visits our pigeon-cotes in numbers in the wiuter, mingling with the
tame birds, but they all leave again in the spring, if permitted to do so,
which I fancy is not very often.—’, Boyes.

Deinornis.—New Zealand papers just to hand report an interesting dis-
covery of moa bones in that colony farther north than any have previously
been found. No remains of the extinct bird having been discovered north
of the town of Auckland, the moa region was supposed to have lain altoge-
ther to the south of that place. The advices now received, however, state
that numerous bones, representing the skeletons of fifteen moas, have been
found along the beach for many miles north of Whangarei Heads, sixty
miles to the north of Auckland. The discoverers were Mr. George Thorne
and Mr. Kirk, the Secretary of the Auckland Institute. With the moa
bones were discovered several human skulls and a complete human skeleton
in a sitting posture (the position in which it was usual to bury Maoris) ;
also many large pebbles, such as the moa was in the habit of swallowing
with its food, a rude stone hatchet, and some chips of obsidian. The spot
where the remains were discovered was at one time covered with vegetation,
but this having been burned by bush fires the ground had been covered by
drifting sand, the disturbance of which by the wind has exposed the bones.
The natives in the district had no knowledge whatever of the existence of

Tue Zoo.ocist—Marcu, 1876. 4843

any of the remains discovered, whose antiquity is believed to be considerable.
Further researches in the same locality may possibly be productive of
interesting results.—‘ Nature.’

Notes on Cranes.—I shall make no apology for referring again to a short
paper on the migration of cranes which marked the year 1869 (S. S. 1841)
which I drew up at the request of the Editor, where I have stated that I
received a very fine specimen—it weighed ten anda half pounds—in July,
from Hickham Moor, near Lincoln This bird is decidedly older than my
Cheltenham example (S.S. 1803), which only weighed eight pounds and
three quarters. It agrees pretty fairly witha specimen in the Lynn Museum,
which was one of the same flight, and which, though supposed at the time to
be a young female (S. S. 1910), is, I suspect, an old one in change, and also
with a specimen in my collection which the late Dr. Saxby shot in Shetland
in 1865, and of the chase and capture of which he has given one of the
most graphic descriptions I ever read (Zool. 9767—9772); where, among
other things, he mentions the ova of some kind of parasite on the axillary
feathers; and, again, he observes the same thing on another specimen
(Zool. S.S..1764). Both mine were infested in this way. According to the
late Mr. Denny it would be the ova of Lipeurus ebreus (Mon. Anopl. Brit.
179, pl. xiii.), an opinion confirmed by Mr. Cocking, to whom I submitted
them. Mr. Newcome, of Feltwell, has a crane unlike any that I ever saw.
It has a white neck and back, and is white spotted all over. It was shot in
1836, and is the first one mentioned in the ‘ Birds of Norfolk’ (vol. ii.,
p. 128)—J. Gurney, jun.

Purple Heron in Norfolk.—In my note on the species in the last number
of the ‘ Zoologist’ (S.S 4775), I described the bird as “ recorded by Lord
Kimberley in ‘Land and Water’ of October 28rd,” whereas I should
have said, recorded by the Rev. F. O. Morris, on the authority of Lord
Kimberley. His lordship, in a letter to Mr. Morris, dated October 15th,
announces the capture of the heron as “a few days ago,” and not being
aware of the exact date on which it was shot, I stated in.my note that it was
just prior to the 15th, the date of Lord Kimberley’s letter. Mr. Gunn,
however, in his record of the same bird (S. S. 4787), says, it was killed on
the 25th of September, and brought to him next day in the flesh, by Lord
Kimberley. I draw attention to the discrepancy in the above statements,
because the date of capture of a rare species is often important, and it seems
strange that Lord Kimberley should have written on the 15th of October,
that the bird was killed “a few days ago,” if it was procured just three
weeks before.—H. Stephenson ; Norwich, February 21, 1876,

Night Heron near Kingsbridge.—A young spotted specimen of this bird
was shot on the 7th of January: it was flushed from a bed of reeds in the
vicinity of the River Avon. Some twelve years since, in October, I pro-
cured a similar specimen, except that some of the down was quite visible

4844 THE ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876.

at the tip of the feathers from about the same locality; anda full dressed
male a few years before. How many moults does this bird make in attaining
the full dress, and does it ever breed in this country, having occurred in its
nestling dress as early as October?—Henry Nicholls, jun.; February 8,
1876. Ces

Glossy Ibis.—In the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. 8. 1917), Baron von Hiigel notes the
occurrence of a glossy ibis on the river Dart; he describes the specimen
at some length, which he states “is nearly in full plumage.” Through his
kindness it is now in our collection. Though very good fora British one, it
is some way off being in full plumage, being speckled with white feathers
about the head, and lacking the rich bay which characterises the adult.
I said some time ago (S. S. 3028) that the purple heron, squacco heron and
night heron, though always accidental migrants in Norfolk, had been much
more plentiful prior to 1833 than they had been since. The same remark
seems toapply to the glossy ibis. Mr. Stevenson (‘ Birds of Norfolk,’ vol. ii.,
p. 191) enumerates eleven specimens between 1818 and 1833, as against
two since.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Woodcock’s Mode of Carrying its Young.—At p. 3260 an extract is given,
from a work on the Natural History of apart of Hampshire, in corrobora-
tion of the breeding of the woodcock in that portion of southern England.
The extract begins :— Many a time in the cold days of March have I seen
the woodoock in the new plantations of Wootton, carrying their young under
their wing, clutching them up in their large claws.” I hope I shall not be
deemed an unreasonable critic if I say that this sentence needs amending.
In the first place, I presume that by “claws” toes are meant. This is a
mere slip; but how could any woodcock fly away with its young ones under
its wing? The absurdity of the idea must strike any person on reflec-
tion. The woodcock neither uses its wings nor its toes for this operation,
The young bird is borne away between the tarsi or legs, next to and touching
the bird’s belly. —Id.

Baillon’s Crake at Braunton Burrows.—I shot a fine specimen of this
pretty little crake by the side of one of the numerous pools on Braunton
Burrows, on February 4th. When first observed, it was feeding out in the
open; but as soon as it caught sight of me it scuttled off as fast as it could
to the shelter of the thick rushes which surrounded the pool ; and as it thus
half run, half flew, I fired and winged it; and it was only by searching each
clump of rushes carefully with my hands that I succeeded in finding it, as
it had crept into one of the thickest tufts, where it had crouched down and
was completely hidden. I have on former occasions caught glimpses of a
small crake both on the burrows and marshes, but have never been able to
secure one, as they were invariably close to shelter, and immediately on
being seen ran off swiftly and hid themselves; and would never afterwards
be flushed. I have no doubt.it is not an uncommon species; but, on

Tue ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876. 4845

account of its retiring habits, seldom seen.—Gevrase F'. Mathew ; Tnstow,
North Devon.

[See Zool, ante, 8. 8. 485, H. Newman.]

White Spotted Crake.—A specimen of a pretty little rail has been received
at the Zoo. I am doubtful by what name to call it, no name being
assigned it at the time of my visit. So far as I am able to ascertain, two
examples only of the bird have been previously received by ornithologists,and
all three have a similar habitat assigned them—“ captured at sea:” this little
fellow is under the care of Mr. Travis in the Western Aviary, and appears
full of health and vigour: he came on board off Santa Maria; the latitude
and longitude of the other specimens I am unable to give.-—H. Newman.

Is the Common Waterhen Migratory or not!—In the ‘ Field’ of the 30th
October last Mr. Cordeaux asks this question, and, though I am unable to
answer it, I can tell him something about the bird in this district. With
us on our river the waterhen is certainly not resident all the year, but
arrives in great numbers in the spring to breed in the coarse grass, sedge
and reeds which fringe the River Hull all the way north of Beverley,
to a distance of, say seven miles, which is as far as the tide ebbs and flows,
and where there is a lock erected across the river: perhaps, to be perfectly
correct, I ought to say that the tide does not actually run so far up as
this,—usually not much beyond Beverley,—still it backs up the water and
enables it to rise considerably as far as this lock. This rising of the water
causes it to overflow, in many places, the oozy portion of ground between
the ordinary bed of the river and the real banks—a distance in most places
of twenty or thirty yards; and this being grown over with sedge, &c., is a
favourite place of resort for waterhens, spotted crakes, snipes, &e., and as I
have before stated numbers of the former annually arrive to nest, and
after having reared their young and moulted—for the waterhen is one
of those birds which casts all the large feathers of the wings at once,
and is then wholly unable to fly—they leave us, though it is difficult to say
where they go; still they must migrate in quantities, as all the blow-wells,
springs and margins of streams in this neighboorhood are tenanted in the
summer by waterhens which are there for nesting purposes, and which no
doubt rear great numbers of young; and before winter comes on, the great
majority of them leave us, for the number which frequent running streams,
blow-wells (which never freeze), old moats, &c., then bear no comparison to
those we have in the summer. Still it is but fair to mention that the
birds on our river are in a great measure driven away to seek a more shel-
tered locality, as a large part of the sedge is annually cut and taken away :
then again the result would be much the same if this mowing did not take
place, as the tides in the winter are so high that the whole of their haunts
are submerged, and, shelter being no longer possible, the birds would be
compelled to migrate elsewhere; and after all, they may leave the country,

_ SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. Q

4846 Tue ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876.

but only take up their winter quarters in a more suitable and sheltered
district. That the waterhen possesses good powers of flight there is no
question. I have myself flushed one on the riverside which rose high in
the air like a pheasant, and flew straight away for nearly a mile that I could
see, and it seemed to be going as quickly and as high thenas ever. I have
also frequently had them pass me at night, going very quickly, and uttering
occasionally a peculiar cry, that is usually said by the people hereabouts to
proceed from an owl, and which noise is often heard at night far away from
any place where waterhens are known to be. I have never known them to
make this cry except when on the wing, and it is different altogether from
the note (crick) so often heard from amongst,sedge, &c.; that it is a waterhen,
and not an owl which makes this noise, I have proved over and over again,
though I confess it was years before Idid so. In severe weather, and when
the ground is covered with snow, waterhens commonly climb into thick
whitethorn bushes, hedges, &c., and remain there during the day. I think
they resort to these places for concealment, and. not for the purpose of
getting ivy berries, haws, or anything of the kind. What makes me almost
certain that such is the case is I knew a stream frequented by waterhens,
and which had no shelter in the shape of coarse grass, &c., in which the
birds could hide themselves, and they always climbed into a very tall
whitethorn hedge, and remained in the thickest part amongst old sparrows’
nests, &c., and when night came on they sallied out to the stream.— I’; Boyes.

The Original and correct Spelling of Shielduck.—I observe that the name
shelduck is generally printed shielduck or shieldrake in the ‘ Zoologist.’
As naturalists are now pretty well agreed that shelduck is the right
spelling, it might be well to spell itso in future. Sheld is an ancient word,
meaning particoloured. The old writer Willughby says, ‘It is called shel-
drake, from its being particoloured, sheld signifying dappled or spotted with
white” (The Ornithology, p. 28, ef. p. 863): and the Rey. C. A. Johns in his
excellent work upon ‘ British Birds’ says that the word “shelled” in the
sense of variegated is still current in the eastern counties of England
(p. 493.) Walcott in his ‘ Synopsis of British Birds” writes, ‘ Sheld, parti-
coloured; inde sheldrake,” and refers to p. 85 of ‘ Ray’s Collection of
English Words,’ a work I have not in the house; but I am sure that Ray
was much too careful to give a word in his collection, on the faith of
Willughby or any other person, which he had not himself verified. Other
authorities might probably be raked up, but enough has been said to show
that we ought to go back to the original spelling, which is the correct one,
and not leave the incorrect one now in use until it becomes too firmly esta-
blished to be got rid of. There are other birds which for the same reason
as the shelduck have received names with the same beginning, but I will
only call up one of them as evidence, the goldeneye, which was called
shelden, according to Willughby (J. ¢., 18), and Morton, ‘ Natural History
of Northamptonshire ’ (1712), p. 4831.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

a

Tuer ZooLocist—MarcH, 1876. 4847

Smew near Old Malton.—A male specimen of this bird in full plumage
was shot on January 14th, on the Derwent, near Old Malton, and is now
in the possession of Mr. George Edson.

Smew at Taunton —On Wednesday, January 26th, Mr. Petherick, of
Taunton, shot a male smew (Mergus albellus) near Durston. The plumage
of the head is loose and silky. ‘The head, neck, breast, wings and under
body are white: the wings are crossed with black; the centre of the back
and wings are also black. In the female the colour tends to chestnut.
The smew is a rare bird in this locality—H. R. Prince; Fore Street,
Taunton.

[Mr. Prince does not mention that a female was obtained.—H. Newman.]

Hooded Merganser.—Having lately been devoting some attention to the
subject of rare and doubtful British birds—a subject in which I already see
there is a great deal to be done—I am interested, and at the same time
perplexed, to find a record of the death of a pair of hooded mergansers near
Sheerness, in the ‘ Zoologist’ for June, 1870. I trust I shall not be con-
sidered as arrogating to myself any special knowledge over and above
Mr. G. F. Mathew, if I intimate a doubt as to these birds being correctly
named. I have no wish to act the critic, but I do respectfully wish that he
would make further investigations, so as to satisfy me and other readers as
to what the birds were. Ihave seen the original specimen which was shot
at Yarmouth, and which after passing through several hands was added to
the collection of Mr. Selby, at Twizell. It is in the plain “dun diver”
dress. It had never been stuffed, and I believe it is now in the magnifi-
cent collection of skins at Cambridge. That occurred in 1829. Sixteen
others are supposed to have been shot or seen since.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Retention of Summer Plumage by Grebes.—Mr. Boyes thinks tbat some
grebes retain much of their summer dress through the winter (S. 8. 4299).
I do not think they are so prone to it as divers (Colymbus). I have however
received the great crested grebe with a complete tippet as early as the 25th
of March. I have frequently noticed that the feet of grebes, and also of
coots and waterhens, give out a kind of oil, long after they are skinned, to
the great detriment of other specimens which may be in the same drawer
with them. A damp room, which is the worst thing there is for a collection
of birds, will draw it out.—ZTd.

Waterford Great Auk,.—At p. 1449 (S.S.) I gave some previously un-
published matter about the Waterford Harbour great auk obtained from
Dr. Burkitt. I now wish to supplement my paper with some additional
remarks, which through his kindness I am able to do. Dr. Burkitt
informs me that being formerly in the habit of preserving the bones of the
sternum, back, neck and thighs of all but common species, he did preserve
the bones of the great auk also; but it is not known whether they are now
in the Dublin University Museum, or where they are. The following is an

4848 TuE Zoo.ocist—Marcu, 1876.

extract from a letter addressed to Dr. Burkitt by Mr. S. D. Goff, dated
“Horetown, New Ross, April 80, 1868”:—*I perfectly recollect, many
years since, my late father purchasing—I think from a Tramore man—
what I until now supposed was a penguin—a large brown and white bird,
sitting up straight on the tail, and with very small wings; but I can give
no information as to the time, place or circumstances of the purchase.
Before forwarding to Horetown, he had it for a short time in what was then
called the wash-house garden, at Mary Street, but which is now absorbed
in the brewery yard; it had then only a pan of water.” Dr. Burkitt
retains Mr. F. Davis's letter “which accompanied the bird,” which may
one day be thought a curiosity.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

The King Penguin at the Zoo,—After a residence of thirteen weeks at the
Zoological Gardens, this beautiful bird has succumbed to the fate of all such
captives—dying of lung disease. I continually visited him, and saw from a
peculiarity in his breathing that his end was approaching. My object, how-
ever, is not to pen an obituary notice of my feathered friend, but to state that
he suffered from another disease—hydrophobia, the dread of water. Nothing
could induce him to enter the water: if compelled to take the water, he
would struggle out of it without loss of time, and thus regain terra firma
with the least possible delay. A smaller penguin—I believe Eudyptes
demersus—is also dead; but this individual had no horror of water, as was
evinced by his keen pursuit of gudgeon and dace in his stone basin.—
Edward Newman.

Iceland Gull at Aldeburgh.—An immature specimen of the Iceland gull
was shot at Aldeburgh, Suffolk, on the 15th of January, 1876.—F. Kerry ;
Harwich.

Proceedings of Scientific Societies,

ZooLoaicaL Society or Lonpon.

January 18, 1876,—Rosert Hupson, Esq., F.R.S., Vice-President, in
the chair.

Prof. A. H. Garrod read a paper on a peculiarity in the carotid artery
and on other points in the anatomy of the ground hornbill.

Mr. E. R. Alston read a paper on the classification of the order Glires.
Lilljeborg’s suborders Glires simplicidentati and duplicidentati were recog--
nised, the former being divided into sections equivalent to Brandt's sub-
orders Sciuromorphi, Myomorphi and Hystricomorphi. A third suborder
was proposed for the reception of the fossil form Typotherium.

A communication was read from Mr. HK. A. Liardet, containing notes on
the land shells of Taviuni, one of the Fiji Islands, with descriptions of
several new species.

TxHE ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876. 4849

Mr. E. A. Schafer read a paper prepared by himself and Mr. D. J.
Williams, on the structure of the mucous membrane of the stomach in the
kangaroos, in which he gave a minute description of the histological cha-
racters of the different portions of this organ.

A communication was read from Mr. W. H. Hudson, containing notes
on the habits of fhe rails of the Argentine Republic.

The Hon. W. H. Drummond read a paper on African rhinoceroses, in
which he gave reasons for believing in the existence of five species in Africa,
including R. Oswelli, which, however, might. probably be merely a variety
of R. simus.

[The following abstract of Mr. Drummond's paper on the species of African
rhinoceroses appeared in the ‘ Field’ of January 22 :—

« At the last meeting of the Zoological Society, held on the 18th inst.,
amongst various papers read was an interesting communication from the
Hon. W. H. Drummond on the subject of African rhinoceroses, in which
the author expressed his views on the much-vexed question as to the
number of species which inhabit the African continent, and detailed his
personal experience of the species which he had himself met with. It has
generally been supposed that two species only existed in this part of the
world—Rhinoceros simus and R. bicornis; but the published observations
of sportsmen and travellers within recent times certainly point to the
existence of a third, the so-called R. keitloa. Mr. Drummond has good
reasons for believing that there are at least four, if not five, species, which
have been more or less hitherto confounded. The species he would dis-
criminate as follows :—

“1. R. simus, an animal measuring somewhat over 12 ft. in length, and
about 5 ft. 10 in. in height, having a square nose and large rounded horns,
the anterior of which averages about 2 ft. 6in. in length, though not un-
commonly found measuring 38 ft. 6in., or even over 4 ft.; the posterior rarely
or never exceeding 15 in., and generally speaking not being more than 12 in.
It inhabits all the country south of the Zambezi, and there is some reason
to believe in its existence in Central Africa. It feeds solely on grass and
small herds are sometimes seen together.

“2. R. bicornis major, a much smaller animal, about 11 ft. in length, and
5 ft. in height, with an elongated head, and prehensile upper lip ; the horns
being thicker in proportion to length than those of R. simus. The anterior
averages 20 in. or 22 in. in length, and never attains to more than 20 in. or
28 in.; while the posterior averages 10 in. or 12 in. It is found in all the
country south of the Zambezi; inhabits thorn thickets chiefly (in which
R. simus is never found); but occasionally occurs in other jungle or open.
It feeds chiefly on thorn leaves and branches, though also eating grass, and
is gregarious, five or six being sometimes found together.

“3. R. keitloa, whose measurements differ but little from those of R.

4850 THE ZooLocist—M arcu, 1876.

bicornis major, excepting in the formation of the head, which is somewhat
shorter and broader, with a less prehensile lip. ~ Its chief characteristic is
the posterior horn, which is flattened at the sides, being of almost equal
length to the anterior, and even being occasionally the longest, 20 in. and
22 in. being above the average. They exist sparsely in all the country south
of the Zambezi, being very rare, and not gregarious, though a bull and cow
are generally seen together.

‘“‘4. R. bicornis minor, the smallest of all, being seldom over 10 ft. in
length, or more than 4 ft. 7 in. in height. The head is the most elongated,
and the nose the most prehensile, of all the species, while the legs are shorter
in proportion, and the foot smaller. The anterior horns rarely exceed 12 in.,
and the posterior 7 in. or 8in. They are only, within Mr. Drummond’s
personal knowledge, found between Zululand and the Limpopo river, though
he mentions one instauce of two having been killed further north, not far
from the Zambezi. They are not gregarious, two full-grown ones, and a
calf being the most ever seen together, and they live solely on thorns,
leaves and shoots, being rarely, if ever, found out of thorn jungle.

5. J. Oswellii, which in no way differs from R. simus, except in the fact
of the front horn pointing forward, or in some cases even downwards, and
which Mr. Drummond does not consider to be a distinct species, but merely
an accidental and local variety.

“Whether Mr. Drummond's views will prove to be correct or to require
modification, the value of his testimony on the subject must be admitted.
It is impossible for scientific naturalists at home to determine the question
of species by a mere examination of horns in a museum, ignoring, or at
least undervaluing, the observations of those who have seen and studied
the wild animals in their native haunts. A solution of the difficulty can
only be arrived at by a careful consideration’ of the anatomical differences
revealed by diagnoses of the skulls of each of the so-called species (and
several specimens of each), and the variations of haunt, habit, food, and
other peculiarities, as detailed from actual observation of the wild animals.
The real desideratum at the present time is a collection, or series, of
skulls, accompanied in each case with particulars of the animal to which it
belonged, when and where killed, colour, and external measurements of
the whole animal, and estimated age in the opinion of the captors. Any
sportsman or traveller who may have the means, or the opportunity, for
bringing such a series to London for the use of the Zoological Society—and
we believe Mr. Drummond has already expressed an intention of so
doing—will by this means render a most important service to zoological
science.” }

A communication was read from Mr. E. Pierson Ramsay, containing a
continuation of his remarks on the birds met with in North-Eastern
Queensland, chiefly at Rockingham Bay.

THE ZooLocist—Marcn, 1876. 4851

A communication was read from M. L. Taczanowski, containing the
description of a spotted deer found in Southern Ussuri—district of Amoor-
land, for which he proposed the name Cervus Bybowskii.

Mr. A. G. Butler communicated a revision of the Lepidopterous genus
Teracolus, with descriptions of the new species.

February 1, 1876.—G. R. WarteErHousE, Esq., Vice-President, in the
chair.

The Secretary read some extracts from a report of a recent visit made
by H.M,S. ‘ Petrel’ to the Galapagos Islands, communicated by the First
Lord of the Admiralty, and referring to the tortoises met with in the different
islands of the group.

Mr. Sclater exhibited and made remarks on an antler of a Rusa deer,
living in the Gardens of the Acclimatisation Society of Melbourne which
had been sent to him for identification.

Mr. Frederick Selous, jun., exhibited and made remarks on a series of
horns of African rhinoceroses procured by himself in South Eastern Africa.

Prof. Huxley, read a paper on the position of the anterior nasal aperture
in Lepidosiren, which he showed to be strictly homologous with the posi-
tion of these organs in other Vertebrates.

Mr. A. H. Garrod read a paper on the anatomy of Chauna Derbiana, and
on the systematic position of the screamers (Palamedeid@), in which he con-
troverted Prof. Parker's collocation of this form with the Anseres, and
showed that it should occupy an independent position with relations to the
Struthiones, Galline and Rallide.

A communication was read from Mr. F. Jeffrey Bell, containing notes on
the myology of the limbs of Moschus moschiferus.

A communication was read from Dr. T. Spencer Cobbold on Entozoa,
forming the third of a series of papers on this subject brought by him before
the Society.

Mr. Herbert Druce read a list of butterflies collected in Peru, with
descriptions of new species. To these were added some notes on some of
the species by Mr. Edward Bartlett.

Mr. A. G. Butler read some notes on a small collection of butterflies
received from New the Hebrides.

A paper by Mr. P. L. Sclater and Mr. O. Salvin was read, in which they
gave descriptions of some new birds obtained by Mr. C. Buckley in Bolivia.

February 15, 1876.—Prof; Mrvarr, F.R.S., in the chair.

The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to the
Society’s Menagerie during the month of January, 1876, and called par-
ticular attention to a Le Vaillant’s Cynictis (Cynictis penicillata) presented
by Viscount Mandeville ; a white spotted crake (Porzana notata), captured

4852 Tue ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876.

at sea off Cape Santa Maria, Uruguay, and received January 19th; anda
panda (Ailurus fulgens), purchased.

Mr. Sclater exhibited the parrot called, in Tschudi’s ‘ Fauna Peruviana,’
Conurus Illigeri, and observed that it had been certainly wrongly deter-
mined. Mr. Sclater was of opinion that the bird belonged to a species
hitherto unrecognised, and proposed to call it Ara Couloni, after M. Coulon,
of Neuchatel, who had sent the specimen for exhibition.

Dr. Cobbold exhibited and made remarks on a parasite (Kchinorhynchus),
obtained from the Tamandua anteater, which had died in the Society’s
Menagerie.

Mr. W. K. Parker read the second portion of his memoir on Adgithog-
nathous birds.

A communication was read from the Rev. O. P. Cambridge, in which he
described a new order and some new genera and species of Arachnida from
Kerguelen Island, from specimens collected by Mr. T. Eaton during the
Transit of Venus Expedition.

Mr. G. French Angas communicated descriptions of four new species of
land shells from Australia and the Solomon Islands, which he severally pro-
posed to name Helix Noresbyi, Helix Ramsdeni, Helix Beatrix, and Helix
Rhoda. Mr. Angas also made some remarks on the nomenclature of Helix
Angasiana of Pfeiffer and Helix biteniata of Cox.

Mr. Sclater read some notes, by himself and Mr. Salvin, on some of the
blue crows of America, taken from specimens lately examined, and pointed
out certain changes which it would be necessary to make in the nomen-
_clature of the group adopted in their ‘ Nomenclator Avium Notropicalium.’
—P. L. Sclater, Secretary.

—

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Messrs. WoopwarD.—The birds arrived safely. Mr. Gurney has kindly
affixed a label and name to each as under :—

The large yellow-bellied shrike Laniarius icterus.

The small yellowbellied shrike ys quadricolor.

The reddish-breasted shrike . ns rubiginosus.

The broad-beaked flycatcher . Platyrhynchus capensis, female or young.

The bird with yellow margin ee nigra, young male in

to the wing- and tail-feathers change.

Mr. Gurney adds :—‘“‘ The five species are all given in Layard’s first -
edition, but his description of Laniarius icterus is incorrect, the specimen
he described having in reality belonged to another species, which he after-
wards explained in the ‘Ibis.’ Your friends may like to know this.”—
7 as Re

THE ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876. 4853

Mr. Saville Kent's Lecture, at the Society of Arts, on “ The
Aquarium: Construction and Management.”

In my review of Mr. Lloyd’s ‘ Official Handbook to the Crystal
Palace Aquarium’ (S. 8. 3661, 3701, 3741), I think I have incor-
porated and—by the accident of a heliacal rising—forestalled all the
information to be derived from Mr. Kent’s lecture just delivered at
the Society of Arts—always carefully excepting his notes on white-
bait, herring and lobsters, which are valuable, and in great measure
new. Mr. Kent represents his success as complete in proving
whitebait to be the young of the herring, a fact previously asserted
by Dr. Giinther, from an examination and comparison of the struc-
ture of these two supposed distinct species of fish: he also states
that he reared a “remarkably large shoal” of that invaluable crus-
tacean, the lobster, hatched out from a fine hen in the summer of
1874—1two achievements of the highest scientific interest as well
as commercial importance, of which more hereafter.

The lecture,—a copy of which I have received from Mr. Kent,—
by contrasting two systems of management, as Mr. Kent has
done, conveys an erroneous impression, which I must attempt to
remove: he speaks of one in action at Brighton as the “ aérating
system,” and one in action at the Crystal Palace as the “cir-
culating system.” The facts of the case may be stated thus:—
At Brighton the so-called “aération” is effected “by passing
through the tanks a stream of atmospheric air discharged through
pipes into the bottom of the water,” and rising in large bubbles
to the surface. The Crystal Palace Aquarium “effects the
- oxygenation of the water by its actual circulation from place
to place, thus presenting fresh oxygen-absorbing surfaces to the
atmosphere.” Now the fact is that the Crystal Palace Aquarium
and all similar ones are not constructed on the circulating
system only, but on the aérating system also, the Crystal Palace
Aquarium possessing an infinitely more complete and efficient
mode of aération than the Brighton. The term “ oxygenation”
is in perpetual use by the managers of aquariums and the writers
thereanent, without their appearing to make much attempt to
explain or even to understand its meaning.

In the Crystal Palace, where every tank is exposed to view, we

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. R

4854 THE ZooLoGist—APRIL, 1876.

all see the water introduced by the two methods: jirst, by that
simple and well-understood law of gravitation by which water
always seeks and finds its level: by this simple power it flows
from tank to tank until it reaches the lowest, when it plunges into
the dark reservoir underground, thence to be pumped up again
into the highest by steam power, to recommence its descent. This
is essentially the “ circulating system,” the water being constantly
in motion,—in fact, being a sea-water stream, always running in a
ring,—and, were it not for the apparent contradiction in terms,
I should say always fresh and health-imparting.

The second method is also achieved by the power of steam, which
drives a second and a smaller stream of water into each tank with
such force that it carries atmospheric air with it to the depth of two
feet, more or less, below the surface of the water already in the
tank ; by this process the air becomes divided into minute bubbles
—infinitesimally minute they certainly are. These bubbles, after
descending as low as the force exerted can possibly impel them,
quietly reverse the direction of their course, and ascend in the
most deliberate manner to the surface, thus presenting a spectacle
exactly similar to that produced by throwing silver sand into water,
but the air moving in an opposite direction to the sand—upwards
instead of downwards—a beautiful and interesting spectacle is pre-
sented—one which often takes the spectator by surprise as being
contrary to the laws of gravity for the supposed sand to rise
towards the surface of water. Were not this second process super-
added to the circulating process, the two systems might be fairly
contrasted, but when either of the aquariums possesses the merits
and advantages of both, surely all comparison and contrast is out
of the question: when you desire to test the respective merits of
two horses you do not harness them abreast: the Crystal Palace
does this because it does not aim at competition, and therefore
superiority is inevitable. Were not this process superadded to the
circulating process the two systems of management might be fairly
contrasted ; but as the matter stands the Crystal Palace has all the
advantages of the circulating system combined with the most per-
fect aération that has yet been devised: it would therefore be more
exact to say that Brighton makes use of but one system while the
Crystal Palace avails itself of both.

Having set this matter in its proper light, I proceed to quote,
in evtlenso, Mr. Kent’s remarks on the culture of whitebait,

THE ZooLoGist—APRIL, 1876. 4855

which it is impossible to read without feelings of the deepest
interest.

“ Referring to Mr. Lee’s report upon the salmon, the ‘Field’
newspaper has indicated the desirability of gaining a similar
intimate knowledge of the life-history of the ‘whitebait.’ The
furthest step, I believe, in this direction, but towards which there
are yet some few links wanting, lave been achieved by myself at
the Manchester Aquarium, the only institution of the kind where
this fish, as whitebait, has up to the present time been permanently
established. As is already generally recognised, this whitebait is not,
sui generis, a distinct species of fish, as formerly described, but, as
proved by Dr. Albert Giinther, of the British Museum, the young
or fry of the herring (Clupea harengus), which, in this young or
‘whitebait’ stage, visits the estuaries and shallow waters generally
around our coasts. During the summer and autumn of the year 1874
several hundreds of these little fish were imported to Manchester-
by me from Mr. J. S. Parry Evans’s salmon weirs at Colwyn Bay,
North Wales, a distance of some seventy miles. A number of these
are still in a flourishing condition, and have, during the eighteen
months or more of their captivity, grown, in the most favourable
instances, to fully half the size of a full-grown herring, with which
species there is now no gainsaying their identity. In the open sea,
where the supply of food is much more varied and abundant, and
the fish is not submitted to the artificial conditions inseparable
from an aquarium, it may be predicated that the growth is even
more rapid, and that from two to three years is at the outside the
total length of time required for the development of a newly-
hatched whitebait into an adult herring. In the ‘ Handbook to the
Crystal Palace Aquarium’ it is stated that these fish (herrings) have
not been kept at all at that institution, and that the failure cannot
be accounted for by reference to any known cause, as also that it
has not been shown yet that the species can be maintained for any
but comparatively short periods in any aquarium yet devised.
This last statement should certainly have been altered or excised
in the present edition, herrings having been among the most inte-
resting fish permanently on exhibition at the Brighton Aquarium
for many years past, while at Manchester they have, in their
younger stage, thriven equally. The causes operating against the
maintenance of these fish at the Crystal Palace, again, are surely
not so occult as to justify Mr. Lloyd in altogether despairing of

4856 THE ZooLoGist—APRIL, 1876.

adding them to his menage. London is not situated so far from a
prolific whitebait ground as is Manchester, and it would appear
that Mr. Frank Buckland has already succeeded in bringing speci-
mens up the Thames to the metropolis alive, although these died
soon after, for the want of a tank suitable for their reception. The
precautions requisite for preserving whitebait in health certainly
exceed those that need be taken in association with many of the
more ordinary varieties, the food question at Manchester proving
in the first instance especially vexatious. Herrings, whether old
or young, are partial to living food, feeding chiefly, in the latter
instance, on Entomostraca and the larval conditions of the higher
Crustacea. Such pabulum being difficult to obtain so far inland,
a variety of substitutes were offered by way of experiment, but for
a long time none successfully. Ultimately an irresistible bonne-
bouche suggested itself, in the form of the hard part or adductor
muscle of the common mussel. This substance minced fine, being
clean, hard and white, with probably a somewhat crustacean flavour,
was devoured with avidity by the little fish, and has constituted the
chief staple of their existence ever since. In the course of a few
weeks these whitebait became so accustomed to confinement as to
readily take their prepared food from the keeper’s hand—a cireum-
stance which would seem to indicate that young fish, like the young
of other animals, are more readily susceptible of domestication,
adult herrings not being known to display an equal amount of con-
fidence towards those who tend them. The food question being
settled, another difficulty presented itself, and this time one that
threatened, sooner or later, to accomplish the extermination of the
whole shoal. Immediately succeeding their advent, a large number
of these little fish were found dead each morning at the bottom of
their tank—a circumstance which at first seemed inexplicable in
association with their quiet behaviour throughout the day. A night
inspection, however, happily revealed the cause of their rapid
destruction. It was then seen that the nocturnal movements of the
herring, at least in confinement, are altogether distinct from what
obtain in daylight. In the latter instance these movements are
very quiet and uniform, the fish swimming round their tank in one
shoal and one continuous stream. At night, on the contrary, the
shoal is entirely broken up, each fish taking an independent path
and darting from one side of the tank to the other with an amount of
agility scarcely to be anticipated by a mere daylight acquaintance

THE ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876. 4857

with the species. It was during these active nocturnal movements
that the fish struck against the rockwork of their tank and came to
an untimely end: this mortality, however, was soon arrested by
placing a dim light over their tank, which illuminated the outline
of the rockwork just sufficiently to enable them to recognise and
avoid it. With this dim light the fish still retained their active
habits, and it was noticeable that during these night hours they
were more than ordinarily alert for food, dashing vigorously at any
entomostracan or other minute organism that passed through the
water. This circumstance would seem to explain why ‘ drift-net’
fishing for herrings can only be carried on successfully at night,
that being the time when the fish rise to the surface of the water,
to feed on the innumerable organisms that there abound. They
are, in fact, so ardent at such times in pursuit of their food that
they needlessly strike into the meshes of the net and get caught,
just as the individuals under artificial conditions dash against the
rockwork of their tank, if sufficient light is not provided them for
its avoidance. This plan of dimly illuminating the whitebait tank
was practised with equal benefit in association with other species
that exhibited a tendency to injure themselves during the dark hours
of the night, such species again being usually free rangers of the
sea. The picked dogfish (Acanthias vulgaris) was one of these,
and a variety so given to rendering itself an unsightly object by
knocking its head against the boundaries of its tank, till it lays
the cartilage of its snout quite bare, that it is frequently refused
admittance in aquaria- Observations made at the Manchester
Aquarium, however, revealed that this self-mutilation was invariably
effected during the night, and a small light enabling the fish to see
and avoid the rocks was found an effectual preventive remedy.”

But this is not the only success to which Mr. Kent lays claim:
another is the artificial cultivation of the lobster; this, how-
ever, does not appear so entirely complete. I hope, not only for
Mr. Kent’s credit, but from its importance as a commercial enter-
prise, this second success may rival the first: here it is :—

“A remaining subject that occupied my attention at the Man-
chester Aquarium related to the artificial cultivation of the lobster.
A remarkably large shoal of this crustacean was hatched out from
from a fine hen in the summer of 1874, and a number of these were
isolated in small glass vessels, and reared successfully through their
numerous singular metamorphoses, until, at the end of two months,

4858 Tue ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876.

the perfect form, though small, of the adult animal was attained.
At this stage, unfortunately, a fishing excursion obliged the
abandonment of their personal charge for a few weeks, and during
that interim the little animals died. Such, however, was the
measure of success up to this point, that I feel convinced that,
with intelligent superintendence and adequate appliances, the
artificial culture of the lobster might, if systematically pursued,
become a very highly remunerative commercial enterprise. This
subject will also be prosecuted, and it is to be hoped to a still
more successful issue, at the aquarium now constructing at Great
Yarmouth.”
Epwarp NEWMAN.

Notes from Castle Eden. By Mr. JoHN ScLATER.
(Continued from Zool. S. S. 4780.)

JANUARY, 1876.

Great Blackbacked Gull and Missel Thrush—On the 4th
I went to the sea-shore and saw nothing but a few great black-
backed and common gulls. In coming home up the Dene my
attention was drawn, by the harsh notes of some missel thrushes
overhead, to a great blackbacked gull—mobbed by seven missel
thrushes—flying inland up the Dene: one of them kept swooping
so near at the gull as to leave me in doubt whether it did not
actually strike it. The gull kept sailing on in a straight line,
apparently taking little uotice of its assailants. After keeping
up the attack for about a quarter of a mile, six of the thrushes
wheeled back to some lofty trees, leaving one to continue the
chase some distance farther: this was no doubt the old cock, as
they were most likely one family. In the autumn and winter
I often find them moving about in small flocks of from twelve to
fifteen. I have only once met with a larger fock: I saw twenty-
seven on the 7th of October last, and thought they had probably
assembled preparatory to leaving us; I saw them, however, several
limes up to the first week in December in the same locality, but
not since. I am quite certain that the missel thrush is much more
common in this neighbourhood than it was a few years ago.

Roughlegged Buzzard.—On the 10th a female of this species
was brought to me, which had been seen about the Dene for

THE ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876. 4859

nearly six weeks, and though hunted all that time had eluded all
attempts to shoot her: at last she was trapped, the trap being
baited with a rabbit. One of the keepers declared that he got
several partridges one day in consequence of her flying about
overhead. The dimensions of this specimen are as follows :—
Length, twenty-two inches and a half; expanse of wings when full
spread, four feet seven inches and a half; from the carpal joint to
the end of the fourth feather (the longest in the wing), seventeen
inches; tail, nine inches and a quarter; the wings when closed
reach a little beyond the tail. As to the plumage, which is
altogether very dirty, I have carefully read what Professor Newton
says, in his edition of Yarrell, and have come to the conclusion
that it is a bird of the second year: the general markings are more
like his description of the adult than the young bird; but the iris
in this specimen is straw-coloured, thickly sprinkled with minute
gray spots; the ear-coverts are nearly uniform grayish white; there
is scarcely any trace of fawn on any part except the tibie and
tarsi; the long feathers of the former are, in front, streaked down
the shaft, aud have two diamond-shaped brown spots; the re-
mainder are irregularly barred with brown; the tarsi is marked
with oblong brown spots; there is a new feather in the tail not
quite grown—about half an inch short—in which the broad distal
bar has an irregular fawn-coloured spot in each web, passing out-
wards into grayish brown, almost making another bar; this feather
is deeply tinged with fawn and tipped with the same: the upper
tail-coverts have two brown bars, except the two centre feathers,
which have only a large spot of brown near the tip. The stomach
of this bird contained the remains of a rat.

Scarcity of Birds——On the 24th I went to the sea-shore and
stayed about an hour without seeing a bird of any kind. I went
again to the sea on the 25th, and walked seven miles along the
beach, and only saw a few herring gulls, a small flock of ring
plovers, and a young glaucous gull. I have never known so few
birds about as at present: the fineness of the weather may have
something to do with it—it is just like spring here. I heard the
song of the missel thrush in different parts of the Dene on the
27th.

FEBRUARY.

Spring Birds.—Chaflinch singing on the Ist. A good many song

thrushes had returned by the 4th. Great tit singing on the 9th.

4860 Tue ZooLocist—ApriL, 1876.

Redwing.—On the 9th the snow brought the redwings back to
the lawn and Dene, and | observed that their chief feeding-ground
was under the yew trees; in turning over the dead leaves they
were very quarrelsome. I have not seen a fieldfare since the 24th
of January.

Greater Spotted Woodpecker.—-One seen on the 10th a little
north of the Dene. During a residence here of sixteen he
I have only twice before met with this species.

Kestrels and Royston Crows.— On the 18th I ob the
kestrels were already returning to their nesting quarters. I stood
and watched for a long time two males and a female wheeling
about the edge of a high rock; they were at last joined by two
Royston crows, and it was really very pretty to see them swooping
at each other; the crows apparently wanted to settle on the trees
at the top of the rock, and the kestrels were determined they
should not. The Royston crow has far more power on the wing
than I had expected to see: they are very numerous here just
now: they find plenty to eat in the shape of wounded or dead
hares and rabbits, and an old horse quartered and hung up for the
dogs is much frequented by them, but unfortunately for them it is
too near the keeper’s gun, and not a few, I see, have feasted and
died there.

Ring Dove, §c.—On the 19th I heard the note of the ring dove.
On the 28rd the partridges were screeching in almost every field:
although there was a strong north-east wind and pelting rain, the
sheltered parts of the Dene were ringing with song.

Curlew, Stint and Ring Plover.—I walked from Hartlepool to
the Tees on the 24th, and did not see more than a dozen
gulls, and on the “slake” I saw a flock of about fifty curlews
and a large flock of what I thought were knots, but although
1 had a good glass I could not clearly make them out. There
were also two large flocks of stints and a few ring plovers, all
very wild; and no wonder, for I suppose, as there are so many
“gunners” go there, that the birds get no rest. One of these
“gentlemen” told me that he had never known a winter when
birds were so scarce.

JoHN SCLATER.
Castle Eden, Durham,

THE ZooLocist—ApRriL, 1876. 4861

A few Rough Notes from Beverley for the Close of the Year 1875.
By F. Boyes, Esq.

THE close of the year was not remarkable in an ornithological
point of view. East Yorkshire escaped the severe frosts and heavy
falls of snow that were pretty general throughout the rest of the
United Kingdom; indeed we had no snow worth mention, and the
frost was never keen enough to freeze fairly over the floods in the
carrs, nor was the ice at any time sufficient to bear on the shallow
waters left from the floods. This district shared the fate of many
others in the country: the river overflowed its banks, inundating
the low-lying carrs for miles; and, as usual on such occasions, we
were visited by large flocks of gulls, principally the common and
blackheaded species—a large proportion of them immature birds.
These carrs are annually visited by vast flocks of peewils, and they
were more numerous than ever this autumn. I think we had an
increase of golden plovers, too; also numbers of dunlins. The
latter birds, though very wild in the daytime, can be approached
as near as you please in the dusk of the evening: they are not worth
a charge of powder at any time, but their lively motions, as they
run along the edges and swim across the small pools of water, are
very interesting: they are very active little fellows. The gulls
could be seen arriving in straggling parties shortly after daybreak,
and in the evening rising in a great body, or two or three large
flocks, and going straight away, apparently towards the Humber.
Whilst the water lasted we had a nice lot of ducks, but it was
difficult to get near them ; they were all, or nearly all, the common
wild duck. Pochards, teal, &c., have been most unusually scarce,
so much so that I have not seen a teal all the winter, and I attri-
bute the scarcity of pochards, &c., on the river to the weather here
not being severe enough, as the river was in grand order for them,
not having a particle of ice on it.

Shorteared owls were unusually abundant, and our local bird-
stuffer, Mr, Richardson, was fully occupied for weeks in making
them into “screens,” &c. An eagle was seen near the village of
Easington for the greater part of the month of October, and a few
buzzards and a peregrine or two were also observed in the same
neighbourhood, but they made no stay.

Altogether there. appears to have been scarcely anything worth

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. S

4862 Tue ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876.

recording in this locality during the autumn and up to the close of
the year.

DECEMBER, 1875.

Snow Bunting.—1st. Sharp east wind. Though there were
no signs of winter at Beverley, we could see all the wolds were
whitened over with snow, and on my driving there I found there
had been a very sharp frost and a slight sprinkling of snow. I saw
a few snow buntings.

Shieldrake.~—8rd. An adult male shieldrake was shot at Etton,
a village about four miles west of Beverley, but whether an escaped
bird or not I could not tell: it bore no marks of having been in
confinement.

Stock Dove.—4th. Wind E.N.E. Began to snow fast early in
the morning and covered the ground over. Saw a quantity of
stock doves (Columba enas).

Peewit and Golden Plover.—5th. More snow; ground covered
to the depth of about two inches; hard frost. Peewits and golden
plovers passing over all day long, going directly southward. These
birds leave us after the first heavy fall of snow and hard frost,—that
means, as soon as they are no longer able to get food,—and very
seldom return in any numbers, be the weather ever so mild, until
the spring. Heard that a flock of swans, numbering twenty birds,
had been seen flying along the river, but could not ascertain the
date.

Larks.—6th. Wind still easterly and bitterly cold. Larks going
north—a most unusual circumstance and unprecedented in my
recollection: they were all flying the same way, flock after flock,
though the flocks were not very large. I cannot account for it,
unless they were birds that had been south, and found so much
more snow there than here, and were returning.

Merlin.—7th. Slight thaw. An adult female merlin shot at
Beverley to-day, also an adult male on the 8th, and a young male
on the 14th: they have been quite common this winter.

Green Sandpiper.—8th. Thaw. Green sandpiper, male, shot
at Beverley. I have several times previously known this bird to
be shot in the winter.

Blacktailed Godwit and Goosander.—9th. A general thaw;
nearly all the snow gone. An old female blacktailed godwit shot
by IE. Wheldrake on the foreshore of the Humber near Spurn.

Tue ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876. 4863

A very fine old male goosander shot on the river to-day; and on
the 13th another old male and a young male were both shot in the
neighbourhood of Burton Agnes, near Bridlington.

Rednecked Grebe.—10th. A rednecked grebe, female, shot on
the river. The stomach, as usual, was crammed with the feathers
off its own breast, mixed with part of the backbone ofa fish ana
a few pieces of vegetable substances.

Brambling.—24th. Saw a very large flock of bramblings con-
taining some hundreds of birds: there have been numbers feeding
beneath the beech trees lately.

Birds at Spurn and on the Humber.—27th. Weather extremely
mild. Took a run down to Spurn—a place I have been in the
habit of visiting for many years. There were numbers of snow
buntings, many of them fine old birds. Saw a merlin and a stone-
chat. Very few birds on the mudflats—a few small flocks of knots,
dunlins, curlews, &c.; but very few in comparison with what I have
generally seen. On the Humber there were hundreds of ducks,—
flocks that would almost cover an acre of ground,—and when they
rose it was like distant thunder; they seemed principally what are
called by the natives “black pokker” (scaups, &c.), though I saw
a number of wigeon, mallards, &c.; and at night, along with the
“whee-u” of the wigeon and “quack” of the wild duck, [ heard
once or twice the “creck” of the teal.

Wild-fowl in the Game Shops.—Where did all the wild-fowl
come from that were to be seen in game-shops last November and
December? Manchester, Birmingham, and all the large towns
were supplied with immense numbers of ducks, teal, woodcocks,
snipes, plovers, &c., and teal, I am told, were offered in Birmingham
at fourpence each. This district could have contributed only a
very small share of them. ‘There must have been great slaughter

somewhere.
F. Boyes.
Beverley, East Yorkshire.

Notes from West Sussex. By W. Jerrery, Esq.

NovEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1875.
Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus).—A bird of the year was killed
at Sidlesham on the 10th of November, and within a few days a
second specimen in the same locality: the former I saw in the

4864 THE ZooLocGist—APRriL, 1876.

flesh. The dotterel is rarely met with in this neighbourhood.
I have no knowledge of its occurrence since May, 1859, when
three were killed at Runcton, near Chichester, one of which is in
my collection.

Divers.—The blackthroated diver (Colymbus arcticus) has been
the most common of the three species along the coast this winter.
I examined one at Chichester, on the 17th of November, which had
a few black feathers only remaining on the throat. On the Ist of
December I obtained a specimen from Pagham Harbour, in nearly
perfect summer plumage, the upper part of the throat only having
a few white feathers intermixed, giving it a gray appearance, the
rest of the patch being of a pure glossy purplish black; the upper
part of the head and back of neck a clear gray. The same day
I saw two others, neither of which had any trace of the black
throat; one of them was a very small specimen,—probably a bird
of the year, perhaps a late-bred one,—measuring an inch less than
two feet from tip of beak to tip of tail; bill, along ridge, one inch
and three-quarters; carpus to tip, ten inches and a half: I examined
this bird in the flesh, Several others occurred about the same
time, some having a few of the black feathers, others none. In
1860 the redthroated diver (C. septentrionalis) was very numerous:
I remember seeing seven or eight hanging in a bunch one day in
Chichester Market, and for some years after this was the most
common of the three species. Since then the great northern
(C. glacialis) has predominated, the redthroated only occurring
sparingly ; and now, this winter, as before observed,—and as I see,
by notes, from other parts,—the blackthroated has been of frequent
occurrence, though generally said to be the most rare. On the 6th
of December, 1864, I obtained a great northern in equally perfect
summer plumage ; and I see Mr. Gatcombe writes (Zool. 8. S. 4783),
“TY have known this state of plumage as late as the middle of
December.”

Smew (Mergus albellus)—December 5th. A smew, with red
head, was killed at Bosham; and on the 10th I shot a female
at Ratham. Two others—one an adult male—were killed
about the same time in the neighbourhood. The stomach of
my specimen contained freshwater shrimps, boat-flies and other
insects.

Spotted Redshank (Totanus fuscus).—Saw one, in the flesh, on
the Ist of December, killed at Pagham Harbour,

THE ZooLoGIstT—APRIL, 1876. 4865

Shorteared Owl (Otus brachyotus).—Very numerous in Novem-
ber and December, great numbers finding their way to the bird-
stuffers, being in demand for making into fire-screens.

Fieldjares and Redwings.—Fieldfares and redwings have been
unusually scarce this winter.

W. JEFFERY.
Ratham, Chichester, February 21, 1876.

Hereditary Hippopotamus Hunters of the Loangwa.

Ir is so seldom that we find much in the journals of African
explorers, except the wearisome record of bargaining for cloth and
beads with avaricious and treacherous tribes, that I thought the
following description of hippopotamus hunting, the hereditary
occupation of a tribe in Central Africa, might be acceptable to
the readers of the ‘ Zoologist.’ It is from the pen of the late
Dr. Livingstone,* and seems to depict the native African as some-
what higher in the manly characteristics of a savage life than we
have been accustomed to regard him. It appears to have been
written at Unyanyembé on the 7th July, 1872; but the doctor
crossed the Loangwa, a northern tributary of the Zambesi, on the
15th December, 1866, in about lat. 12° 45’ S., long. 32° 10’ E.,
when and where, apparently, the hunters were met with. It is to
be regretted that we have such meagre accounts of the domestic
character of the members of this tribe, the men of which display
great courage in their daily pursuits; whose bodies are finely
proportioned and whose muscles are thoroughly developed—two
characters which are probably largely dependent on the forced
exercise to both lungs and muscles, in their frequent under-water
swimming, necessitated by the destruction of their canoes and by
the revengeful anger of their prey. It is notable that the members
of the tribe bear entirely good characters amongst their neighbours,
and that the women are tillers of the soil—_F. W. F.

“At the Loangwa of Zumbo we came to a party of hereditary
hippopotamus hunters, called Makombwé or Akombwé. They
follow no other occupation, but when their game is getting scanty
at one spot they remove to some other part of the Loangwa,
Zambesi, or Shiré, and build temporary huts on an island, where
their women cultivate patches: the flesh of the animals they kill is

* «The Last Journals of David Livingstone.’ 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1874. See
yol. ip. 159, and vol. ii., p. 206.

‘

4866 Tue ZooLoctst—APRIL, 1876.

eagerly exchanged by the more settled people for grain. They are
not stingy, and are everywhere welcome guests. I never heard of
any fraud in dealing, or that they had been guilty of an outrage
on the poorest: their chief characteristic is their courage. Their
hunting is the bravest thing I ever saw. Each canoe is manned by
two men; they are long light craft, scarcely half an inch in thick-
ness, about eighteen inches beam, and from eighteen to twenty feet
long. They are formed for speed, and shaped somewhat like our
racing-boats. Each man uses a broad short paddle, and as they
guide the canoe slowly down stream to a sleeping hippopotamus

not a single ripple is raised on the smooth water; they look as if _

holding in their breath, and communicate by signs only. As they
come near the prey the harpooner in the bow lays down his paddle
and rises slowly up, and there he stands erect, motionless, and
eager, with the long-handled weapon poised at arm’s length above
his head, till coming close to the beast he plunges it with all his
might in towards the heart. During this exciting feat he has to
keep his balance exactly. His neighbour in the stern at once
backs his paddle, the harpooner sits down, seizes his paddle, and
backs too to escape: the animal surprised and wounded seldom
returns the attack at this stage of the hunt. The next stage, how-
ever, is full of danger.

“The barbed blade of the Puen is secured by a long and
very strong rope wound round the handle: it is intended to come
out of its socket, and while the iron head is firmly fixed in the
animal’s body the rope unwinds and the handle floats on the
surface. The hunter next goes to the handle and hauls on the
rope till he knows that he is right over the beast: when he feels
the line suddenly slacken he is prepared to deliver another harpoon
the instant the hippo’s enormous jaws appear with a terrible grunt
above the water. The backing by the paddles is again repeated,
but hippo often assaults the canoe, crunches it with his great jaws
as easily as a pig would a bunch of asparagus, or shivers it with a
kick by his hind foot. Deprived of their canoe, the gallant com-
rades instantly dive and swim to the shore under the water: they
say that the infuriated beast looks for them on the surface, and
being below they escape his sight. When caught by many har-
poons the crews of several canoes seize the handles and drag
him hither and thither, till, weakened by loss of blood, he
succumbs.

es

THE ZooLocist—Apnrit, 1876. 4867

“This hunting requires the greatest skill, courage and nerve
that can be conceived—double-armed and threefold brass, or what-
ever the ‘ Mineid’ says. The Makombwé are certainly a magnificent
race of men, hardy and active in their habits, and well fed, as the
result of their brave exploits; every muscle is well developed, and
though not so tall as some tribes, their figures are compact and
finely proportioned: being a family occupation it has no doubt
helped in the production of fine physical development. Though
all the people among whom they sojourn would like the profits
they secure by the flesh and curved tusks, and no game is preserved,
I have met with no competitors to them except the Wayeiye of
Lake Ngami and adjacent rivers.

“Ihave seen our dragoon officers perform fencing and managing
their horses so dexterously that every muscle seemed trained to its
fullest power and efficiency, and perhaps had they been brought
up as Makombwé they might have equalled their daring and
consummate skill; but we have no sport, except perhaps Indian
liger shooting, requiring the courage and coolness this enterprise
demands. The danger may be appreciated if one remembers that
no sooner is blood shed in the water than all the crocodiles below
are immediately drawn up stream by the scent, and are ready to
act the part of thieves in a London crowd, or worse.”

Measurements of a Wild Cat—I have lately had an opportunity of
measuring a rather small and young female wild cat,—one of a couple
I received from Scotland in January,—having died from the injury to its
paw from the steel trap in which it was caught. The other is alive and
rapidly recovering from its trapping, and will I hope do well. The
measurements of the specimen which died are :—

Feet. Inches.

Extreme length 3 5 c - ; 2 10
Length of head A - : : ‘ 4}
tail ~. 5 : : : - 1 3
5 body and neck : = 5 2 1 5
Breadth of head é ; : ¢ é 3
Length of ear 5 5 : ‘ 2
Breadth of ear . ° : : : 13
Round chest, immediately behind fore legs . 5 113
Upper canine from the gum ., : : ‘ 3
Fore leg, toe to elbow : ¢ “i 8

Hind foot, toe to hock
Longest mystachial bristle 5 A
Weight (twenty-four hours after death) . 5 ths. 7 oz.

4868 THE ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876.

The weight and chest-measurement must, of course, only be taken for what
they are worth, the cat being (I need hardly say) in poor condition. The
greatest proportionate discrepancies between these measurements and those
given by Captain Hadfield (S. S. 4793) seem to be! in—the breadth of the
head, which I think the difference of sex sufficiently accounts for; the
length of the mystachial bristles, from the same cause, and also perhaps
age; and the width of the ears. Captain Hadfield makes a trifling error
(no doubt from taking his description from a stuffed specimen), in calling a
wild cat’s nose black. In all the individuals I have seen alive the nose has
been flesh-coloured ; and this is the case with, I think, every species of the
Felide represented in the Zoological Gardens, except the lions and the
black variety of leopard. While looking at the cats’ noses in the “ Zoo”
the other day I noticed that the only two species of the family whose noses
differ in shape from the regulation flat type are the lions—who have round
noses—and the exceptionally pretty little animal, the eyra, who has a
prominent button-like nose. I compared this young female wild cat’s skull
with those of some tame cats, and found that it exceeded in length that of
a fine adult domestic tom by about one-sixteenth of an inch. Being no
anatomist, I will only mention three points which especially struck me: the
brain-cavity of the wild cat is somewhat larger than that of its domestic
relative; the under jaw is much more massive; and, when set up on end,
the lower jaw of the wild cat stands almost true on coronoid process, condyle,
and the angle, leaning over towards the upper side. In the tame cats
these bones balance on angle and condyle, the coronoid process not touching
the ground, and they incline over towards the lower side. My old pair of
wild cats bred last year, three kittens being born on the 13th of June; two
(females) were either born dead or died almost immediately; the third (a
male) died in the night of August 31st, from distemper. His mother’s milk
failed, and we were obliged to put him under a tame cat as wet nurse. The
gestation was nearly sixty-eight days, or twelve days longer than the ordinary
gestation of a tame cat. My old tom cat weighs eleven pounds and three-
quarters.—A. H. Cocks; 42, Great Cumberland Place, Hyde Park, W.,
March 14, 1876.

Correction of an Error.—As I cannot boast of having kept my tame
buzzard for upwards of twenty-three years, may I correct the “1853” in
the fourth line of my letter (S. S. 4829), which is a misprint for 1873.—
2. Rpg By 68

Wild Cats.—I have read with interest the notes on the wild cat which
have recently been published in the ‘ Zoologist.’ Gamekeepers and others
have often told me that the domestic cat (Helis domesticus) will, if allowed
to run wild, breed with the wild cat (Felis Catus); but I have never been
able to get an authentic specimen of the cross, and do not know any
person who has seen one. Perhaps some of the readers of the ‘ Zoologist’

Tue ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876. 4869

can give information on the subject, or a description of the hybrid, if such
exists.— James Lumsden, jun.; Arden House, Alexandria, N. B., March 9,
1876.

African Birds.x—With reference to the list of Natal birds in your notice
to correspondents in the ‘ Zoologist’ for March (S. 8. 4852), it may be
desirable to add that the specimen of Laniarius quadricolor is immature:
T had intended s0 to label it, but may perhaps have omitted it. Also for
Campophaga read Campephaga—J. H. Gurney; Northrepps, Norwich,
March 1, 1876.

Birds near Rainworth—Green plovers have already come to their
breeding haunts, and may be seen chasing one another over the fallow
fields. Partridges have not all paired yet: this has been the worst season
in Nottinghamshire for the last twenty years. Common wild ducks have
been paired for the last fortnight. Already a pair of wagtails are about the
thatch-stacks in my yard, where they build every year, looking for a place for
their nest. We have had a great number of fieldfares and redwings—more
than I ever remember—all over the county this winter, and I hear it is
the same in Leicestershire: they come to roost in a fir cover near me by
hundreds.—J. Whitaker ; Rainworth Lodge, near Mansfield, Feb. 22, 1876.

Birds Pied about the Head.—One of your correspondents asks if it is not
the experience of others that pied blackbirds are oftener pied about the
head than any other part of the body. It certainly is mine, and it has

‘struck me more or less that the same applies to the ring ouzel and several
other birds, though I have no idea what the reason can be.—J. H. Gurney,
jun.; Northrepps Hall, Norwich.

Monstrosities.—I do not remember exactly where to refer to the passage,
but a short time ago Mr. Gatcombe recorded an extraordinary monstrosity
of a rock pipit, which he met with upon some rocks at Plymouth, and
which, if I remember right, had certain supernumerary limbs over and above
what are usually given to birds. I have now before me a somewhat similar
monstrosity of a robin. It possesses three legs, and a most ghastly little
object it is. The hind leg, which is the extra member, comes out of the
abdomen: it is as long as the others, but dreadfully misshapen. For some
years we had in our yard a tame drake with four legs; the hind pair hung
down and were not made any use of; but I do not think it so remarkable
in a tame bird. I once had a duckling which also possessed some super-
numerary legs. It would be easy for me to cite several other instances
from respectable works; but, for the most part, they only refer to domesti-
cated birds, about which I apprehend the readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ are less
interested than about wild ones. I will, however, cite one; Mr. Morton, in
his ‘Natural History of Northamptonshire,’ tells his readers of ‘‘a mon-
strous young quail found dead in the nest at Middleton Cheyney field, in

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. ; ve

4870 Tue ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876.

August, 1704, by Mr. Wodhall, of Thengford. In the head, body, and
wings, it differs not considerably from others of the kind just disclosed of
the shell, as this was. But ’tis a four-legged bird.” The above is literally
copied. At p. 463, pl. xiii., he gives a figure of it—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Kestrels near Banbury.—I saw the last kestrel hawk on the 25th of
November, 1875. I strongly suspect that this bird migrates from these
parts in the winter. There is a scarcity of game, fieldfares and redwings,
but carrion crows, nuthatches and green woodpeckers are common. The
kestrel appeared again on the 16th of February, 1876, and by the 26th
were getting very plentiful—C. Matthew Prior ;, Blorham, Banbury.

Sparrowhawk and Woodcock.—Mr. Sclater's remarks on the mode of
feeding of the starling (Zool. S. S, 3648) are very interesting, and so also
is his narrative of the woodcock and the sparrowhawks: the unfortunate
bird seems to have had a good many assailants. I only once remember
seeing a hawk strike at a woodcock. It was a few months ago. I have no
doubt it was a sparrowhawk. It was in an open field, and the woodcock,
which we had just put out of a cover, was flying in a slow aimless manner
when the pursuer appeared.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Archibuteo Sancti-Johannis——Since forwarding you my notes the other
day I have seen Dr. Coues’ book, ‘ The Birds of the North-West,’ published
by the United States’ Geological Survey, in which I find that the North-
American roughlegged buzzard, although generally a much darker bird than
the European one, is not considered specifically distinct from it, but merely
a climatic race. Still the example I possess from North Devon of this
uniformly dark roughlegged buzzard, which has been termed Archibuteo
Sancti-Johannis, is, as far as I can learn, the first which has been obtained
in this country.—Murray A. Mathew; Bishop’s Lydeard, near Taunton,
February 25, 1876.

Roughlegged Buzzard at Rufford.—On the 16th of December one of
Mr. Savill’s keepers saw a large hawk flying about over the heather at
Rufford; on seeing it near the same place again next day he placed a trap,
baited with a dead rabbit, near the spot, and watched it from some bushes
close by: the bird came, but, seeing him, was sweeping away, when the
keeper—thinking he might not have another chance—fired; after rising
about fifty or sixty yards it fluttered down dead to the ground, one corn
having gone through its lungs: it was a roughlegged buzzard. Formerly
this hawk was not uncommon about Here, but it only occurs now once in
every two or three years. The bird was a female, and on examining it
I noticed the feathers to be very owl-like in their texture and colour.
Another specimen of this hawk, a young male, was shot on the 24th of
January, near the same place.—J. Whitaker.

Owl-pellets: Correction of an Error.—I see that my note on the owl:
pellets in the March ‘ Zoologist’ (S. 8. 4832) is dated July 6. This will

THE ZooLocisT—APRiIL, 1876. 4871

not fit the “hard-up” theory : it should have been February 6, 1876.—
Robert Mitford ; Hampstead, N.W.

Barn Owl and Rat.—The following instance of instinct at fault, which
has not been recorded, was communicated to me some time ago :—In the
autumn of 1865 a fine barn owl was brought to be stuffed. It belonged
to a Mr. Wallis, farmer, of Leigh, near Tonbridge, Kent. The farmer's
wife told me she had picked up the bird dead on the barn-floor, and that
beside it, also dead, was a very large rat. There is little doubt but that an
encounter had taken place between them, the injuries received by each
being sufficient to cause death. The bird had evidently been severely
bitten by the rat—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Barn Owl and Shrew.—It is not altogether so unusual as Mr. Mitford
supposes for barn owls to feed on shrews. I have once or twice—and my
father has repeatedly—found skulls of the shrew in pellets of the barn owl.
It would seem that in Germany shrews are their principal food. According to
the investigations of Dr. Altum, as quoted in the fourth edition of “ Yarrell”
(vol.i., p. 148), 706 pellets were found to contain the remains of 1590 shrews.
In England, however, they cannot be said to be very fond of them, though
several writers mention the shrew in their bill of fare. The Rev. L. Jenyns
gives a remarkable instance of their catching them and bringing them to
the nest, and afterwards rejecting them. It seems that they will make shift
with them, but only (in England) when they cannot get anything more to
their taste. In different countries owls have different tastes, or perhaps in
Germany shrew mice are not so “ strong.” —Td.

Snowy Owl in County Fermanagh.—When shooting last week on the
mountains near the village of Sack, I observed a specimen of this rare bird.
My brother and I spent the day in pursuit of it; it never allowed us to
approach nearer than a hundred and fifty or two hundred yards, but did
not fly more than a quarter of a mile or so on being disturbed. We found
the remains of a hare and two grouse destroyed by it. It had been seen
by the keepers for some days previously, and also on the following day,
after which it moved to an adjoining moor.—H. B. Murray; February 29,
1876. (From the ‘ Field.’)

Scandinavian Variety (?) of the Dipper at Beverley —On the 29th of
October last a blackbreasted dipper, which I believe to be the Scandinavian
variety (Cinclus melanogaster), was shot on our river by a person named
Priestman. The dipper (C. aquaticus) is not a resident in this part of the
country, and it is a most unusual thing for one to be shot here. Whether
or not the two or three that have occurred in my recollection have been of
the C. melanogaster form, I cannot say, as I have not seen them; but
I suspect it will turn out to be so, as C. aquaticus is rather a stationary
bird. Delighting as the dipper does in swift and rugged mountain streams,
there is little wonder at its absence from here, where our streams are

4872 THE ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876.

slower and flow generally through a flat chalky country. Iam not aware
of any locality for the dipper in East Yorkshire, though it is not uncommon
in the West and North Ridings, where the country is much more hilly, and
where our chalk is replaced by hard rocks. I shall be glad to be corrected on
this point. The Rev. G. H. Tuck, in the ‘ Field,’ mentions the occurrence
of C. melanogaster at Filey, and Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., also possesses a
Yorkshire specimen of this type—’. Boyes ; Beverley.

Addenda.—It will be noticed that I am not quite certain in the identity
of the above bird, because I have not seen the Scandinavian variety.
I only know the bird has no chestnut on the breast; but then, again, I do
not know the autumn plumage of the young common dipper. A fine old
bird in my collection I shot last June on a mountain stream in Sutherland-
shire, near Inchnadamff, where they were common. I saw both old and
young flying about. I also saw a nest—empty, of course, so late as
June.—I’. B.

Fieldfares, Sky Larks and Lapwings on Salisbury Plain.—Now that the
bustard has virtually disappeared from its ancient habitation, we of the
“living present” must be content to admire smaller but perhaps no less
interesting game. During a drive in the neighbourhood last autumn the
immense numbers of lapwings and sky larks were very noticeable, especially
on or near the cultivated tracts, and a ramble in the same locality during
the Christmas holidays revealed the fact that these two particular species
had almost entirely disappeared, but were replaced by equal numbers of
rooks and starlings, whose habit of congregating together is well known,
together with vast flocks of fieldfares, which, although not congregating
with the other two species, were often flying about in the air with them.
I have seen almost incredible numbers of fieldfares in the New Forest in
winter feeding upon the numerous berries which that locality affords, but
I should think that the supply of berries on the Salisbury Downs must be
very scanty.—G. BL. Corbin.

[With respect to the association of rooks and starlings, it is impossible for
any naturalist resident in the country not to have observed it. The cause
of the association is not quite so manifest. May it not be that the starling
acts as a guide or indicator, and has a more delicate perception of the
presence of larvee at the roots of grass than is possessed by the rook? The
favourite species with both birds are these:—Tipula oleracea (Diptera,
Tipulide), Chareas Graminis (Lepidoptera, Noctuids), Amphimalla solsti-
tialis, Melolontha vulgaris, Serica brunnea, and several species of Elaterids
(Coleoptera): the service these birds thus render the farmer is incalculable.
I have used the word “association”: the phenomena can scarcely be so
called with rigid propriety: the starlings arrive at their feeding-ground in
a compact phalanx, seemingly moved by a common impulse; the rooks in
a straggling file; first a single rook espies the well-disciplined and silent

— ee es

THE ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876. 4873

phalanx of starlings, and uttering his familiar ery perches on some pollard
tree in a hedgerow; others, obedient to the summons, following their leader,
“a blackening train o’ craes.” The starlings are never mistaken ; they trust
to their own perceptive faculties, whether of sight or smell. The rooks, too,
are never deceived ; they know their guides are infallible-—H. Newman.]

Blackeap’s Head in Winter.—It is certain that all male blackcaps do
not lose their black caps in winter; indeed I doubt if any lose them after
having once obtained them. It is also certain that a portion of the young
males, particularly in certain countries, retain their red heads to the age of
nine or ten months; and I think it will probably be found, when further
investigations are made, that they even breed in that plumage.—J. H.
Gurney, jun.

Quarrels of Titmice.—A remarkable incident happened at Sandy, four
miles from here, this morning, in presence of my son. Two blue tits were
- engaged in a furious battle, and so intent were they in the struggle that,
after watching them some time, he sent a lad in his employ to pick them
up, when one of them was found to be dead, and the other so exhausted
that it died in his hand. So tenacious was their hold on each other that it
was a difficult matter to separate them without tearing the skin, as they
fought with both beak and claws, and the dead bird was found to have fast
hold of the other one’s eyelid with its beak, the claws of both being firmly
fixed in each other.—J. King; Langford Road, Biggleswade, February 23,
1876.

Variety of Blue Titmouse.—A beautiful variety of the blue titmouse has
been flying about here during the present winter. The whole plumage, as
far as I can see, is of the uniform yellow colour usually found on the breast
of the blue titmouse, excepting a few feathers about the head, which are of
the usual blue colour. When I first saw it I took it to be an escaped canary,
but on watching it I found it had all the actions of a titmouse. Not then
being able to get very near to it, I was not quite satisfied as to its identity ;
but meeting, a few days after, the gentleman in whose grounds I saw it,
I asked him if he had seen a canary about his garden lately: he then told
me he had seen a yellow bird; that it was not a canary but a “tomtit,” as he
had plainly observed some blue markings about the head, and that he had
seen it about during the whole of the winter. I have seen the bird again
to-day ; it allowed me to approach nearer than I have been able to do before,
and I could plainly see the blue about the head, and clearly identified the bird
as the lJue titmouse.— Stephen Clogg ; East Looe, Cornwall, Feb. 21, 1876.

Great Tits eating Bees.—A short time back, in the ‘ Field’ newspaper,
I saw some mention of the great tit eating bees, but as I had not time then
to state my own experience, there will perhaps be no harm if I now do so
in the ‘ Zoologist.’ Here these birds have long been known to frequent the
beehives to get the bees; it is during the winter and early spring that they

4874 THE ZooLoGist—APRIL, 1876.

do so. I am not quite certain that they take the hive-bees, though they are
always accused of so doing. I fancy the dead bees, which are so often at
the mouths of the hives at this season of the year, first attract them, and
when they have got all they can reach I have known them to peck a large
hole into an old straw hive to try and get more: perhaps this disturbance
at the entrance of a hive brings some of the half-torpid bees out to see what
is the matter, and Parus major, likely enough, improves the occasion by
devouring them. ‘This tit seems more insectivorous than the tomtit (Parus
c@ruleus), which does not, so far as I have seen, after many years of obser-
vation, indulge in this habit.—’. Boyes.

Waxwings without Wax (Zool. 8.8. 4723)—The few British-killed wax-
wings which I have seen all possessed the wax-like appendages to the wings ;
but last year I had the pleasure of inspecting a number of bird-skins
from North America, amongst which were several of our rarer or reputed
British species, as the goldenwinged woodpecker, redwinged starling, belted
kingfisher, &c., and amongst them were seven or eight of the waxwing,
and its near ally, the cedar bird: EF noticed that only two of the number
possessed the appendages in question, but whether these were waxwings or
cedar-birds I did not notice, but most of those lacking the decoration were
undoubtedly the latter species, as the under parts of the plumage were
yellowish and the wings unbarred with white, which, in my ignorance, I had
attributed to the skins being those of females. This note must be taken
for what it is worth, as I had but a casual look at the skins, and now I
write from memory.—G. B. Corbin.

Grayheaded Wagtails—Mr. Hancock's letter (S. S. 4834) is so sensible
and temperate that anyone must feel disarmed in any further attempts at
criticism. What both he and I wish for is not to enter into any recrimination
against one another, but by honest investigation to arrive at the truth.
I may say that I have always been accustomed to look upon him as such a
practical out-of-doors naturalist, that it was with not a little diffidence that
I ventured to oppose my views against his in the matter of the wagtails, and
now I am willing to withdraw my opinion if I am convinced by his series of
specimens that I am wrong.—J. H. Gurney, jun.; March 3, 1876.

Note on the Plumage of the Yellowhammer.—Of our common yellow-
hammer Mr. Yarrell writes, ‘The bright yellow colour in very old males is
extended over a larger surface” than in young males (‘ British Birds,’ 1st
ed., vol. i., p. 447). Whether this is true or not, everybody knows how
much variableness there is of yellow in this bird. Sometimes one sees
an example which instantly attracts attention by its unusual brightness,
whether on a hedgerow, in a cage, or in a collection of stuffed birds. I find
that birdcatchers very neatly clip off the tips of the feathers about the
head, &e., to produce this appearance. On closely scrutinising two or
three very bright specimens I distinctly made out that they had been so

Tue ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876. 4875

served. And yet occasionally it is not artificial: a wild bird shot at
Sprowston, near Norwich, on the 17th of July, 1871, and which, to the
best of my belief, had never had its locks shorn, exhibited a very pale
yellow head, with hardly an admixture of any other colour; and another
specimen, which had never known a cage,—before me as I write,—is so
pervaded by this colour that not only is the head mainly yellow, but the
whole of the neck and shoulders, and even a portion of the wings and back.
I have never seen a pure yellow yellowhammer, but I have an albinism and
a melanism; at least the latter is a dark chocolate colour, blackest about
the throat and fore parts, as melanisms often are.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

The Male Chaffinch Nest-making.—In glancing over the long-looked-for
9th part of Professor Newton’s “ Yarrell,” I observe at p. 72, in describing
the nest of the chaffinch, it is stated that “‘ This exquisite fabric seems, on
the evidence of more than one observer, to be the work of the hen bird
only.” Now Ihave myself seen the male bird in the act of nest-making.
Iwas walking leisurely along, smoking a pipe, about fifty yards from the
stable-yard gates, when I observed the nest of a chaflinch in some sprouts
at the side of an oak: the tree stands down a hill, bringing the nest low
enough for me to see down into it. The nest seemed almost finished,
except the lining, and in it sat the male bird busily engaged in weaving the
hairs into it with his bill, sometimes looking over the side, and every now
and then sinking low into it and turning round in a rolling motion—in
fact, he seemed to understand nest-making quite as well as the female.
Iam sorry I did not send you a note of this at the time. I knew then it
had been stated that the female only worked at the nest-making, which
made me more interested in what I saw. It had, however, entirely escaped
my memory until I again read it the other day.x—John Sclater; Castle
Eden, Durham.

Tree Sparrow and Wood Pigeon building in a Magpie’s Nest.—The tree
sparrow is very fond, not exactly of nesting in a magpie’s nest, but of
building its own nest inside. I-once found, in a thorn tree, a magpie’s nest
which in April had five eggs in it: I took the eggs out, wanting a tree
sparrow to take up its residence therein; but imagine my surprise when
one day I saw a wood pigeon fly out, and on getting up I found that the
bird had put sticks on the bottom, and had laid three eggs—a fact almost
without a parallel in the annals of Natural History: the wood pigeon
hatched two of her eggs, and the third proved unfertile—Charles Matthew
Prior ; The Avenue, Woburn Road, Bedford.

Greenfinch.—I have a yellow or yellowish greenfinch; the tint is strongest
on the rump and primary quills; but my object is not so much to record
this, which was killed some time ago (at Blofield, in Norfolk) as to ask
Mr. Forbes, or any of your correspondents who are interested in varieties,
whether they have ever seen a white greenfinch. I never have, and I have

4876 Tue ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876.

collected varieties of a great many species. My bird has not a particle of
the original green about it; but it is not an albino, on account of the
beautiful yellow hue with which the plumage is suffused. I have also a
pied greenfinch, but I do not think that affects the question—J. H.
Gurney, jun.

Crossbills on Salisbury Plain—Skirting the high road,in several places
are narrow belts of fir, larch, and other trees, and in such situations I
observed numbers of the lesser redpolls in most grotesque attitudes, accom-
panied by a smaller number of goldencrested wrens; but was somewhat
surprised in observing that the common crossbill was by no means rare on
the larch, upon the cones of which the birds were feeding. In their habits
they remind one much of a parrot, as they took the small larch-cones in
their claw, and pulled them to pieces with their beak; but when the cones
were larger they picked them to pieces as they hung on the branch, and not
unfrequently descended after the cones which had fallen; and in their atti-
tudes upon the branches, as well as their descent to the ground, they
somewhat resembled—in this case—their companions, the lesser redpolls.
The males sometimes uttered a wild, peculiar trichord sort of song, ascending
in tone and repeated at intervals. Whether this is the

‘‘ Songs, like legends, strange to hear,”

which Longfellow has translated in his poem, I am not prepared to say, but
it certainly was quite new and interesting to me. I believe it is a generally
received opinion that the crossbills keep a sentinel on guard upon the top-
most branches of the trees upon which they are feeding, to give the alarm
in case of danger. I noticed that one or more birds were conspicuous upon
the highest branches and made a sort of harsh noise as a warning, but the
other birds did not seem to take the least notice of it—in this respect unlike
the fieldfare in a similar situation; indeed, I noticed that the crossbills
were exceedingly lethargic and very careless about my near approach; a
stone thrown into the trees had the effect of dislodging some of them, but
they always returned to the same spot without appearing much annoyed.
The strength of the mandibles of the crossbill must be immense, as they
will pull a cone to pieces in an incredibly short space of time ; in fact, much
quicker than would be possible to accomplish the feat with one’s fingerg, and
their peculiarly hooked and crossed formation of the mandibles must greatly
facilitate the operation. These observations were made on December 27th,
but whether the species visits the same neighbourhood annually, or merely
pays an “occasional visit,” I am not in a position to say; certain it
is that their habits are not always identical, as I have seen them more
than once about the fir woods in the neighbourhood of Ringwood, when
instead of appearing fearless, as stated in the foregoing note, they were
very wary and cautious, the birds on the look out giving timely warning

’

THE ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876. 4877

of danger—a warning hint soon taken for a hasty retreat; and on such
occasions as these the whole flock seemed restless and easily disturbed.
Possibly it is only when they are feeding or have fed to repletion that they
become apparently lazy and sleepy, like other bipeds often feel ‘“ after
dinner.” It was the ingenious French naturalist, Buffon, I believe, who
considered the beak of the crossbill an error committed by Nature, but it
is questionable, if he had closely watched the disintegration of a fir-cone
by the bird, whether he would not have been inclined to alter his opinion.—
G. B. Corbin.

(I have a crossbill in confinement, and can fully confirm Mr. Corbin’s
description of its peculiar note (? song), which I can compare to that of no
other bird, unless it be the greater titmouse (Parus major). I was many
months ignorant of the musician, and attributed its music to some titmouse
still at liberty, for I have no specimen of that mischievous bird in my cage,
fearing its taste for birds’ brains, which, like Heliogabalus, Parus major will
occasionally indulge to excess. I may state that J cannot distinguish the
sexes of the crossbill.— Edward Newman.}

Starlings and Elder-berries—Last autumn was notable for the great
erops of fruit of all kinds. The elder-bushes were laden with berries, and
afforded a rich banquet to the starlings, missel thrushes, &c. Starlings are
excessively fond of them, and two trees in the garden were visited all day
long by them; nor was it easy to send them off. I was asked by a friend to
let him have the berries when ripe to make syrup of, but he delayed fetching
them so long that I found these birds more than a match for me: I fired off
the gun and frightened them, but to no purpose— the starlings would not be
denied, and eventually they got them all. Happening to be down in Lincoln-
shire, I noticed just the same thing: wherever there was an elder-bush with
berries on, there the starlings were.-—l”. Boyes.

Errata.—In my note on the stock dove (S. 8. 4842), twentieth line from
top, for reeds read seeds. In my note “Is the Waterhen Migratory or
not?” last line on p. 4845, for after all they may leave the country read
after all they may not, &c.—F’. B.

White Starling —On the 24th of October, 1875, I saw a starling of a
uniform dusky white in a flock of about twenty-four: it was extremely shy.
The bird afterwards joined an immense flock, out of which I suspect it fell
a prey to some gunner, for I have not seen it since. I have a blackbird
I obtained in Lincolnshire of the same colour—C. Matthew Prior.

Starlings pecking with Beak open.—I was intending to offer an observa-
tion on this subject when I observed Mr. G. F. Mathew had done so already
(Zool. 8S. S. 4887), viz. that the beak is closed when thrust into the ground
and opened as it is withdrawn, that the bird may better observe the effect
of the thrust when searching for insects, in grass or other herbage in which

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. U

4878 THE ZooLocist— APRIL, 1876.

itis made. I have frequently observed this action in the starling.— William
Jeffery; Ratham, Chichester, March 3, 1876.

Manner of Feeding of the Starling.—The editor having called on the
readers of the ‘Zoologist’ to record their personal observations on the
feeding habits of the starling, I do so, remarking, too, on what has appeared
in answer to that appeal. In a foot-note (S. S. 2632), Mr. Newman remarks,
“T have observed a feature in the digging operations of starlings that I do
not recollect having seen mentioned: this bird appears to dig with its
mouth open, the upper mandible penetrating the ground, but not the
lower.” A starling with a “curiously overgrown under mandible” is
referred to by Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., also a “similar specimen” in his
collection, which has “the lower mandible projecting a quarter of an
inch,” and he is “inclined to think that these poor birds may have worn
away the upper mandible by pricking the ground with their mouths
open.” That one of these starlings is a monstrosity is clear, seeing its
lower mandible is overgrown, and probably the other bird's is so too, it not
being likely that its upper mandible could have been worn away a quarter
of an inch. In Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds’ (vol. ii., p. 90), will be found the
figure of a rook’s head with the lower mandible an inch or so longer than
the upper one. Are we, then, to jump to the conclusion that the latter
had been worn away? ‘Though I have closely examined many starlings,
both common and redwinged, never did I find one with the upper man-
dible more worn than the lower. It is remarked by Mr. G. F. Mathew
(S. S. 4837) that “the beak of the starling is not thrust into the ground
open,’—which I believe to be the fact,—but that “immediately it has
pierced it the lower mandible is opened to its widest extent.” But how the
beak can be opened in that position I cannot imagine, or how ‘ any creature
can be easily detected and secured in the space it has opened out to view.”
The lower mandible, being more flexible and sensitive than the upper, is
required in the discovery and extraction of the grub or insect. Mr. Southall
says (S. S. 4836), “The beak of the starling seems to be an inferior instru-
ment, or at least wielded with very inferior power to that of the blackbird
or thrush.” But the fact is, the bill of the latter—to say nothing of the
former—is comparatively weak. Having of late closely watched the star-
lings feeding on the lawn, I am confident in the opinion that the bill
remains closed when thrust into the ground for about half its length; but
that must vary with the season, grubs being found nearer the surface in
summer than winter. If it were the starling’s habit to force its bill down
to the “base,” after the manner of the rook, we should find the feathers
worn, but they are not.—H. Hadjield ; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, March 10,
1876.

[My friend Captain Hadfield will find some remarkable instances of
overgrown mandibles in different volumes of the ‘ Zoologist’:—the upper

THE ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876. 4879

mandible of a rook (Zool. 7429); the upper mandible of a redshank (S. 8.
3999). In these instances the upper mandible is elongated, but in neither do
I perceive any evidence of the lower being worn away. In the instance of
the rook (Zool. 7429) the lower mandible is extremely short and perfect, the
upper longer and thicker than usual. I believe we must not rest contented
with the worn-away solution ; certainly the fact of the mandible not meeting
must conduce to this effect, but that probably arises from some anterior
cause. I shall be very pleased to receive more communications on this
subject— Edward Newman.]

Starlings feeding with Open Beak.—I have observed a pet starling my
brother had, after pecking with open beak, throwing the loose sawdust from
side to side in the bottom of his cage; at other times he would thrust his
beak into any crevice and try to widen it by opening the beak. My belief
is that the starling opens its beak and uses it as a rake when feeding on
soft open ground, but when feeding on hard ground it thrusts in the beak
and uses it as a lever by opening it with force, which I know it can do, as
T have seen my brother’s bird force his beak under a loaf of bread, and by
opening the beak turn the loaf off the table—Thomas Darragh; Belfast
Museum.

Jackdaws with Pied Heads.—I have observed a jackdaw, on the chimneys
and on our wall, with the throat, breast and belly all splashed with
white.—Id.

Large Flock of Magpies near Banbury.—On the 16th of November, 1875,
I counted no less than thirty-four magpies in one flock feeding in stubble:
six or eight are of common occurrence.—C. Matthew Prior.

Woodpegkers.—If woodpeckers really are so excessively rare in the Isle
of Wight, which I am inclined to doubt, it can hardly be from any dread of
salt water. The greater spotted woodpecker is an annual migrant to the
east coast, and towards the end of the year large numbers have sometimes
occurred not only in Norfolk but in Scotland, and even in the Shetlands.
They must needs have crossed the North Sea, and possibly now and then a
whitebacked woodpecker may come with them, as in the case of my specimen
which was shot by Dr. Saxby.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Wall Creeper in Lancashire: Erratum.—In the March number of the
‘Zoologist’ (S. 8. 4839), for hind claw, thirteen-sixteenths of an inch
read hind claw, one inch and thirteen-sixteenths.—-/. S. Mitchell.

Swallow and Swifts (Hirundo pelasgia of Wilson, Cypselus of Illiger,
Cypselus pelasgius of Temminck).—In my Canada notes (Zool. 6708)
I remark that in appearance, manner, and rapidity of flight the chimney
swallow greatly resembles the common European swift, though much
smaller, but I omitted to state that, like the swift, it has but ten tail-
feathers; and the Hirundo caudacuta of Australia, to which it is closely
allied, has also ten; and both have the rounded spinous tail, and in length

4880 THE ZooLocGist—APRIL, 1876.

of wing are swift-like. It also appears that the Hirundo Martinicana of
Brisson, which is but three inches eight lines in length (French measure)
is swift-like too, though he says it has twelve spinous tail-feathers, but that,
I think, requires confirmation: possibly some reader of the ‘ Zoologist’
may be acquainted with the species. Yarrell, in the generic character of
the swift, says that ‘it differs from the Hirundines in the greater extent of
wings ;” and Cuvier remarks of the swifts that they are “de tous les oiseaux,
ceux qui ont les plus longues ailes 4 proportion,” but in the Hirundo
pelasgia and the Hirundo Martinicana the wings are proportionately longer,
particularly in the latter, which has “ huit pouces, huit lignes de vol, est sa
longueur depuis le bout du bec jusqu’ a celui de la queue est de trois pouces
huit lignes.” Macgillivray, in the synopsis of the swift, says that it chiefly
differs from the swallow in the formation of the foot; but should that alone
in the Hirundo pelasgia outweigh the many points of similarity in form,
structure, plumage, length of wing, rapidity of flight, manner of feeding,
roosting, and nesting, too? for, like the swift, the chimney swallow builds
in lofty towers, spires, and hollow trees, and the materials of which the nest
is constructed are, Wilson says, ‘ fastened together with a strong adhesive
glue or gum secreted by the glands;” and Macgillivray, in describing the
nest of the swift, remarks, “there were fibrous roots as well as other
material, felted and agglutinated, the matter being of a gelatinous nature.”
Evidently the Hirundo pelasgia of Wilson was, by Iliger and 'Temminck,
taken for a swift, nor had Ia doubt about it, till referring to Wilson—
having had favourable opportunities of observing it during my stay in
Canada. Like our swift, though the last to arrive it is the first to depart; it
is constantly on the wing throughout the day, hawking after thg manner of
the common swift, and long after the barn swallow, whitebellied swallow and
purple martin have retired to roost. If birds are to be classified by the
form of the foot, why not quadrupeds? but he would be a bold man indeed
who attempted it. Only imagine, for instance, all cloven-footed beasts
being united into one family !—Henry Hadfield ; March 6, 1876.

[For the information of my readers who may not be so intimately
acquainted as Captain Hadfield with modern works on Ornithology, I will
add a few words on Swifts and Swallows: the authorities to which I shall
more particularly refer are Professor Blasius—whom Professor Newton
pronounces to be one of the highest authorities on this branch of Science—
and Captain Elliott Coues, author of the ‘ Birds of the North-West,’ a work
which may be considered the most complete of its kind ever published.
Professor Blasius, about the year 1860, compiled a list of European birds
for his own private use, and Professor Newton (or rather Mr. Stevenson, of
Norwich), in 1862, reprinted this list, as most of my readers are aware,
for the use of British ornithologists. Captain Coues, one of the highest
authorities on the birds of the United States, published his exhaustive

, — =

THE ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876. 4881

volume of eight hundred closely-printed pages in 1874. Professor Blasius
groups his European species in seven Orders—1, Accipitres; 2, Clamatores;
3, Oscines; 4, Columbe ; 5, Galline; 6, Gralle; and 7, Anseres. In the
second of these appear the Cypselide or Swifts, and in the third the
Hirundinide or Swallows. Captain Coues begins with the Order Passeres,
adopting the grcups Oscines and Clamatores as Suborders; he then places
the Family Hirundinide in the former, and the Family Cypselide dn
the latter. The species Hirundo pelasgia (or more correctly Chetura
pelasgica), which he calls by the English name of “ Chimney Swift,” is of
course ranged with the swifts. Blasius places the Cypselide and Hirundinide
as following Families, the one at the end and the other at the beginning of
their respective Orders. -Coues places many other Families between them ;
his sequence of Families shows that the Swifts naturally intervene between
the Goatsuckers (Caprimulgida) and the Humming Birds (Trochilida). No
notice is taken of the superficial resemblance of Swallows and Swifts—
a resemblance which I have ventured to call “ extomeous” as distinguished
from the intrinsic resemblance between Hirundo urbica and H. rustica,
which I have denominated “endomeous.” I am sure Captain Hadfield
will excuse these hastily-written remarks, penned on the spur of the moment,
in the hope they may be of some service to young readers.—Kdward
Newman ; March 7, 1876.]

Stock Dove breeding in October.—On the 2nd of October, 1875, I found
in a hollow ash tree a stock dove’s nest containing two newly-laid eggs.—
C. Matthew Prior.

Loss and Reproduction of a Pigeon’s Beak.—In the May number of
the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1874 I described and figured the head of a shortfaced
tumbler (S. S. 3999), to which the character of “shortfaced” could not be
applied. It was lucus a non lucendo ;-it was the play of ‘Hamlet’ with the
character of Hamlet left out. The upper mandible was exactly an inch in
length, the lower fully three quarters of an inch; the two crossed like those
of a crossbill, and as the extremities were sharp as needles the poor bird
could not feed on peas or grain, and as he appeared in imminent danger of
starvation I had both mandibles cut to a becoming length, or rather short-
ness; and then the bird managed his peas and wheat almost as well as
ever, and soon recovered its usual plumpness, together with sundry love-
making propensities at which he had formerly been proficient. During the
autumn of the same year the upper mandible again exhibited a disposition
to elongate, and before October was out had acquired a length which
rendered the picking up of peas impossible; so he was provided with bread
soaked in milk, which he ate ravenously, and which seemed to agree with
his constitution admirably ; but before Christmas the upper mandible, which
grew excessively slender, gave way. I can give no other account of the
calamity, but that the beak broke off. I never found it—perhaps never

4882 Tue ZooLocist—Aprit, 1876.

looked for it. The bird continued to eat sop fora time, but afterwards
took kindly to peas. His beak is now growing a third time, but after
thirteen months it has not the length it possessed prior to the amputation.
Have any of my correspondents known of a similar case of reproduction in
a bird’s beak ?—Hdward Newman.

Great Bustard at Feltwell.—A great bustard took up his abode in my
fen on the 24th of January, 1876, in a piece of coleseed. He seemed to
consider this field quite as private property, for I do not think he was ever
absent for a whole day till the 24th of February. Lord Lilford most kindly
sent me a female bustard, which I turned out on Thursday, February 10th,
in the presence of Professor Newton, Messrs. Harting, Salvin. E. Newton,
and F. Newcome. ‘The male flew away whilst I was trying to drive the
very tame hen up the field towards him. He, however, returned before we
left, in less than an hour, and, though not close together, we left them in
the same field. They, however, very soon made it up, and Saturday and
Sunday they spent side by side, the male bird strutting round the hen and
traping his wings like a turkey cock. ‘The fearful weather on Sunday night
and the next day, alas! proved too much for the tame bird, and on Tuesday
she was found dead in a ditch. ‘This was most grievous, as they were
getting on so capitally. On the 21st of February Lord Lilford sent another
hen: it was a very stormy day, so I dared not turn her out after the fate of
No. 1, but shut her up ina little hut of hurdles and straw which I had
built for No. 1, but which she would not take advantage of. The next
morning the male was not far from the hut, and the keeper went down to
let the female out, but he flew away. In the afternoon he passed over
the field, but did not alight, and went on to Stockwold; thence to Eriswell
and Elvedon, the seat of His Highness Maharajah Duleep Singh, where he

was seen in the park. This is the last place where I can hear any tidings

of him. I hope he is now in a place of safety —H. M. Upcher; Feltwell,
Brandon.

Stone Curlew.—The note of Mr. Gurney, jun. (S. 8. 4801), corroborating
that of Mr. Rope (S. 8. 3867), that this bird leaves the heaths about sun-
set and goes out to feed, is also quite true as regards the Yorkshire birds—
now, I am sorry to say, almost extinct. They were usually pretty quiet in
the daytime unless disturbed, but as soon as it was dusk they left the sandy
warrens and flew, screaming, about the cultivated fields.—F’. Boyes.

The Common Waterhen Migratory.—There can, I think, be no doubt on
this point. Mr. Boyes states (Zool. S. S. 4845) that it “arrives in great
numbers iu the spring to breed” in Yorkshire. Here in West Sussex we
always receive an accession of numbers in the autumn. I could now almost
any day count twenty or thirty in and about the mill-ponds here (Ratham),
but probably not more than two, or at most three, pairs will remain to breed.
I frequently hear them, in spring and autumn, at night uttering the ery

.

Tue ZooLocist—APriL, 1876. 4883

which Mr. Boyes alludes to—a cry which at one time much puzzled me
also.— W. Jeffery.

Common Scoter at Minehead.— Mr. Greday, birdstuffer, of this town,
had a common scoter to preserve, which he informed me was caught in a
sprat-net at Minehead.— Frederick Stansell; Alma Street, Taunton.

Sabine’s Gull at Bridlington Quay.—On the 14th of October last a capital
Sabine’s gull was obtained by Mr. Mackin at Bridlington Quay. It was
very tame, and was shot beside a drain called Watermill Beck. The
plumage was that of a young bird, with a few dark feathers appearing on
the occiput, indicative of the hood to come. This is the fourth Sabine’s gull
which, to my knowledge, has been shot within a few miles of Bridlington. —
J. H. Gurney, jun. ; Royal Hotel, Scarborough, March 24, 1876.

Audacity of the Common Skua.— When out dredging off Bangor, in the
month of September last, I saw a common skua fighting fiercely with a
herring gull: the gull. was evidently trying to rise above the skua.—
Thomas Darragh.

Common Skua near Mansfield—In the last week of November as two
gentlemen were returning from shooting, near Farnsfield, they saw about a
a dozen gulls flying towards them, and, as the birds passed over, they fired ;
one fell with a broken wing. Instead of flying away, its companions began
to fly in circles over the wounded bird: several shots were then fired, and
two more birds obtained. On going to the birdstuffer’s to see the birds
I found them to be the common skua. They were young birds, one male
and two females, in very fine plumage. It is a very long way inland for
skuas to be found, the nearest sea being more than fifty miles as the crow
flies. This is the first instance, as far as I can ascertain, of the common
skua being killed in Nottinghamshire—J. Whitaker.

_ Yellow-nosed Albatross in Derbyshire——The following is the passage
about the albatross to which I referred (S. S. 2563) :—

“ The Yellow-nosed Albatross a British Bird.—On November [25th], 1836,
a beautiful specimen of the yellow-nosed albatross (Diomedea chlororhynchus,
Lath.) was observed sailing above the River Trent at Stockwith, near Gains-
borough, and was shot nearly opposite the Chesterfield canal basin.”—
‘Analyst,’ April, 1837 (vol. vi., p. 160).

The above will be found copied into Wood's ‘ Naturalist’ (vol. ii., p. 104),
and commented upon at p. 24. For a sight of it in that magazine I am
indebted to Prof. Newton. Unfortunately my copy of the ‘Analyst’ does
not go beyond 1836, but I am informed by that gentleman that the notice
in the main, is correctly copied. Nowa point at once strikes me, which
I should have seen before if I had been able to refer to the notice when
I first wrote to you:—Chesterfield is the locality where the second albatross
was shot, which was received with so much ridicule, and which tummed out
to be a stuffed one which had been killed years before, and been ejected, as

4884 THE ZooLocist—APrRIL, 1876.

was supposed, from some local museum, and which was made to do duty a
second time. It is hardly likely that this could have been the same which
there is reason to believe was really shot in 1836, and yet there must be
some connection. Another point of similarity is that they appear to have
both been first recorded in provincial papers and copied afterwards into
journals of Natural History. That the occurrence of November, 1836, really
was an albatross, corroborative proof is given by the Editor of the ‘ Ibis’ for
1868 (Prof. Newton), who in an editorial note (at p. 294), says that two
specimens of Diomedea chlororhynchus “seem undoubtedly to have been
killed near Kongsberg, in Norway, in April, 1837,”—five months before
the capture at Chesterfield. The coincidence of date is very remarkable.
I submit these remarks to your readers, and I hope that something further
will turn up in the matter, about which we cannot be said to have too much
light at present—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Correction of an Error.—Zool. 8. 8. 4698, first line, for moulting read
mottling.—J. H. G., jun.

Lizard Snake in Hampshire. — ‘Lhe occurrence of the lizard snake
(Coronella levis) in the neighbourhood of Ringwood, some twenty or more
years ago, is undoubtedly a well-known fact to most of the readers of the

‘ Zoologist’; but I have never heard that it has been taken in any other

locality except upon those extensive heaths in South-Western Hampshire
and the adjoining heaths of East Dorset, and even in its favoured haunts
it is far from a common species. Several have been taken in the neigh-
bourhood of Bournemouth at different times, as recorded in former volumes
of the ‘ Zoologist’; for instance, one at Bournemouth, in 1871, by Mr.
Ei. B. Kemp-Welch, and another at Pokesdown, the following year, by my
friend the Rey. A. C. Hervey, beside a few others previously taken and
recorded; but in every case it seems only a single specimen was met with.
In 1874 Mr. Hervey took another specimen on the heaths near here, and
having caught it alive, if I mistake not, sent it to the Zoological Gardens.
In July, last year (1875), I was on the heaths, looking for Anarta Myrtilli,
and the sun was excessively hot about mid-day, and there—upon a sandy
bank—was a lovely Coronella levis stretched out at full length. I had seen
but one living specimen before, although I had kept my eyes open, I stood
at some distance and admired the reptile, and, as it became uneasy and
prepared to make its exit, its body looked iridescent in the sun. I approached
nearer, and it raised its head, turning it towards me in a defiant attitude, with
its little black forked tongue moving in and out, and altogether looking very
fierce ; but I heard no sound such as the common snake or the adder will
sometimes emit if you chance to disturb or annoy them. ‘This defiant

Se

THE ZooLocisTt—APRiIL, 1876. 4885

attitude, however, was of short duration, for as I got close it turned
away again and attempted to make off. I gave it a tap with the handle of
my entomological net, with an idea of retarding its progress, and was greatly
surprised to see it writhe and soon die. It must be exceedingly fragile in
constitution, or such a blow would not have killed it, as Iam sure adders
have got off comfortably with a blow of double the force. This specimen
I took, and preserved it in spirits; and, strange to say, the following day
I saw another on a heath at no great distance, but that I did not disturb.
The one I caught is a fine fellow, measuring twenty-one inches long, but
is of a very slender build. ‘The lizard snake would not, I should imagine,
be easily mistaken for either the common snake or adder, lacking, as it does,
the white collar of the former, and the black vertebral decoration, together
with the thickened and comparatively obtuse tail of the latter. The late
lamented Canon Kingsley took great interest in this species, especially with
regard to its occurrence in the New Forest, and wrote several times to me
on the subject: he was under the impression that the lizard snake was
found more commonly in the forest than is generally supposed, and was
often seen and killed, in mistake for the adder, by the woodcutters or turf-
eutters of the neighbourhood. For several seasons I searched and inquired
closely for the reptile unsuccessfully ; but eventually a well-authenticated
specimen occurred in the very heart of the forest, viz., in the garden at
Minstead, of which I duly informed my very respected friend and corre-
spondent.. I believe I saw another last season in a part of the forest some
miles from where the one in question occurred, but I cannot speak positively
on the point. Under any circumstances, its occurrence in the forest is now
established ; but, so far as I have been able to ascertain, it is equally certain
that it isa rare species. The spots where I caught my specimen and saw
the other are not far from the old ground where, in 1854, the first British
specimen was taken. The land is rather low and sandy, with stunted fir
trees and an undergrowth ofheather and coarse grass; and perhaps the only
reason why I had not made the acquaintance of the reptile previously is
that I seldom visit the locality till the evening, when all respectable snakes
have completed their sunny perambulations. Here, as in most places, there
is great antipathy to all reptiles, which are indiscriminately slaughtered
whenever an opportunity occurs. Why it should be so I can scarcely com-
prehend, unless it is that from our earliest childhood we have been taught
to shun the “old serpent,” and we well know how deeply rooted are our
earliest impressions.—G@. B. Corbin. ab dt
[It is now some years since the lizard-snake was first introduced to
British naturalists by the ‘ Zoologist.’ My late lamented friend Dr. Gray
was the earliest to record its occurrence in Britain, at page 6731 of the seven-
teenth volume, and Mr. Bond records a second specimen at p. 6787 of the
same volume; the first announcement is accompanied by a description from
SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. x

4886 THE ZooLtocist—APRIL, 1876.

Lord Clermont’s work on the ‘Reptiles of Europe’: at p. 8199 of the
twentieth volume a third record is to be found, accompanied by the inte-
resting fact that the specimen, a female, had produced six young ones at
the ‘ Field’ Office, 346, Strand; and at p. 1653 of the Second Series I gave
a history of the species as British Edward Newman.)

Size of Gray Mullet.—I was very much surprised to read, in the February
number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. S. 4806), a communication headed ‘ Giant
Gray Mullet,” in which four pounds one ounce and a half seems to be
considered an extraordinary weight. Now I should think such a specimen
small: to give a couple of instances from last year; the largest I saw was
weighed in my presence, and turned the scale on ten pounds and a half;
one which I caught at the Skerries—a group of rocks between one and two
miles from land, opposite Portrush, Co. Antrim—weighed very nearly seven
pounds: this specimen was obtained when fishing with a crab bait for sea-
bream, in a strong eddy, and is the third that I have seen caught in the same
way. Besides these two examples there was a much-coveted monster, which
frequented a particular part of the harbour here, and which I tried to
catch in every way that I could think of, but in vain. I pointed it out
several times to fishermen, and offered a good sum for it, but they were as
unsuccessful as I was; their most tempting baits were passed scornfully ;
it never seemed to eat anything, though I have watched it for hours within
a few feet of me: all it did was to take the sea-weeds in its mouth, and
draw them through it from the bottom to the top: those whom I showed it
to agreed that it could not be.less than twelve pounds weight. If he
returns next summer I hope to make a nearer acquaintance with him.
Thompson records specimens from Belfast Bay of over ten pounds, and one
of fourteen pounds and three-quarters. I am well aware that our Irish
species is different from the common English one, but I have not been
able to find, either in Yarrell or Giinther, any record of the size to which
M. capito grows: perhaps some of your readers may be able to tell me
whether it is so much smaller a species than M. septentrionalis. | Con-
cerning the distinction between this latter and M. chelo, I can only say
that seven specimens which I have examined constantly showed the

differences pointed out by Dr. Giinther (‘Catalogue of Fishes,’ vol. iii., -

p- 456), but I have never had an opportunity of comparing this species
with examples of the true M. chelo.—J. Douglas Ogilby ; The Nest, Portrush,
March 8, 1876.

Wolf-fish at Hastings.—On the 29th of February last one of our Hastings
fishing-boats brought in a fine specimen of the wolf-fish (Anarrichas lupus
of Yarrell, vol. i., p. 247). It was three feet one inch in length, one
foot seven inches in greatest circumference, and weighed fifteen pounds.

THE ZooLoGist—APRIL, 1876. 4887

I examined the stomach and intestines, and found abundant remains of
small crabs, more or less broken up, and portions of shells of a species of
Pecten. Ihave made a skeleton of the ferocious-looking head. This fish is
so far rare on this coast that our fishmongers did not know anything about
it.—J. 8. Bowerbank ; 2, East Ascent, St. Leonards-on-Sea, March 8, 1876.

Another Silvery Hairtail near Plymouth.— On the 28th of January
I identified a second silvery hairtail (Trichiurus lepturus), which, I was
informed, was caught in the St. Germans River. It was not quite so large
as the specimen noticed by me in the last number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. 8.
4806), measuring but two feet five inches in length and two inches in
depth.— John Gatcombe.

soceedings of Scientitic Societies,

EnromoLocicaL Society or Lonpox.
February 2,1876.—Sir Sipyey Suite Saunvers, C.M.G., Vice-President,
in the chair. ij
Donations to the Library.

The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the
donors :—‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society,’ vol. xxiv., no. 165; presented
by the Society. ‘ Pinacographia—Illustrations of more than 1000 Species
of North-West European Tchneumonide sensu Linneano,’ part 2; by the
Author, M. 8. C. Snellen van Vollenhoven. ‘Transactions of the Linnean
Society of London,’ 2nd Series, Zoology, vol. i., part 2; by the Society.
‘ Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou,’ 1875, no. 2;
by the Society. ‘L’Abcille,’ 1875, tome xiii., livr. 20 & 21; by the Editor.
‘The Naturalist: Journal of the West Riding Consolidated Naturalists’
Society,’ vol.i., no. 6; by the Society. ‘Catalogus Coleopterorum Lu-
canoidum: auctore Major F’. J. Sidney Parry, F.L.S.—Hditio tertia;’ by
the Author. ‘The Zoologist’ for February; by the Editor. ‘Newman's
Entomologist’ for February; by the Editor. ‘The Entomologist’s Monthly
Magazine’ for February; by the Editors. ‘Notes on the Yucca Borer
(Megathymus Yucce);’ by the Author, Charles V. Riley, M.A., Ph.D.
‘Petites Nouvelles Entomologiques, nos. 137—140; by the Editor.
* Monographie du Genre Erotyle,’ par P. A.J. Duponchel; by Mr. Edward
Sheppard. -

Election of Members.
Herbert Fortescue Fryer, Esq., of Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, and
Edward Young Western, Esq., of Craven Hill, Bayswater, were balloted
for and elected Ordinary Members.

4888 Tue ZooLtocist—Aprit, 1876.

Paper read, dc.

Mr. M‘Lachlan directed attention to an article, by M. Flaminio Baudi,
in the ‘ Petites Nouvelles Entomologiques,’ respecting the habits of Cychrus
cylindricollis, which he had taken on Monte Codeno feeding on the body of
a snail (Helix frigida), into the shell of which the beetle was enabled to
thrust its head and long narrow prothorax. Some interesting remarks
were made by Mr. Bates and others on the peculiar structure and habits of
the insect, which appeared to have been found only on a very sterile portion
of the plateau of the mountain, and in no other part.

A valuable paper was communicated by Dr. D. Sharp, entitled ‘‘ Con-
tributions to an Insect Fauna of the Amazon Valley—(Staphylinide).” Of
this important group of Coleoptera 487 species were enumerated as inhabiting
the valley, of which 463 were described as new—suggesting forcibly how
little is really known of the Staphylinidee of Tropical America. Dr. Sharp
also stated that he had devised a method of covering and hermetically
sealing the type specimens, which, he believed, would accomplish their
ginee complete preservation, and that he hoped soon to be able to publish
a description of the method. The author concluded with remarking on
the great importance of certain sexual characters in distinguishing the
species.

March 1, 1876.—Professor J. O. Westwoop, M.A., President, in the
chair.

Donations to the Library.

The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the
donors :—‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society,’ vol. xxiv., no. 166; presented
by the Society. ‘ Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society,’ 1871,
parts 1 and 2; 1872, parts 1 and 2; 1873, parts 1 and 2; 1874, parts 1
and 2; 1875, part 1; by the Society. ‘The Journal of the Linnean
Society—Zoology,’ vol. xii., nos. 6(0—62; by the Society. ‘The Naturalist,’
vol. i, no. 7; by the West Riding Consolidated Naturalists’ Society.
‘The Zoologist’ for March; by the Editor. ‘Newman’s Entomologist’
for March; by the Editor. ‘The Entomologist's Monthly Magazine’
for March; by the Editors. ‘Journal of the Quekett Microscopical
Club’ for January; by the Club. ‘Canadian Entomologist,’ vol. vii.,
no. 12; by the Editor. ‘Transactions of the American Entomo-
logical Society’ for March; by the Society. ‘The American Naturalist,’
vol. x., nos. 1 and 2; by the Editor. ‘L’Abeille,’ tome xiii., livr. 28; by
the Editor. ‘Mittheilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesell-
schaft,’ vol. iv, heft 8; by the Editor. ‘Briefe an C. Th. E. v. Siebold
von R.y. Willemoes-Suhm,’ nos. iii—vi.; by Prof. Siebold. ‘Annales de la
Societe Entomologique de Belgique,’ tome xviii. . fase. ili.; by the Society.

Tur ZooLtocist—APpRIL, 1876. 4889

Election of Members.

Dr. G. Kraatz, President of the German Entomological Society, Berlin,
and Mr. Clemens Miller, also of Berlin, were balloted for and elected
Foreign Members; and Mr. Oliver E. Janson, hitherto a Subscriber, was
elected an Ordinary Member.

Exhibitions, ée. :

Mr. Jenner Weir exhibited two grasshoppers in an undeveloped state,
taken by himself in the Rhone Valley, in copuld—a peculiarity which was
frequently noticed amongst the Hemiptera. He also exhibited a remarkable
moth from Madagascar belonging to the family Uraniide, bearing a very
striking resemblance to a Papilio, except that it had the antenne of a moth
and the hind wings were destitute of tails.

Mr. Edmund Y. Western exhibited some Coleoptera, taken chiefly in
Switzerland.

Mr. W. Arnold Lewis exhibited a specimen of Argynnis Dia taken in
England by Mr. Wallace A. Smith, whom he presented to the Meeting.
Mr. Smith stated, in answer to various enquiries by the President, that he
captured the specimen himself in the year 1872, while sunning itself on
some palings near his own house at Worcester Park, Surrey, and it was on
an exceedingly hot day, though he did not remember the month. He had
only commenced collecting insects in the preceding summer, and it was the
first Fritillary he had ever had in his possession, and the specimen had
never been out of his possession since. He was unable to identify the
species at the time, and was not aware of the rarity of the insect until he
showed it to Mr. Lewis. The specimen was handed to the Members and
pronounced to be undoubtedly an Argynnis Dia. Mr. Lewis remarked that
he had seen so many attacks in past publications on those who asserted
that Dia was a British species, that he was very desirous that the testimony
connected with the present capture should be recorded.

The President noticed a paragraph in ‘ Newman’s Entomologist’ stating
that the collection of butterflies and Moths formed by the late Mr. Henry
Doubleday was now being exhibited at the Bethnal Green Museum; and
he hoped that special care would be taken of it, as it was by far the most
valuable collection of British Lepidoptera in existence.

Mr. Dunning exhibited a pair of Caradrina morpheus taken in copula in
the Regent’s Park, the male being dead, and, although still attached to the
female, several eggs were laid and larve hatched therefrom in the box in
which they were placed.

Mr. Bates read a letter from Mr. Trovey Blackmore to Mr. M‘Lachlan,
stating that he was much interested in observing a notice in the ‘ Pro-
ceedings’ of this Society respecting the habits of Cychrus cylindricollis,
reported by M. Baudi to feed on snails. He had already called attention (in

4890 THE ZooLocist—APRIL, 1876.

the ‘Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine,’ vol. xi, p. 214) to the fact that
Carabus stenocephalus, Fairm., fed on snails, which in Morocco were so
very abundant as to form a marked feature in the landscape by covering
the bushes so thickly as to resemble, at a distance, clusters of blossom. He
had captured in all eighteen specimens of this scarce Carabus, and of these
fifteen were obtained either feeding on snails or climbing up bushes of
Retama, which were covered with snails, especially Helix planata. ‘The
Carabus having an unusually long head, and the prothorax being narrowed
anteriorly, enabled it to thrust its head and prothorax a considerable distance
within the shell in search of its food. It belonged to a group comprising
several species found in North Africa, which much resembled Cychrus in
appearance, and which possessed characters sufficiently marked to entitle
them to form, if not a genus distinct from Carabus, at least a subgenus of
Carabus. One of them (possibly a var. of C. stenocephalus) occurred in the
more northern parts of the Atlantic coast of Morocco, and had been named
by Fairmaire C. cychrocephalus; and another species (C. Aumonti, Lucas),
had been found at Oran and in the Angera Mountains near Ceuta, which
had a far narrower prothorax; but as he had not met with it himself he was
unacquainted with its habits. He believed that other Carabi might be
found whose habits were similar to those of C. stenocephalus.

Mr. Bates made some remarks on this as an instance of the modification
of a form to adapt the insect to a difference of habit: it could not be con-
sidered a case of affinity, Carabus and Cychrus being totally distinct genera.
The President, however, considered that the form was simply adapted to
the purpose for which the insect was created.

The President drew attention to a subject now being much discussed in
Germany and the United States of America, with reference to the spring
and autumn broods of Lepidoptera, which proved to be modifications of the
same species. He was much interested in the subject, and would be greatly
obliged to any entomologist who would furnish him with observations and
notes as to the different broods.

Papers read.

The President read a paper entitled “A Dipterological Note from Pom-
peii,” containing remarks on the habits of the genus Bombylius. Also
descriptions of some new species of Tipulide in the British Museum,
accompanied by drawings, showing them to be furnished with hind legs of
unusual length.

Mr. John Scott contributed a Monograph of the British species belonging
to the Hemiptera-Homoptera (family Psyllidz), together with a description
of a genus which might be expected to occur in Britain.—F. G.

Se oe i la i

THE ZooLtocist—A pRIL, 1876, 4891

Norrotk AND Norwicu Naturatists’ Society.

At the usual monthly meeting of this Society, held on the 1st of March,
the President in the chair, Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., delivered a lecture
entitled “The Rambles of a Naturalist in Egypt,” giving an account of the
birds observed by him in that country during his six months’ visit early in
the past year, with remarks upon their habits and distribution.

Before Mr. Gurney’s lecture, a paper by Mr. F. Norgate, of Sparham,
was read by Mr. H. D. Geldart, entitled “A Plea for those Species of
Birds too often destroyed in this Country through the mistaken zeal or
vulgar prejudices of Gamekeepers and Gardeners, with Notes on the
Nesting Habits of various Species, and their Encouragement by the
erection of Nesting-boxes.” Mr. Norgate commenced by advocating the
claims to protection of the owls, titmice, &c., in whose favour, from
observations of his own, he made out a most satisfactory case; as, for
instance, the finding of twenty good-sized rats in the nest of a barn owl,
which being perfectly fresh, and the weather very hot at the time, must
have been all killed during the previous night, whilst in about thirty owls’
nests examined by him not one contained the remains of any game bird.
This and many other equally convincing instances of usefulness to man
both of owls and many species of small birds were adduced by Mr. Norgate
as reasons for their being spared the wanton destruction which too often
awaits them on all hands, and which is only to be accounted for by ignorance
of their habits and of the services they in reality render us. Having shown
that these birds are really worth encouraging, Mr. Norgate next proceeded
to speak of the best mode of affording them protection, and described a plan
of constructing and erecting nesting-boxes, which he has employed with
singular success, giving a list of the birds which would most readily avail
themselves of these artificial homes, and concluded with some highly inte-
resting remarks upon the nesting habits of both land and water birds, which
partly by this means he had been enabled to observe.

A vote of thanks to Mr. Norgate for his valuable and interesting paper
was carried unanimously.

Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., then delivered a lecture on “The Rambles of a
Naturalist in Egypt.” Confining himself almost entirely to the Ornithology
of the country, remarkable for the number of aquatic birds making the Nile
their home, he stated his principal object in visiting Egypt last year was to
observe them at the period of their nidification: the number of species
identified by him was 223—far in excess of those observed in Algeria.
After giving the number of game-birds shot by the party,—consisting of
snipe, quail, two species of sand grouse, and ducks (of which latter they
Were too late in the season to obtain any great number),—and stating that,
as the snipe-shooting of the Delta was equal, if not superior, to the best to

4892 THe ZooLocisTt—APRIL, 1876.

be obtained in India, Egypt offered attractions equally great to the sports-
man and naturalist, Mr. Gurney spoke of the enormous number of ducks
found in some of the lakes,—flocks of which he described as looking like
islands whilst in the water, and in the air like the smoke from the funnel
of some great steamboat,—also of the great numbers of flamingoes, which
‘rose like a roseate cloud in the air. He gave an amusing account of a
night expedition for the purpose of taking coots with a casting-net—a
peculiar mode of fowling practised by the natives. In giving a list of
various naturalists who have written on the birds of Egypt, Mr. Gurney
said he hoped ere long to add a work of his own to those already pub-
lished. Whilst speaking of migration, the lecturer stated his belief that
some of our summer migrants amongst the Insessores may be considered
to breed in Southern Africa in winter, as well as in England in the summer.
Perhaps the most important fact discovered was that of the lesser white-

fronted goose (Anser minutus, Naum.) in Egypt, this bird having hitherto’

been regarded solely as a northern species. On the monuments in Egypt
the Egyptian goose is frequently figured, as well as the sacred ibis: the
latter species, if it ever existed there as an indigenous bird, has—like the
hippopotamus, the papyrus, and the lotus—receded before the advance of
civilization ; but the former is still an inhabitant of the districts in which
its outline is so faithfully and minutely portrayed. ‘To the shame of our
countrymen, many Goths calling themselves ‘ gentlemen” sadly mutilate
and deface the pictures and-decorations of the ancient tombs by writing or
scratching their names upon these interesting records—a practice which
cannot be too deeply deplored. With regard to the birds of prey,
Mr. Gurney stated that they abounded greatly, in consequence of the
unlimited supply of food in the shape of countless hordes of semi-wild
pigeons and other birds which exist. ‘Kites and vultures also abounded,
and form the sanitary police of the country, for the performance of which
useful but disgusting service they are highly valued, and he believed that it
was sight, and not scent, which guided them to their prey. Many writers
have identified the sacred hawk of ancient Egypt with the kestrel; this
Mr. Gurney thought was a mistake, and that the lanner falcon is in reality
the bird depicted: in this opinion Mr. Gurney’s father shared. After a
notice of the numerous and beautiful birds of the heron tribe, Mr. Gurney
briefly alluded to the Entomology of the country, which appears to consist
chiefly of fleas, flies and mosquitoes, and concluded with a spirited account
of the first crocodile seen by his party, and their all but successful attempt
to bag the tough-skinned monster.

The President proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Gurney for his interesting
lecture, which was carried unanimously.—‘ Norfolk Chroniele.’

i

Tue ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4893

Ornithological Notes from Norfolk.
By H. Stevenson, Esq., F.L.S.
(Continued from Zool. S. S. 4778.)

JANUARY, 1876.

Eider Duck.—A female was shot at Kelling, near Holt, on
the 2nd.

Shore Lark.—A considerable flock of these birds was observed
in the salt-marshes at Blakeney in the first week in January, and
may have frequented that part of the coast for some time before
they were recognised. From some notes on their habits by Mr. J.
Tillard, of that place, it seems that he first remarked them on the
salt-marshes there on the 3rd of January, when he shot two out of
a flock of about ten, and the next day three more. About a week
later he killed six, on the “ beach-way,” nearest the sea; but they
showed a decided preference for the salt-marshes, and he only
once saw them alight on the stones of the beach. He never
saw more than fifteen or twenty in one flock, but they generally
consorted, in small numbers, with snow buntings, and it was
difficult to distinguish them on the wing. On one occasion he
killed a snow bunting out of a flock, and on going up to it found
a shore lark sitting by it, which seemed very much disinclined to
leave it as he approached. They were, at first, a good deal tamer
than sky larks, and, when settled, crouched on the ground like
those birds. ;

Siskin.—This species, which is a very uncertain winter visitant
to this county, seems to have been plentiful this month. The
Norwich bird-dealers have had a good many, and on the 6th a
flock was seen on an alder at Northrepps. Mealy redpolls appear
to have been as scarce.

Fieldfare.—A pretty variety, with the feathers of the head nearly
all white, was killed during this month in the county.

Bittern.—One shot at Weybourne on the 7th.

Peregrine.—An adult female was shot on Brancaster Marsh on
the 8th, as recorded in the ‘ Field, and another female at Melton
Constable on the 15th.

Goosander, §c.—The severe but brief period of frost about the
middle of the month brought a sprinkling of “ hard-weather” fowl
to the waters of Breydon, consisting of some goosanders, golden-

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. Y

4894 Tue ZooLocist—May, 1876.

eyes and smews, with a few old birds amongst them; and on the
15th two fine male goosanders were sent to a Norwich birdstuffer
from Aldeby, near Beccles. Altogether the past winter has been
remarkable for the dearth of wild-fowl of all kinds.

Roughleaged Buzzard.—A female, in its first year’s plumage,
was shot at Northrepps on the 22nd, and another specimen the
following week at Beeston Regis. The Northrepps bird had been
feeding on a rabbit, and was observed in the neighbourhood for
some days before it was shot. Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., has come
to the conclusion that the supposed common buzzards, recorded in
my last notes, as seen at Northrepps, were of this species, which has
appeared so numerously during the past autumn and winter. (See
Zool. S. 8. 4829).

Sea Eagle.—A fine young eagle of this species was shot at
Fritton Decoy, near Yarmouth, on the 22nd—the same recorded
as a golden eagle in ‘Land and Water’ of the 5th of February.
Another sea eagle was also killed about the same time in the
neighbourhood of Yarmouth.

Black Redstart.—Since completing my last notes I have heard
of a specimen of this somewhat rare species in Norfolk having
been killed at Cley on the 4th of December last. Mr. J. H.
Gurney, jun., who has seen it, describes it as in female plumage.

Montagws Harrier.— A young male was killed at Melton
Constable on the 19th.

Magpie.—A male bird was killed at Northrepps on the 18th.

FEBRUARY.

Bittern.—A female shot at Hickling on the 3rd.

Waterhen.—Mr. Cordeaux (S. 8. 4709) records the appearance
of a supposed migratory flock of these birds in his neighbourhood
on the 23rd of last October, and Mr. Gurney informs me that
a flock of about fifty was seen in a meadow at Keswick, near
Norwich, on the 10th of February. Mr. F. Norgate, also, tells me
that, in the middle of January, he found numbers of waterhens
on the stream which runs through the village of Sparham, near
Norwich,—many more than are usually seen in that neighbour-
hood,—and after shooting all his dog could find in one day, the
next, or even a few days later, he met with as many more, and
this with only the barest shelter for them, in the way of sedges or
rushes, on either side of the river. It would be interesting, were

THE ZooLocist— May, 1876. 4895

it possible, to ascertain how far these congregations of a species,
rarely seen in flocks, is due to actual immigration or to an inland
migration of residents driven out from the broads and fens of the
county by the heavy floods of November, and the depth of water
still unsubsided in some localities. Snipe, plover, and other
marsh birds were either driven out of the county or to the upland
fields from the extent of the floods, and even waterhens cannot
exist on an interminable waste of water, and would be likely,
therefore, to migrate for a time to any stream and meadow-lands
affording food and foothold, essential to their wellbeing. Very
large numbers of gulls and lapwings, in the early part of the year,
were attracted to the marsh-lands immediately surrounding this
city—no doubt to feast on the drowned worms in the meadows, as
the waters subsided; and I have heard strange stories of the rats,
washed out of their haunts in the “ fens,” committing great ravages
upon the upland root-crops and granary stores. In some places
they might be seen collected in bunches on the trees, surprised by
the sudden rush of the waters over the fen-banks, and boys in
boats amused themselves by catching, in buckets, the numbers
seen swimming about and seeking, like the antediluvians of old,
some spot still raised above the rising flood. Woodcocks, from
the same cause, driven from low-lying carrs and plantations, have
been shot in localities where they are rarely met with.

Hafinch.—A male was shot at East Carlton on the 2nd, one at
Flordon on the 9th, and another at Sprowston, near Norwich, on
the 26th.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.—An adult male was shot at Thorpe
Market on the 27th.

Jack Snipe.—A few of these birds were met with in some inland
marshes about the middle of the month, but no whole snipe with
them.

Blackheaded Gull.—Mr. Purdy informs me that, when driving
between Ingworth and Cromer, on the 24th, he saw an almost
continuous flight of small gulls passing inland, and as some had
distinctly black heads he presumed they were all of this species.
On reaching Cromer he made out with his glass a large white
mass of birds, on the water about a mile from the beach, to be
also small gulls. Similar flights were observed the same day from
the North Walsham road pursuing a like course inland.

4896 THE ZooLocist—May, 1876.

Marcu.

Green Woodpecker.—On the 2nd of March two green wood-
peckers were observed at Northrepps, fighting violently on the
ground amongst some dead brakes. One had hold, with its bill,
of the tongue of the other, which was drawn out to its full
length, but quitting its hold, after some seconds, the released bird
immediately flew away, and the other pursued it.

Sea Eagle.—On the 8th Mr. Gurney was informed that an eagle
had frequented the Sheringham woods for about a fortnight.

Magpie.—It is somewhat singular that on the 17th of March
Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., again saw five magpies in the same field
at Weybourne, where he had on two previous occasions observed
a similar group, as recorded by him in the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. S. 4797).
It seems probable, if unmolested, that some of them may remain to
nest in that locality.

Goshawk.—An immature bird of this species, which is an un-
common visitant to Norfolk at the present day, was recently killed
near Melton Constable.

Curious Capture of a Shorleared Owl.—On the 11th of March
a male shorteared owl was brought to a birdstuffer in Norwich
with the following particulars :—A lad crossing a marsh at South
Walsham, on his way home from work, in the “dark hour,”
observed a lapwing sweep past him pursued by a larger bird. They
took no notice of him, and both fell to the ground within a few
yards of the spot where he was standing, when, creeping carefully
towards them, as they laid struggling on the marsh, he threw a
sack he had been carrying over the two, and then killed them
both. The pursuer turned out to be the shorteared owl here
noticed.

Polish Swan.—The Rev. C. T. Lucas, of Burgh, near Yarmouth,
writing to me on the 18th of March, says that a Polish swan,
a female, was shot flying over Filby Bridge on the 13th. This
bird, I have no doubt, for we have had no real wild-swan weather
this winter, had—as well as the pair recorded by Mr. Gunn (S. S.
4789) as killed on Hoveton Broad last December—escaped, through
being wholly or partly unpinioned, from some private water in this
county. Of the Hoveton birds Mr. Blofeld informs me that one was
a very strong flyer, and both were shot on the wing. One of them,
however, showed traces of pivioning, as did a previous specimen

THE ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4897

shot flying over the same broad in November, 1868. In confirmation

-also of my belief that the above were only escaped birds, I may
add that on the 21st of January of this year, a swan, answering
in all respects to the description of the so-called Polish, was
purchased in our fish-market, and on enquiry was found to have
come off a lake near Norwich, where probably others are kept
without the proprietor being aware that they differ from the
ordinary “mute” swan, and most likely in other parts of the
county these swans may have been supplied, by London dealers,
for the ordinary species—a point which I hope to be able to
ascertain in the course of the ensuing summer.

The Great Bustard.—Having been unfortunately prevented by
illness from visiting Hockwold at the time when the fine male
bustard, recorded by Mr. H. M. Upcher (S. S. 4882) took up its
temporary quarters in the “ Fen,” I can add nothing further to his
record than that no tidings have since been received of the noble
stranger.

Avocets.—-Two beautiful specimens were shot on Breydon on
the 30th and 31st, and nothing shows more plainly the uselessness
of the present ‘Wild Birds Protection Act,’ with its absurdly
reduced penalties, than the fact that no sooner are birds of this
kind—the first and rarest in the list of protected (?) species—
observed on our coast than their fate is sealed, and a purchaser
found, all the more readily because the gunner, a little nervous
about his part in the transaction, is glad to dispose of the spoil to
collectors at less than half the real value. If Mr. Chaplin’s Bill
is passed this session, I believe such Act will be put in force in

future.

HENRY STEVENSON.
Norwich, April 5, 1876.

Ornithological Notes from North Lincolnshire.
By Joun CorpeEaux, Esq.
(Continued from 8. 8. 4780).

JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND Marcu, 1876.

On looking over my note-book I find that there is scarcely
anything worth recording since the commencement of the year.
Never do I recollect such an utter dearth of birds, or so wet,
depressing and uninteresting a season. The weather, as a rule,

4898 THe ZooLocist—May, 1876.

from the 1st of January to the middle of March, has been extremely
mild and open, with much rain—February being an exceptionally
wet month, rain falling on twenty-four days, and the barometer
never up to thirty inches after the 3rd. It has also been since
Christmas the very worst wild-fowl season known for many years
on the east coast—neither duck nor wader to be found along the
shore. We might walk for miles without seeing anything, except the
ubiquitous hoodie or a troop of wandering gulls; inland also, with
the exception of a few pairs of mallard on the drains and blow-
wells, neither plover nor snipe, and I have not come across a single
teal during the last three months, or had a pull at a golden plover.
Even in an ordinary season we can generally manage to obtain,
with a fair amount of exercise, a supply of wild-fow] for the house
up to the end of February. This year I have scarcely had a gun
in my hand since Christmas. You might have carried one for days
without getting a shot. There has been also no wild-fowl in the
game-shops, and this is always a certain criterion that there has
been nothing to shoot.

Thrush.—After the short burst of sharp weather in the middle of
Jauuary considerable flights of thrushes, with a few redwings,
visited the fields of young clover in the marshes. They continued
in these localities for about ten days, and then left the district.
[ never succeeded in ascertaining what object they had in fre-
quenting so persistently situations far removed from their usual
haunts. It was probably due to some favourite food. That the
Merulide have not suffered from a scarcity of food is apparent by
our hollies and other berry-bearing shrubs being still (April 8rd)
resplendent with glittering carcanets of coral; even the abundance
of haws on the hedges are in many places scarcely touched.

Rock Dove.—January 17. 1 examined one shot recently on the
coast. The nearest nesting station of the rock dove is Flam-
borough Head.

Chaffinch.—The migratory flocks visiting us in the autumn are
composed almost entirely of females and the young of the year.
It is rarely indeed in these coast marshes that we see any number
of old males. I have this season, however, come across some
flocks of old males a few miles from this on the high wolds—most
notably under beech trees; and on another occasion, when riding
through one of Lord Yarborough’s woods, a large flock of bril-
liantly coloured males flew up from a plot where buckwheat

ee

THE ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4899

had been grown. Although separated into distinct flocks of males

and females, with the young of the year, the sexes have never been
very far apart—the former on the high wolds in plantations and
woodlands, the latter in the maritime plains.

Blackbird.—January 20. There was a blackbird in full song
this morning.

Golden Plover.—January 28. A dull warm night; heard spring
notes of golden plover.

Rook.—February 27. Commenced building.

Tree Sparrow, §c.—March 4. Rode across a great extent of
country to-day; only observed a few fieldfares, flocks of tree
sparrows and yellowhammers.

Peregrine Falcon.—Uave recently examined two shot in the
neighbourhood of Louth, North Lincolnshire; one a beautiful
adult male, the other a female in first year’s plumage. ‘The
peregrine, like the roughlegged buzzard, appears to have been
exceptionally numerous in the eastern counties during the autumn
and winter.

Little Gull.—One, a bird of the year, shot on the coast near
Tetney in February.

Yellowhammer.—March 18. In large flocks, frequenting gardens,
shrubberies, &c.

Snow Bunting.—April 1. Two on the Humber embankment
to-day; a flock seen in the same locality on the previous day.
This is the latest date I have ever known them remain in this
district.

JoHN CORDEAUX.
Great Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire,

April 5, 1876.

Notes from West Somerset.
By the Rev. Murray A. MatuHew, M.A.

March 23rd. Driving back from Taunton this afternoon I had a
very near view of an old male merlin, which popped over the
hedge and then skimmed over the road close to the side of my
carriage.

April lst. Going into Taunton this morning I noticed a fawn-
coloured common sparrow, with a white tail, sitting on a
hedge.

4900 THE ZooLtocist—May, 1876.

April 3rd and 4th. Very large flocks of fieldfares in the meadows
on each of these days.

April 4th. Heard the first chiffchaff. This is nearly three weeks
behind the usual date for this little warbler’s cheerful call to be
first detected. Noticed in the ‘Times,’ a couple of days since, an
account of nightingales having been heard singing near Chisle-
hurst on the 30th of March. Probably the real songster was a
fall-voiced thrush or blackbird. An average date for the nightin-
gale to be heard singing for the first time in the spring is the 12th
of April. In ‘Our Summer Migrants, Mr. Harting gives the end
of the second week in April as the period of the nightingale’s
arrival in the South of England. It is well known that the males
precede the females by a few days, and are generally mute while
they are taking up their quarters for the summer in some favourite
hedge or copse. Any one well acquainted with the bird can then
detect its presence by the harsh call-note it occasionally utters
while restlessly examining a hedge. ‘The lingering winter has
delayed the arrival of the earliest and most hardy of our summer
visitants, so that it is still more unlikely that the nightingale
should have come a fortnight before its time, and have burst out at
once into song. I have often wondered at the number of people
who, ignorant of the true note of the nightingale, confidently raise
some thrush, blackcap or other warbler to the dignity of the prima
donna of the copse. Often have I gone out to listen to some
reputed nightingale, and heard nothing more than the flute-notes
of a blackbird or the clear melody of a thrush.

April 5th. In the birdstuffer’s shop in Barnstaple I had to-day
the pleasure of examining a very fine example of the snowy owl
which had wandered so far south as Exmoor, and had been trapped
there on the 22nd of March. A shepherd had observed the bird
capture and kill two hares in succession, and had hastened to
inform the keeper that a large bird was making short work with
the hares on the forest. A trap baited with the remains of one of
these hares soon proved fatal to the splendid bird, which is a very
large female, and from its spots 1 should think two or three years
old. I am told that Mr. Gatcombe reports the occurrence of
another snowy owl, a male, on Dartmoor—not unlikely the mate
of the Exmoor bird. My friend the Rev. W. 8S. Hore has in his
collection a snowy owl—a much older bird than the one so recently
obtained near Barnstaple—which was picked up dead many years

Tue ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4901

since in the neighbourhood of Plymouth, and was recorded by
Dr. Couch, in his ‘ Cornish Fauna.’

April 7th. Saw the first swallows and sand martins flying over
the sands at Instow, North Devon, this morning.

With respect to my very dark roughlegged buzzard from North
Devon, I may state that, since my last notes about it, I have had
the advantage of Mr. J. H. Gurney’s opinion, who kindly came to
Bishop’s Lydeard expressly to examine it. He says, “‘ Your
buzzard is a splendid specimen, and I believe very nearly, if not
quite, unique.” But it does not correspond in the transverse bars
of the tail with the American roughlegged buzzard (A. Sancti-
Johannis) ; for my bird has broad bands, where in the American
species (if, pace Dr. Coues, we may so term it) those of a similar
colour are narrow. The American A. Sancti-Johannis has narrow
bars of gray colour and broad bars of dark colour; while A. lagopus,
on the contrary, has broad bars of a gray-white, alternated with
narrower bars of brown; and, as far as the bars can be traced on
my dark specimen, they agree in character with the markings on
the tail of A. lagopus. In Wilson’s ‘ American Ornithology,’ there
is given a figure of what he called the “black hawk” (A. Sanct¢-
Johannis), in which the bands across the tail are well depicted.
Mr. Gurney’s conclusion is that the dark buzzard I possess is a
melanism, or Sabinism, of A. lagopus.

Murray A. MaTHEw.
Bishop’s Lydeard, April 10, 1876.

Ornithological Notes from Devonshire and Cornwall.
By J. GarcomBeE, Esq.
(Continued from Zool. 8, S. 4824.)

FEBRUARY AND Marcu, 1876.

Herring Guil.—February 8. Weather very mild and fine. Her-
ring gulls are now, many of them, in full breeding plumage, and
have already commenced their amatory cries in the air. These
birds vary greatly in size: the other day 1 examined an enormous
adult specimen, which was fully as large as an ordinary-sized Larus
marinus, its wing measuring nineteen inches from the carpal joint.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and Knot.—February 10. 1 have
just seen a specimen of the lesser spotted woodpecker and a knot,
both killed in the neighbourhood of Plymouth.

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. Z

4902 THE ZooLocist—May, 1876.

Northern Diver.—February 15. Observed a northern diver flying
high across the Sound to-day: this species, however, is but seldom
seen on the wing in the winter, unless moving to a distant place.
On the 28th one of these birds was chased and caught by some men
in a boat: it had been wounded, and, strange to say, appeared to
have lost, or rather moulted, all the primary quills from both wings,
as many new spotted feathers were appearing on different parts of
the body; but, owing to ils exceeding fierceness in springing and
striking at everything and everybody within its reach, and being
in a rather dark shed, I unfortunately could not manage to see
whether the primaries were being replaced by new ones or not.
However, I know my shins were terribly wounded in the attempt.
The poor bird was continually uttering a most melancholy ery, and
I tried all in my power to obtain its release, but without effect.

Lesser Blackbacked Gulls—March 1. These birds have now
just begun to make their appearance in full summer dress, but the
greater blackbacks are taking their departure.

Blackheaded Guill (Larus ridibundus)—March 9. Many old
birds of this species have already assumed the complete dark head,
and will soon leave for their breeding stations. J have never known
even a young bird to remain with us during the summer.

Black Redstart.—March 13. Observed a black redstart on the
rocks near the Plymouth Citadel, and heard the spring note of the
greenfinch in our gardens. On the 21st (wind east and very cold,
with snow during the night) I saw two or three more black red-
starts on the coast.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.— March 17. Examined a great
spotted woodpecker, which had been killed near Plymouth, and
saw two more black redstarts.

Wheatear.— March 19. Wind blowing very hard from the north,
with occasional snow-showers, and bitterly cold; notwithstanding
which several wheatears had made their appearance on the coast,
all males and in fine spring plumage.

Common Gull (Larus canus).—A great many common gulls, or
“mews,” have visited our harbours lately. Generally adult birds,
but they did not nest in this locality.

Common Buzzard and Shorieared Ovwl.—March 21. A common -

buzzard and some shorteared owls have been brought to our bird-
stuffers within the last few days. The latter species has certainly
been unusually pleutiful this season.

THE ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4903

Lesser Blackbacked Gulls calling in the Air.—March 21. Our
harbours and docks are now full of lesser blackbacked gulls, mostly
in pairs and perfect summer plumage; indeed the air quite resounds
with their cries.

Ring Ouzel, §c.—On the 29th a ring ouzel, blackbird and
wheatear were brought in from the Eddystone Lighthouse, having
flown against the lantern during the night, and the light-keepers
say that birds have, within the last few weeks, literally swarmed
around the lamp after dark.

Sandwich Tern.—March 31. A party gull-shooting in the Sound
(for the last day of the season) came across a flight of Sandwich
terns, from which they killed one, a magnificent specimen in full
nuptial dress, with a lovely roseate tint pervading the lower parts.
No doubt they dropped in on the way to their breeding stations.

Wheatear.—March 31. A large flight of wheatears arrived on
the coast to-day, consisting of both males and females. The
redstarts have not yet left.

JOHN GATCOMBE.

Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Devon.

Notes from Portrush, County Antrim.
By J. Doueras-OciLpy, Esq.

THE severe storms which we have lately experienced have been
singularly unproductive of zoological rarities on this coast. The
fact of the wind being off shore during the greater part of the time
may perhaps account for this, since I have found a good many
waifs washed ashore during the last four days, when the storm had
gone round to the north and west. Of these, however, only two
are worth mentioning—namely, a young specimen of the tadpole
hake (Raniceps trifurcus, Walbaum), measuring only four inches
and a half, which I picked up dead upon the strand on the 15th of
March. This is the second example which has come under my
notice here, the first being recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ (S.S. 4753).
The curious fact of this fish being generally washed ashore dead
would seem to prove that it lives at the bottom in very deep water,
where neither nets nor lines can be used, and where it is perhaps
not so rare as is supposed. This specimen, although so small,
agreed in every particular with the description in the third edition

4904 THE ZooLocist—May, 1876.

of Yarrell’s ‘British Fishes,’ and with my former example. The
other was a fine specimen of the great pipefish (Syngnathus acus,
Linneus), which, as previously mentioned (Zool. S.S. 4754), is a
rare species here ; it was washed ashore living, and measures fifteen
inches and a half: the eyes were very prominent, and the irides
bright yellow. As it was very active when I found it I thought
I would try to keep it alive, so as to have an opportunity of
observing its motions when swimming about; accordingly I gota
large tub full of sea-water, into which I put it: my intentions
were, however, most unexpectedly defeated by the persistent
manner in which it kept the whole of its head and about an inch
of its body out of the water; its attitude was something like that
of the Hippocampus, as figured in Yarrell; perhaps, as they are
allied genera, this was its natural mode of resting; and, as its tail
was touching the bottom of the tub, it might have required a greater
depth of water than I was able to give it. Of what use can so
small an anal fin be to these fishes? On the 7th of February the
crew of a boat, with whom I had gone out to see the lines hauled,
caught a haddock; this is a great prize here now, as none have
been obtained for the last ten years, the fish having quite deserted
the ground, where they were formerly very numerous; this ex-
ample, however, which I secured-in the hope of getting a treat,
was worthless, as when cut open it was found to be diseased and
almost black inside. While | am on the subject of the Gadida,
I may mention that a very beautiful variety of the ling (Molva
vulgaris, Fleming) is often obtained here: it is of a pale violet
colour, irregularly mottled with dark purple, almost black spots, —
and grows to the same size as the usual kind: it is caught only on
a particular part of the bank, and is called by the fishermen
“spotted ling”; they do not, however, consider it a different
species to the normally-coloured examples. The cod and ling
fishery here this season has been almost totally ruined by the
enormous number of dogfish which took up their quarters on the
bank at the beginning of the season, and have remained during the
whole winter. They are of two kinds, Acanthias vulgaris, Risso, and
Scyllium canicula (Linneus); the former being to the latter in the
proportion of about twenty to one. Every boat comes in full of
these pests, and I have seen many times over a dozen fine cod and
ling brought up unsaleable on one line, very often nothing left but
the back-bone and the head; and so iavenous are these creatures

THE ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4905

that it is no uncommon occurrence to see several following a hooked
fish to the surface, and even when it has been lifted into the boat,
they will continue to swim after it, so that many are gaffed by the
fishermen in this manner.

The only rare bird which visited us this year was an adult
glaucous gull, and as it had a happy knack of appearing closely on
Sundays only it escaped the numerous gunners who were on the
look-out for it. On the 8th of February a friend of mine showed
me a herring gull, in full summer plumage, which he had shot
that day; this may be worth mentioning, as it was so early in the
year. On the same day my friend shot a splendid adult male
sheldrake, and two days afterwards I saw another and a pair of
pintails out at the Skerries. In the last week of February I got a
young razorbill, which had been driven ashore by the storm, but
was apparently uninjured: I brought it to a large pool of sea-water
to watch its method of diving: this it effected with great speed by
using its wings half-opened, as well as its feet. Though it fed
well on the day of its capture it died during the night.

The first week in March was marked by the appearance of flocks
of snow buntings, which, however, passed straight on, notwith-
standing the inclemency of the weather. Numbers of bernicles
(Bernicla leucopsis, Bechstein) were also passing, and on the 14th
especially, the wind being S.W., I observed a flock which could
not have comprised less than five hundred individuals, besides
smaller straggling bands. There is, too, a sensible increase in the
number of purple sandpipers about the rocks, and I sprung a wisp
of snipe out of the sandhills on the 17th, which was evidently
waiting to continue its journey northwards. Large flocks of
golden plover, in summer plumage, are down from the mountains,
and their black breasts look very much out of place as they sit in
the snow: neither did it appear natural to see rooks searching
under the snow for materials with which to repair their nests.
Twites have been exceptionally plentiful this winter, and during
the last week I have seen eight specimens caught in springes, two
of which | secured to try and induce them to breed in confine-
ment: perhaps some of your readers will kindly inform me what
is the best method of management, food, &c. Ihave only got a
cage such as is used for breeding canaries. A few days ago I
observed a pair of lesser blackbacked gulls acting in the same
manner as skuas; they would follow some particular kittiwake,

4906 THE ZooLtocist—May, 1876.

until they forced it to disgorge its prey, which they either caught
before it reached the water, or settled on the water and devoured:
I have not seen the habit noticed of this bird before. A fine pair
of Bewick’s swans were shot about the last week of February, on
the Lough Foyle slob: one of these, which was very slightly
injured, is still living and apparently reconciled to confinement, as
it feeds well and is not very shy: it is now in my possession.

I will conclude with an amusing parallel to the old belief that
the waxwing was the harbinger of pestilence. Some time ago, as
I was travelling from Wicklow to Dublin by train, I heard an old
gentleman remark to a friend that “he feared some great mis-
fortune was going to happen, as he had seen several white birds on
Kingstown Pier for the three previous days.” ‘There are always a
few snow buntings to be seen on the pier, and it was most likely
these that had frightened him.

J. Doueias-OGILBy.
The Nest, Portrush, County Antrim,
March 18, 1876.

Ornithological Notes from the North-West Coast.
By W. Artuour Dornrorp, Esq.

Buzzard.—A specimen of Buteo vulgaris was shot on Walney
Island on the 4th of December, last year: it had probably been
driven down from the fells by the hard weather, and, judging from
the contents of its stomach, had recently been preying on the
rabbits which abound in the island.

Montagws Harrier.—Oue of these handsome birds has lately
come into my possession, having been rescued from amongst a
heap of rubbish in the shop of our local birdstuffer, a blacksmith
by trade. This specimen was shot, in the autumn of 1874, on
Walney.

Longeared Owl.—This species seems to have been unusually
plentiful in this neighbourhood during the past year, and owing to
the number of sportsmen who are ever on the watch, a considerable
number have fallen victims. On the 18th of December, whilst
waiting for ducks in the evening, I killed a longeared owl as it
flew over one of the reservoirs in the immediate neighbourhood of
a number of blast-furnaces, at least a mile from any trees or
coppice.

Tue ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4907

Shorteared Owl.—During the winter months these birds resort
in large numbers to the warrens and sandhills of Walney Island,
where I have seen as many as six together, beating the ground for
mice, between three and four o’clock in the afternoon. Whether they
thus visit us in the ordinary course of their migrations, or whether
they are driven from the high land by the frost and snow, I cannot
say; the fact, however, remains that during the four or five winter
months as many as nine specimens have been brought to the bird-
stuffer in a single day, whilst it would be utterly impossible to
procure one from the same locality during the spring or summer.
The way in which these and others of our feathered visitors are
ruthlessly destroyed immediately they appear on our inhospitable
shores is a matter for real regret; and yet when a flight of
birds, and especially such birds as owls, alight actually within the
boundaries of a borough containing 40,000 inhabitants, and in a
locality where one may meet a dozen men with guns on any
Saturday afternoon, what else can be expected?

Wheatear.—First seen on March 30th, and again on April 10th
at an elevation of nearly two thousand feet.

Yellow Wagtail.—First seen on April 10th.

Rook.—It is worthy of record that the large colony of rooks
which inhabit the trees surrounding the well-known ruins of Furness
Abbey, during the breeding season, invariably retire elsewhere—
probably to Conishead Priory, a distance of about nine miles—to
spend the winter. I have noticed the same thing before in the
case of small rookeries, but never in an establishment of such large
dimensions as that at Furness Abbey.

Magpie.—The number of these birds to be found in this neigh-
bourhood strikes me as being somewhat unusual. I have frequently
counted as many as thirty in a flock during the months of December
and January.

Kingfisher.—A few years ago one of these birds killed itself by
flying against the lighthouse on the south end of Walney Island,
which is remarkable from the fact that I have never seen one in
this neighbourhood. I am informed by Geldart, the keeper of the
lighthouse, on whose evidence I place full reliance, that thirty years
ago it was not an unusual thing for as many as a hundred birds of
various kinds to kill themselves against the glass of the light in a
single night, whereas during the last six months a stock dove
and a woodcock are the only birds which have thus involuntarily

4908 Tue ZooLocist—May, 1876.

committed suicide. I suppose the great changes which have taken
place in the neighbourhood, and the immense increase of lights
both afloat and ashore since the time that this solitary lighthouse
cast its rays on the waters of the Irish Channel, may account, at
least partially, for the difference.

Turnstone.—During the past winter I have killed several speci-
mens of Strepsilas interpres on Walney and Foulney Islands.

Heron.—Whilst on a visit to the lakes last August 1 was glad to
observe one of these birds fishing on the margin of Rydal Water.
This seems to disprove the statement made in some of the guide-
books, that the heronry on the lake has been deserted for several
years.

Curlew.—Plentiful on the sand and mud-flats all along the
coast, and, thanks to their shy and wary habits, not likely to be —
exterminated at present. On making inquiries of the boatmen who
ply between Walney Island and the mainland as to the reason of
the dearth of wild-fowl in the market during the past season, I was
informed that all the sea-birds bad been shot during the severe
winter of 1874-5, when any one who chose to take a gun to Walney
brought strings of birds of all kinds, the hard weather and freezing
fogs rendering them easy of access. However, my observations
‘tend to show that curlews, whimbrels, oystercatchers and redshanks
are as plentiful as ever, though extremely difficult to approach,
and I have little doubt that another severe winter would produce
similar results. I found curlews nesting in various localities in
this neighbourhood last spring, but was not ‘successful in dis-
covering their eggs, being invariably outwitted by the wonderful
cunning and sagacity of the old birds.

Godwit.— Observed a large flock of these birds on the 19th of
February, on the shores of Walney Island, but was unable to obtain
a shot at them. They had apparently recently landed on our
coasts, and were doubtless of the bartailed species.

Greenshank.—A few single birds observed on each occasion of
a visit to the estuary of the River Esk up to the 17th of March.
None seen since that date.

Woodcock.—Very plentiful in the thick coppices to the north of
this town, where | fancy they breed in considerable numbers. Last
spring I several times observed a single bird wending its way to
the fields about dusk, and two years ago a friend came across
several young birds in a retired glade.

THE ZooLtocist—May, 1876. 4909

Shieldrake.—It gives me much pleasure to be able to record that
a considerable number of these handsome ducks still breed annually
on our coast. Last summer I was shown a brood of nine which
had been hatched under a hen at North End Farm, Walney Island,
from eggs taken in the neighbouring sand-hills; and on March 25th
of this year I counted as many as fifteen or twenty pairs in a com-
paratively small area. Unfortunately, since the last-mentioned date,
these birds have not been permitted to rest in peace, four at least
having fallen victims to a single gunner in this town.

Goldeneye.—During the whole winter a small flock of these
pretty little ducks, varying in number from two to twelve, has
occupied a large reservoir close to the Iron and Steel Works in this
town. Owing to the persistent way in which they have kept to the
centre of the sheet of water, I believe that not a single one has
been killed during the season, although duck-guns of prodigious
length, as well as sundry rifles, have been brought to bear upon
them. The last disappeared about the middle of March.

Guillemot.—On the 10th of February [ procured one of these
birds, in full summer plumage. At this period of the year enormous
flocks congregate in Morecambe Bay, previously, no doubt to
retiring to their winter quarters.

Cormorant.—A few usually frequent the North End of Walney
Island during the winter, though specimens are seldom procured.
On the 11th of March I observed a considerable number in an
estuary on the Cumberland coast, but a fortnight later not one was
to be seen. No doubt they had moved off to St. Bees Head, about
ten miles further north, where I am told they breed annually.

Roseate Tern.—I have lately endeavoured in vain to trace out
a pair of these birds—now almost, if not quite, unknown in their
once famous breeding-place on Walney Island—which were killed
two years ago at Biggar (Walney Isle), and stuffed by a blacksmith
in Barrow, who described them as rose-breasted “ sparlings” (local
name for terns). I have still a remote hope that I may come
across specimens of this bird, as well as Sterna cantiaca, during
the ensuing summer, but the strictness with which the breeding-
places are protected by special watchers placed there by the farmer,
whilst it is undoubtedly an admirable arrangement, prevents the
ornithologist from pushing his researches as far as he would desire.

Blackheaded Gull.—The gullery on Walney Island has been too
often dilated upon to require any description. It is still in a

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 2a

4910 THE ZooLocist—May, 1876.

flourishing condition, the portion occupied by the terns having
been more thickly tenanted last year than in any previous season,
notwithstanding that it is within two miles of the centre of a manu-
facturing town, and is illuminated during the night by the glare of
sixteen blast-furnaces.

W. ARTHUR DURNFORD.
Roper Street, Barrow-in-Furness,

Noles on the Structure of Aquariums.
By W. A. Lioyp, Esq.*

On the Ist of March, 1876, Mr. W. S. Kent read, at the Society
of Arts, a paper on Aquaria, and I was invited by the Chairman,
General Cotton, to join the discussion which followed the discourse,
but I preferred to make my remarks in type, and I now will do so,
having before me the paper (as printed in the ‘Journal of the Society
of Arts’ for March 3rd), crowded with errors both of commission
and omission, from end to end.

Mr. Kent’s chief point seems to be his objection to the plan of
aquarium construction which I have successfully pursued for many
years, and which consists in using unchanged sea and fresh water,
kept in constant circulation, between a series of show-tanks con-
taining animals and plants exposed to light, and an underground
dark cool reservoir, containing several times as much water as the
collective capacity of the show-tanks, Mr. Kent maintaining that
large dimensions in the reservoir are unnecessary, for reasons which
he does not set forth. I therefore have now to describe why
I believe and know they are requisite.

The average temperature of the air of the British islands, as
determined from observations made during about one hundred
years, is about 48° F. This, however, does not express the true
temperature in its great variations, which range from occasional
extremes of 102° F. above zero, to 8° F. below it, thus giving so
great a range as 110° F. Before me is a chart of British tempera-
tures from the year 1771 to 1853, in which these variations are
shown in zigzag lines, which Mr. Hugh Gordon has, in a very

* Part of a reply—published in the ‘Journal of the Society of Arts,’ and com-
municated to the ‘ Zoologist’ by the author—to a Lecture on ‘ The Structure and
Management of Aquariums,” delivered by Mr. Kent at the Society of Arts, and
noticed in the April number of this journal (S. S. 4853).

THE ZooLoGistT—May, 1876. 4911

beautiful manner, converted into a series of elliptically equated
curves, which place before the eye in a strikiug way the cycles of
years of hot and cold temperatures which mark our very variable
climate.

At or near the surface of the seas of our islands, where aquarium
animals came from, the range, however, is very much less, the water
being neither so hot nor so cold as the air, especially of the air in
inland places, the temperature of our sea water being from 45° F,
to 65° F., and having an average of about 60° F. This tolerably
uniform temperature of the sea-water tends to give a similar uni-
formity to the air immediately in contact with it, which accounts
for the mildness of the climate at seaside places in winter.

In the ‘ Engineer’ of October 15th last is an illustrated aquarium
communication by me, but not signed, in which I have described
the manner in which this uniformity is effected. The water is
heated at the earth’s equator, and a surface-current of warm water
flows towards both of its poles, and there becoming cold, it sinks
and returns towards the equator in an under-current, the sinking,
and therefore the primary cause of the motion, being caused by the
behaviour of sea water under the influence of cold, as a consequence

‘of the density which it acquires from the salts it holds in solution.

Dr. W. B. Carpenter, who has devoted much attention to oceanic
circulation, has also explained all this, and has testified to the
correctness of the means which I have introduced in Aquaria to
represent what Nature does. |

Fresh water behaves somewhat differently to sea water when
exposed to cold, but our rivers and other streams, and ponds, and
lakes, similarly to the sea, do not have such great ranges of tem-
perature as our air, and, to sum up on this point, it has been found
that the best temperature for the sea and fresh water of Aquaria in
which to keep British aquatic and non-lung-breathing animals is
from 55° F. to 60° F. throughout the year. In winter this tem-
perature might be easily maintained by means of fire, and in
summer it might be kept down by refrigerating apparatus ;
but without some such counteracting means of warming and
cooling, an aquarium would injuriously follow the temperature of
the atmosphere. It occurred to me, however, in the year 1854,
by seeing what was done in the aquarium of the Regent's Park
Zoological Gardens, where the sea-water reservoir was, and is, too
small, and by the familiar domestic appliance of a cool cellar or

A912 THE ZooLocist—May, 1876.

under-ground back kitchen, that a much easier mode of equalising
temperature in Aquaria might be used, and the various steps by
which I reasoned_out and worked out such success as I then, and
have since, attained, are described in a five-column communication
I made to the ‘ Gardeners’ Magazine, and in pages 65 to 102 of
the ‘Handbook to the Royal Westminster Aquarium,’ both pub-
lished on the 22nd of January last, and both written during the
week previously. The main principles involved in the water-
circulating system in all public Aquaria constructed under my
supervision, turn on the law governing the following facts:—If a
quart of water at 100° F. be added to a quart at 50° F., the mixture
of the two will be 75° F. If one at 100° F. be added to two at
50° F., the result will be 66°6° F. If one at 100° F. be added to
three at 50° F., the mean will be 62°5° F. If one at 100° F. be
added to five at 50° F., the result will be 58°3° F.; and if the pro-
‘portions be one to twenty, the mixture will be 52°3° F., and so on;
the larger the proportion of the colder mass being to the warmer,
the nearer the mean of the two masses will approach to the tem-
perature of the larger mass. The entire thing is shown in the
accompanying diagram, where B is a large under-ground, cool, dark
reservoir, C is a pipe conveying water from B to the show-tank a,
containing fishes or other animals, and P is a pipe conveying water
from a to B. The six arrows indicate the direction in which the
water flows. §E is a pipe to re-supply the water which evaporates.
As this is an ideal representation, showing only results, all the
machinery (as engines and pumps) giving these results, by moving
the water, is omitted.

Now let it be supposed that—which really would be the case in
an English summer, without any circulation going on between
A and B—the tank B would have its water at about 60° F., and a
would have its water at about 75° F. On the circulation being
established, and continued for some time, the water in A would
become cooler, and that in B warmer, than before, and the mean
temperatures of the two, varying according to the proportionate
quantity of water in B, would be according to the seven following
formulas :—

No.l. A, 23 Bh aes result; 70° F.
No. 2. a, 1; B, 1; result, 67°5° F.
No. 8. a, 1; B, 2; result, 65° F.
No. 4. a, 1; 3, 3; result, 63°7° F,

THE ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4913

No. 5. a, 1; B, 4; result, 63° F.
No. 6. a4, 1; B, 5; result, 62°5° F.
No. 7. 4,1; B, 20; result, 60°7° F.

WATER LINE

So that, by increasing the quantity of water in B, that in A is made
to approach very near to the temperature of B, whether the sur-
rounding atmosphere tends to increase or decrease the temperature

4914 THE ZooLocist—May, 1876.

of a. The water rises through c at an even temperature, exactly
as it would if rising from a natural well, or spring, whether the
spring be cold or hot, as in nature, and we can so increase the
speed of the flow through c that the fluid is not allowed time to
become unduly warm or cold in a. We know by many years of
observation in the Observatory at Greenwich, that at a depth of six
feet below the ground there, the mean daily range of the ther-
mometer is less than one degree, while at the surface it is. often
twenty degrees. These facts, and the results to be deduced from
them, are alike incontrovertible. We also know, from Bunsen’s
tables, how much atmospheric air in solution water will retain when
not under pressure at varying temperatures, and it is also known
that it is upon the presence of such air in solution that the value
of the water for aquarium animals proper mainly depends. It is
true that, as Mr. Kent states, the quantity of air injected into a
under the conditions No. I may be increased by accelerating the
flow, but that does not diminish or increase the temperature, and
that is the primary thing. It is also true that some local circum-
stances may affect these results, such as a very equable and mild
climate, or an aquarium building of extreme temperatures either
way, or the use of tanks which are very shallow or very high,
which increase or diminish the surface absorption of air, but, as
giving general and broad results, the figures just quoted may be
depended upon, and they were true in their results at the Man-
chester Aquarium, which Mr. Kent cites as a contradiction to my
theory. This, under Mr. Kent’s supervision, containing show-tanks
aggregating 150,000 gallons, the amount in animal life was no
greater than, if so great as, is contained in the Crystal Palace Aqua-
rium of only 20,000 gallons in the show-tanks. Even in the reserve-
tanks in the latter place we often keep almost as much living food
alone, in the shape of prawns, shrimps, crabs, mussels and oysters,
all of which tend to sully the water, and which themselves have to
be fed, as were kept in all the Manchester Aquarium, which has no
reserve-tanks. There is no truer test of the amount of healthy
organic life in an aquarium, of the kind which admits of manual
feeding, than is to be found in the quantity of food consumed.
Mr. Kent told me that in the vast aquarium at Manchester, con-
taining show-tanks collectively of 150,000 gallons, and a reservoir
of 50,000 gallons,—total, 200,000 gallons,—the food amounted ‘to
no more than £40 or £50 a-year, But in the Crystal Palace

THE ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4915

Aquarium, with only 20,000 gallons in the show-tanks, and 100,000
gallons in the reservoir,—total, 120,000 gallons,—the food amounts
to £120 a-year. In the Manchester Aquarium, with animals of
precisely the same kind as at the Crystal Palace, and with the
water always absolutely clear and well oxygenated, the quantity
of food consumed should be of the value of about £200 a-year, but
as it comes to only about one-fourth or one-fifth of that sum, proof
is thereby given that the animal life must be much less than in a
much larger space, and that, therefore, there must be a waste of
capital in erecting excessively large, because sparsely occupied,
water-spaces above ground. I noticed particularly at Manchester
that the large sea-anemones, as Actinoloba Dianthus, in the greater
tanks, instead of standing up, like tall columns with overhanging
tentacles, as at the Crystal Palace, where they are always fed
individually by hand, one by one, were nearly all flat, contracted
and closed, because insufficiently fed. Few things seem more
surprising than that in the sparklingly clear Crystal Palace sea-
water,—which is not changed or added to further than having two
per cent. per annum of new sea-water introduced to compensate for
unfortunate leakages, and one-half per cent. per annum of fresh
water to supply for evaporation,—we have in five years given our
animals over £600 worth of animal food (excluding vegetable food),
and yet we very rarely remove uneaten food, or the excrementitious
results of food. The cost of such food in Manchester and London
is the same, and though it may be that Manchester, for unwise
economy, may purchase very little of the same expensive food, as
living shrimps and prawns, yet nothing is gained by such an
omission, as aquarium animals, like human and all other animals,
thrive best when the food is not only abundant, but varied.

In all Aquaria, the work to be done is the oxygenation of certain
organic matters, so that the animals may be healthy and the water
clear, and if sufficient means be not used to do this work, the water
must be more or less turbid, or the amount of organic matter must
be proportionately lessened. Now at Manchester this was the case,
for the water, when I saw it, was not sparklingly bright, nor was
_ the amount of organic matter to be oxygenated—7.e., the animals
and their food—adequately large in comparison to the size of the
place. Once, I remember, on a very hot day in July, I tele-
graphed to Manchester that our Crystal Palace temperature was
as follows :—

4916 THE ZooLoGist—May, 1876.

Maximum external air at Sydenham and Greenwich - 92° F.
= air in shade in Crystal Palace’ - - BL ip
7 air in shade in Crystal Palace Aquarium - 77 ,,
5 in water in Crystal Palace Aquarium, every-
where - - - - : - - ere (ai

and J asked for similar information about the Manchester Aquarium,
but it was refused me. Indeed, our great success at the Palace
depends very much on our temperature being nearly that of the
actual English ocean in all seasons; and it is this, conjoined with
complete and constant aération by our machinery, that enables us
to keep in a comparatively small space so many animals, and many
of them of kinds which, when we once get them uninjured, are
maintained nowhere else under the same inland conditions. Among
these we kept some young herrings till they were eaten by a noc-
turnally prowling eel. And we now keep Sepia (one of the cuttles),
and it feeds and grows vigorously, as it feeds and grows in no other
aquarium.

Irrespectively of the consideration of temperature (which, how-
ever, cannot be readily left out), and if, indeed, it be necessary to
argue that a given amount of any diffusable matter sullies a given
large body of fluid less than a small body, we possess a good
illustration of the effect which great masses of water exert when
brought into contact with smaller masses, containing much decom-
posing organic matters, which the larger masses rapidly dilute by
their bulk, and gradually resolve into their constituents, by referring
to the improvements made of late years in the drainage system of
London. Formerly the sewage matter resulting from a great mass
of human beings and other animals was permitted to flow into the
tidal river Thames, the bulk of which did not then allow it to
become very seriously polluted. But as the metropolis rapidlly
grew larger, and as the river did not so increase, the pollution
of the stream increased in the same proportion, until at last the
decomposing organic matters it contained, upon being washed up
and down as it ebbed and flowed, before it ran into the sea, became
so intolerable from the poisonous gases they evolved—especially in
warm weather, when the decomposition was more rapid—that it
was resolved to make the sewage flow more directly into that
infinitely larger receptacle, the sea, which even the enormous mass
of London sewage has no power to permanently and seriously
affect. This brings me to explain why I chose the formula No. 6—

THE ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4917

five to one—for the great London Aquarium now preparing to be
opened at Westminster, where the circumstances are quite different
to those at Manchester, and where the aquarium is not, as at West-
minster, placed in the very midst of a great city, with a soot-laden
atmosphere. Moreover, in this latter aquarium, some of the tanks
measure twenty feet wide from back to front, being more than in
any other aquarium where the water is maintained in so clear a
condition as to satisfy my fastidiousness. When this width is so
great, the size of reservoirs must be relatively increased, because a
very small addition of foreign matter in suspension or solution
then increases the apparent turbidity. Moreover, the Westminster
building itself is not exactly such a one as I should prefer for an
aquarium, if I could have controlled it, with reference to all things,
but as it has to be used for many other purposes I must make the
best use of it that I can for my purpose. It is, in effect, a huge
conservatory of glass and iron, supported on brick walls, and, in
spite of much good ventilation, it will be very hot in summer.
Yesterday, for example, was a cold and blowing March day (the
9th), with strong sunshine, and at noon the temperatures were
thus :—

External air, maximum—true temperature - : 55° OF.
in minimum cs - - SOgayt
Internal air in Westminster Aquarium building - Gers
Water in reservoir of Aquarium, at bottom - - AGT
He S at top - - - 50°5 ,,
Water in Crystal Palace Aquarium everywhere - = #094 4,

This water at Westminster was fresh water, used to test the sound-
ness of the reservoir, and as it had been in for ten days, it had had
time to assume its normal temperature, and it was ten feet deep
vertically. No water was in the show-tanks, and no circulation
was going on. This indicates, clearly, that a valuable equalising
effect will be gained by the reservoir, which these figures show is
not at all too large; in fact, I tried to get it made to hold a million
gallons, instead of only about 600,000 gallons. Really such a
reservoir cannot be too great for the general purposes of an

* It will be seen that the Crystal Palace water is higher than that in the West-
minster reservoir, because the show-tanks above are exposed to warmth, while at
Westminster there are at present no show-tanks to raise the temperature of the
reservoir. The minimum of the external air was for the previous twenty-four hours.
The instruments used were made by Negretti and Zambra.

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. Pas)

4918 THE ZooLocist—May, 1876.

aquarium, the goodness of which a naturalist, if he be true to his
cause, will only regard, and for such excellence and for the
animals it contains, he will alone care. He will, if he be genuine
and zealous, regard the creatures he has to keep, not as unfortunate
prisoners for whom it is policy to do as little as possible for
their comfort, but as friends and guests, for whom he cannot do
too much. Therefore, the only limits to the dimensions of aquarium
reservoirs are considerations of cost and space. But long experience
points out that for all general purposes the proportion of formula
No. 6 is an excellent one as a minimum, and to gain this, or better,
a much larger proportion, as even ten or twenty to one, as being,
in the end, an excellent investment of capital, a right-minded
naturalist will do much, even to the extent of recommending the
sacrificing of the features of building which are not constructurally
necessary, but merely decorative. The slight enrichment of sur-
faces of necessarily constructive parts is all that a well-educated
man will aim at. He cares only for the decoration of construction,
and is content to leave the construction of decoration to the
ignorant and vulgar.

Curious Hare.—Yesterday, a little to the north of York, I saw a funny
hare. Its body appeared to be white; but the fur of the head was the
natural brown colour.—J. H. Gurney, jun. ; Darlington, March 25, 1876.

Are White Cats with Blue Eyes Deaf!—Many persons are under the
impression that white cats with blue eyes are deaf; it can by no means,
however, be deemed to be so commonly the case as to be an evidence of
much consequence in building a theory upon. A New Zealand corre-
spondent sends us some curious facts bearing on the point. ‘“ At Taranaki,
N.Z.,” he says, “I saw a white cat with blue eyes which was not at all
deaf, and a good many of its kittens were white and had light blue eyes.
As many of these had perfect hearing as were afflicted with deafness. This
cat had a grown-up kitten perfectly black, which had sometimes also white
young ones with blue eyes; it showed, as did the old cat, a singular
partiality for them. On one occasion it happened that the old white cat
and her black daughter had litters at the same time; amongst them there
was only one white kitten with blue eyes—the black cat’s. The two fought
fiercely for possession of the coveted beauty, and the old cat frequently took
it away and placed it amongst her own. One morning the unfortunate
object of quarrel was found divided, by the recommendation of some feline
Solomon, and each cat quite contentedly in possession of half. Both of

Tue ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4919

these litters had some light tortoiseshell-coloured kittens among them, of
which a moiety appeared to have their hearing imperfect."—‘ Nature.’

(I have so frequently heard it asserted that white cats with blue eyes
were deaf, that I have taken it for granted that this was the case. I have
known a single instance of a cat insensible to sound, but it had one blue and
one red eye, the latter as in an albino.—_ Edward Newman.]

Rare Birds and Otter near York.—A tufted duck was shot near Malton
on the 24th of February; a young female smew at Poppleton, near York,
on the 28th; a female scaup and a merlin near Malton on the 29th; a great
northern diver at Norton Coney on the 8th of March; a tufted duck near
Malton on the 14th; a pintail duck at Pocklington on the 14th. An otter
was killed near York some time in December last; and in November a
roughlegged buzzard and a little stint were shot near here. Except the
otter and roughlegsed buzzard, these are all in the possession of Mr. Ripley,
naturalist, York—J. E. Gripper ; March 17, 1876.

Rare Birds near Malton.—A scaup duck was shot at Ganton, East
Riding, on the 18th of February ; a green woodpecker at Gilling on the 26th,

and one seen in Castle Howard Park on the 8th March. A tufted duck

was shot on Gilling Castle Lake on the 8th of March; three others were
seen at the same time. A pintail duck was shot at Stowood on the 14th
of March.— George Edson; Malton, Yorkshire.

Ornithological Notes from Dublin.—April in Dublin has been an extra-
ordinarily severe month; notwithstanding this, however, several of the
summer migrants have already put.in an appearance. Wheatears were seen
in the outskirts of Dublin on the 27th of March. The chiffchaff was heard
on the 1st of April; the willow wren was seen shortly after; and swallows
were seen at Leixlip and Bray, &c., on the 11th. A corn crake was observed
near Dublin about a fortnight ago; and one of our leading naturalists has
been pursuing that rare bird, a black redstart, for several days. The snow
buntings, which were very numerous this year, have long since departed.—
Charles W. Henson; Dublin, April 14, 1876.

Greenland Falcon in North Wales.x—On the 20th of March last I had
the satisfaction of examining, in the flesh, a splendid specimen of the adult
male Greenland falcon, at Henry Shaw’s shop in Shrewsbury. The bird
was the property of Mr. John F. Jesse, of Caefron, Ruthin, North Wales,
and had been given to him by Mr. John Roberts, of Rhiwlas, who picked it
up a few days before, quite dead, on the Llanbedr Mountain. The plumage
was magnificent, scarcely a feather being out of place, and although the crop
and stomach were empty the bird was heavy and in good condition. Its
death appeared to have been caused by coming violently in contact with a
telegraph-wire or some other obstacle, as the skin was cut in two places on

4920 THe ZooLocist—May, 1876.

the neck, and the heart a good deal congested with blood. The centre claw
of the left foot was gone, but the injury was not recent, as the wound had
perfectly healed over. In appearance and markings this falcon strongly
resembled the plate of the Greenland “light race” in Mr. Gould’s work.
There were a few spots on the back of the bird, and the quill-feathers were
tipped with black, though not very dark; the tail and the remainder of
the plumage was of the purest white—John Rocke; Clungunford House,
Shropshire, April 10, 1876.

Iceland Falcon in Caithness.—On the 1st instant a very fine specimen
of the jer-falcon (falco islandicus) was trapped by William Lawson, game-
keeper, Brubster, Thurso. We had experienced very rough weather some
short time beforehand, which had no doubt been the cause of this rare bird’s
visit. It was brought to me to be preserved, and had seemingly been living
well lately, as it was in beautiful plumage, and weighed three pounds.—
Nichol M‘Nichol ; Westfield, Thurso, Caithness. (From the ‘ Field,’ April 8.)

Common Buzzard at Scarborough.—On the 20th of March a common
buzzard was got near Scarborough ; it was trapped upon a woodcock. Isaw
both hawk and lure, in the flesh, at the house of Mr. Roberts.—J. H.
Gurney, jun.

Common Buzzard in East Yorkshire.x—A female specimen of the common
buzzard was taken in a trap during the last week in February, at Holme
Wood, in this Riding. Internally it was a mass of fat. The stomach
contained nothing but the remains of beetles.—/’. Boyes ; Beverley.

Roughlegged Buzzard.—Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., says (Zool. 8. S. 4829),
“Captain Hadfield doubts if this buzzard would prey on any ducks except
lame ones.” I quoted Wilson (which is shown by inverted commas), with
whom I agreed. As to the remark that ‘“ Yarrell seems in error in saying
that the roughlegged buzzard shows a preference for marshy districts,” he
probably, knowing little or nothing of the habits of the species, would
naturally refer to Wilson for information, who says that it “spends the
chief part of the winter among our low swamps and meadows, watching for
mice, frogs, lame ducks, and other inglorious game.” Having had favourable
opportuyities for observing the roughlegged buzzard, it being a common
species in Canada, I think Wilson’s description of its habits cannot well be
improved on, though I may entertain a doubt as to its power of securing
even a ‘‘lame duck.” With regard to its “swooping” on a full-grown wild
duck, or even on a full-grown rabbit, T must beg to question, if not doubt
it, till duly authenticated. That one was “seen hovering over a pond on
which there were some tame ducks"—and possibly ducklings, to say
nothing of frogs and water voles—J can readily believe; also that fur of
the rabbit was found in the stomach of one, but the question is to what
sized rabbit it belonged. However, I cannot but think that an ornithologist
like Wilson must haye been better acquainted with the habits of the rough-

‘t
i ft

Tue ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4921

legged buzzard, so common a bird in America, than a casual observer can
be here. It greatly resembles the kestrel in its manner of hawking for
mice, though soaring at a greater elevation. Its diminutive bill, small feet
and weak claws unfit it for preying like a falcon. Mr. Gurney seems to
think that Yarrell erred in saying that the roughlegged buzzard prefers
marshy districts—how then is it to find the ducks on which it is said to
prey ?—Henry Hadfield ; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, March 21, 1876.

_ PS.—A roughlegged buzzard I shot and examined in Canada had mice,
and mice only, in the stomach, though there were ducks enough—less
formidable, too, than the mallard—in the neighbouring marshes and islets.
That frogs and lizards are also preyed on we know, on the authority of
Wilson.—H. H.; April 5, 1875.

Roughlegged Buzzard.—The roughlegged buzzards have not all cleared
out yet from Scotland. So I learn on enquiry among the naturalists at
Edinburgh. <A brace were killed, but in different places, a week or two
ago. It is curious how long the relics of a migratory band of birds will
sometimes remain in the country, spite of the efforts to shoot them.—J. H.
Gurney, jun. ; Edinburgh.

Plumage of the Roughlegged Buzzard.—I have not the fourth edition of
Yarrell at hand to refer to, but I remember an error of transcription in the
Editor’s description of the plumages of the roughlegged buzzard, which it is
.rather important that Mr. Sclater should know. ‘The words “ transverse”
and “longitudinal” are transposed, making it appear that the dark marks
are transverse in the young bird. Of course it is purely a lapsus calami,
and the Editor intended to say quite the opposite. I pointed it out to him
soon after the part came out, and he was much surprised at the slip: I see
it is corrected in the ‘“‘ Corrigenda.” Now I recommend Mr. Sclater to
read the description over again, substituting “longitudinal” for “transverse,”
and Iam much mistaken if he does not then find that his bird is a young
one. The tibial feathers being streaked make me think so. Besides forty-
nine out of fifty roughlegged buzzards killed in Hngland are immature.
I shall be glad to hear what he makes of it.—Jd.

Occurrence of the Snowy Owl on Darimoor.—On Monday, March 13th,
during very severe weather, a beautiful snowy owl was shot on Ditsworthy
Rabbit Warren, Dartmoor, strange to say by the warrener’s grandson, a
little boy only eight years of age (though, I understand, a capital shot),
who, being at home from school for a birthday holiday, and amusing himself
with a gun, happened to see the owl pounce on a rabbit, which it struck
dead in an instant. He then crept cautiously up behind a burrow, in order
to get as near as he could, when the bird, either hearing or seeing him,
immediately rose, leaving its prey behind, and flying directly over the boy’s
head, was brought down by a shot in the wing. On my asking if the lad
had not great difficulty in securing his prize, I was told that he could do

4922 THE ZooLocist—May, 1876.

nothing with it until his grandfather (Mr. Ware), who saw the bird fall,
came up and put his foot on it. A little terrier had made a bold attempt,
but was sent “screeching” away. I unfortunately did not see, or even
hear, of the capture of the bird until after it was stuffed, and was conse-
quently unable to make a proper examination or take correct measurements
of the specimen; however, from its comparatively small size and the
general whiteness of its plumage, I feel certain of its being a male, and an
old one too. Its weight was] said to be just over four pounds, and I found
the length of the wing, from the point of the carpal joint to the end of the
longest quill-feathers, exactly fifteen inches. The upper plumage is
perfectly white, with the exception of some small dark brown bars and
spots on the scapulars, tertials, wings, and head; all the tail-feathers
white, with only three minute spots on the two centre ones, a couple
on one and one on the other. There are also seven or eight faint lunate
bars on either side of the breast, but beyond that all the under parts, from
the chin to the tail-coverts, are wholly white. Bill and claws shining
black, except at their bases. The bird was seen only a short time before it
was killed, and was then being chased by some hawks, which are very
plentiful in the neighbourhood of the warren. I am very sorry the poor
bird was killed, for it would have been a grand sight to have seen it flying
about in a wild state. The person who skinned the owl appeared much
struck with the large bony rings of its eyes—dJ. Gatcombe; 8, Lower
Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth, April 4, 1876.

Barn Owl and Shrew.—The following extract from ‘Bell's British
Quadrupeds,’ 2nd edition, p. 144, may prove interesting to Mr. Mitford :—
“Tt has often been stated that owls, like cats, will kill but not eat the
shrew; and this opinion has received some plausible support from the
circumstance that shrews are not uncommonly found dead, with the loins
pinched, as if by the beak of some rapacious bird. The following fact,
however, shows that this notion is altogether erroneous. Mr. Turner, of
the Botanic Garden at Bury St. Edmunds, on examining twenty pellets or
casts of the barn owl, taken promiscuously from a mass of them, covering,
to the depth of several inches, the floor of an ancient retreat of a pair of
these birds, found amongst them the skeletons of no less than seven shrews.
We have ourselves seen several bushels of refuse taken from the inside of
an old tree, which had been for many years the abode of the barn owl, and,
amongst the numerous small skulls it contained, the most abundant
appeared to be that of the present species.” Many of the Suffolk people
haye an idea that the tail of a rat or mouse is poisonous, because neither
cat nor ferret, however hungry they may be, will ever be induced to make a
meal on it. This reminds me of an Eton boy, who, being troubled with
mice in his room, invested in a “ catch-’em-alive, oh,” shaped like a well
with sloping sides. This he placed under his bureau, where it remained

TxHE ZooLtocist—May, 1876. 4923

forgotten for a long time, but when at length it was revisited three or four
tails appeared the only result. No doubt the surviving mouse, having
devoured its companions, escaped by a desperate leap! The barn owl is not
exempt from occasionally indulging itself with game, especially when it has
to supply its young ones. I once noticed a bird of this species, in broad
daylight, as it was skimming over a field, suddenly drop down upon a brood
of young partridges, and carry off one in its talons. The poor mother
partridge most bravely endeavoured, though unsuccessfully, to give battle to
the aggressor, whilst the father bird beat a retreat with his remaining young
ones.— Arthur J. Clark-Kennedy ; Little Glemham, April 3, 1876.

The Blackbreasted Dipper.—As I have received the Scandinavian dipper
(Cinclus melanogaster) from Denmark, and also seen the Norfolk specimens,
I have no doubt that Mr. Boyes is perfectly correct in assigning his bird to
that race. A true species it can hardly be said to be, for examples occur
with just a tinge of chesnut; such a one I have had from Spain. My
Yorkshire example, to which Mr. Boyes alludes, and which was killed near
Bridlington, and purchased by me of the late Mr. Jones, has a faint tinge.
That all Kast Yorkshire dippers are Cinclus melanogaster is not probable.
I feel sure I have seen C. aquaticus, which had been killed in that county,
near the coast. Mr. Boyes asks about the plumage of the young dipper in
autumn: writing from recollection, for I have not my collection to refer to,
I should say the breast and under parts were all spotted. In that young
stage it is the “ Penrith ouzel” of our old writers.—J. H. Gurney, jun. ;
Edinburgh Hotel, Edinburgh, April 10, 1876.

White Blackbird.—I got a very fine pure white variety of the blackbird
this season; it was shot at Dromore, County Down. It has dark brown
eyes, with orange eyelids and yellow beak, which prove it to be a mere
variety, and not an albino. I have been told that there is one in a garden
near Belfast, which has lived there for several years; it is also all pure
white.— Thomas Darragh ; Belfast Museum.

Habits of the Blackbird.—In North Berwick it seems to be the habit
of blackbirds to perch upon housetops. I heard one singing beautifully in
the evening—it was the 6th of April—from a factory chimney some eighty
feet high—J. H. Gurney, jun. ; April 11, 1876.

Blackbird with Pied Head.—Last November I shot a blackbird which
had two dirty patches of white on each side of the head, close to its eyes. I
should have preserved it, but it was in shocking condition, its tail, and
many feathers from various parts of its body, being absent.—C. Matthew
Prior ; Avenue, Bedford.

Goldencrested Wren.—I am told by a very good observer of birds that
last October one of those strange influxes of goldencrested wrens took place
at Scarborough. Many were flitting about on the houses, and even in the
streets boys might be seen striking at them with their caps. There can be

4924 THE ZooLocist— May, 1876.

little doubt that these birds had crossed the German Ocean. Small wonder
if such mites—tired by their long journey, and alighting on the first land
they come to—become an easy prey to enemies of every kind.—J. H.
Gurney, jun.; Darlington, March 26, 1876.

Reproduction in a Bird’s Beak.—Mr. Rogers, of Plymouth, has now a
pair of beautiful Cornish choughs, which he tells me have been in confine-
ment for sixteen or seventeen years. A long time ago the upper mandible
of the bill of one of these birds was torn or broken almost completely off,
near the base, by being jambed between the door, or hitched in the wires,
of itscage. However, as it was hanging by a slender process, Mr. Rogers
carefully bound or spliced it together with waxed thread, in the hope that it
might in time unite; but the moment the operation was completed up
jumped the bird on its perch, and, giving its head a tremendous shake, off
came the mandible, at once falling to the bottom of the cage. After this
Mr. Rogers says, the poor thing was very ‘“‘queer” for a few days, and of
course could not eat, Therefore, as something was obliged to be done to
prevent the poor creature from starving, he placed hemp-seed in the hollow
of his hand, keeping his fingers a little spread, so that the bird, by thrusting
its long lower mandible between them, and thus bringing the stump of the
upper one on a level with the palm, should be enabled to pick up the seeds.
This manceuvre seemed to be at once understood by the knowing, hungry bird,
and the plan answered admirably : ultimately, however, Mr. Rogers adopted
another, by letting the hemp-seed float on the surface of water, in a deep pan,
or cup, with equal success. After this, the bill began to grow tolerably
long, though rather rough, slender, and a little crosswise, so that, in trying
to pick up anything from the ground or floor of its cage, the bird was obliged
to hold its head on one side, and, strange to say, the tip of the uninjured
lower mandible grew long and sharp, so as to necessitate its being often cut.
After a while the somewhat slender and ill-formed upper bill broke or fell
off again, but since then has been reproduced, and is now, and has been for
many years, as perfect as ever it was before the first accident happened,
with the exception of its being slightly awry at the tip.—J. Gatcombe.

Errata.—In my note on the Cornish chough (8. 8. 4828) for “has been
increasing within the last ten years,” read “ gradually increasing within the
last few years.” —J. G.

Temerity of the Robin.—A friend writes to me as follows :—* A pair of
robins have built their nest in the wall of a large school near Banbury,
containing nearly 200 boys. The female has laid three eggs. March
29th.”"—C. Matthew Prior.

Manner of Feeding of the Starling —Captain Hadfield says, “If it
were the starling’s habit to force its bill down to the ‘base,’ after the
manner of the rook, we should find the feathers worn, but they are not.”
Does this imply that because the rooks dig the feathers are worn off?

7?) eae »

THE ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4925

’

Bewick says ‘that it is an original peculiarity,” and Waterton also says
“That he kept two young rooks in a cage, and the feathers in course of
time dropped out, although they had no opportunity of thrusting their bills
in earth.” TI am of the opinion that the starling thrusts its beak shut into
the ground, for this reason: I hada tame starling, which, if you put your
hand closed into the cage, would thrust its beak between the fingers, and
endeavour to force them apart with greater strength than one would
imagine.—C. Matthew Prior.

Starlings Pecking with Beak Open.—My letter to you on the subject of
starlings pecking the ground with their beaks open has led to quite a dis-
cussion, and your contributors have produced abundant evidence that it is
a common and well-known fact. Their mode of doing it is not yet settled.
That they sometimes thrust the beak in closed, and afterwards open it, is
very likely, but I am sure, from observation, that they very often—I think
I may say generally—thrust it into the grass open, and this is what I
wished to express in my first letter to you.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Mode of Starling’s Feeding.—A gentleman friend of mine has now in
his possession a starling, which he reared from the nest, and, should it live
until June next, it will then be twelve years of age, during the whole of
which time my friend has never seen it peck with its beak open, but the
opening of the beak during feeding is a matter of daily occurrence ; for ten
years past the same bird has been under my frequent observation, and I can
fully corroborate my friend’s statement, and, on account of there being
illness in the house for five or six weeks past, I have been a daily visitor to
the house, and have taken the opportunity of watching the starling whilst
feeding, and have observed that when first the food is placed in the cage
(the food consisting chiefly of soaked bread, with, occasionally, chopped meat
or hard boiled egg) all the choice bits are carefully taken off the surface, then
the beak is thrust, while closed, to the bottom of the cup, and widely
opened by pressing back the lower mandible, and the choice bits below the
surface are rapidly selected, after which the bread is eaten. The bird is also
very fond of cold boiled potato, which is given to it whole, but in eating it
there is no pecking at it with open beak, or opening of the beak more than
in ordinary feeding ; again, if the lady of the house will take any favourite
morsel, and place it between her lips, so as to hide it from sight, the beak
will be inserted, whilst closed, between the lips, then opened, and the food
taken from the lady's mouth, but there will be no pecking with open beak.
From the observations I have been able to make, I am decidedly of opinion
that starlings do not peck with their beaks open, but that they make use of
the action of opening their beaks to thrust aside the grass or other herbage
amongst which they are feeding, in order to see grubs or any other food that
may be found there on the surface. I do not fancy they ever thrust their
beaks into the solid earth. My friend suggests the action may be of use,

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 2c

4926 Tue ZooLtocist—May, 1876.

whilst, as we often see starlings, searching for insects, &c., on the backs of
sheep, to enable them to separate the wool, and so obtain their object. As
Tam writing I may as well state that the above-named starling is an
excellent talker, making use of the following and other phrases, “ Is it nice,”
“Ts it good,” “ He wants his dinner,” “ How are you,” &c., and at times he
would seem to know what he is talking about, as the following instance will
show :—The lady of the house was sitting at work on a summer's afternoon,
with the window open, the bird being by her side: on looking out of the
window she saw a donkey endeavouring to get over the hedge into the
garden; she sprang up without saying a word and hastily ran into the
garden ; on passing the window she saw the starling in the greatest excite-
ment, flying about the cage, and saying, as fast as he could repeat the
phrase, ‘ What is it,” “ What is it.” When she returned to the parlour,
she sat down again to her work; the bird quickly became less excited, yet
sat quietly on the perch, but constantly repeating ‘‘ What is it.” The lady,
without the least idea of being understood by the bird, said “The donkey
was trying to get into the garden.” ‘“ Was it,” replied the starling, and then »
became perfectly quict, seemingly quite satisfied in the matter.—Stephen
Clogg; East Looe, Cornwall, April 13, 1876.

A Note on Rooks.—About five years ago a few pairs of rooks took
possession of some high trees near the Paper Mills here, and the number
of nests went on increasing till last year, 1875, when the place was entirely
deserted, and not a single family remained. This year they have appeared
again, and the whole of the twenty or thirty nests seem to be occupied.
Might one suppose that the first colony, which, though rearing its young
successfully for several seasons, yet conceived some distaste to the place,
and that, after the one year's interval, an entirely new set took possession,
or is it only another instance of the eccentric habits of these birds? When
the weather is dry, and food bad to extract from the hard ground, they
show a considerable amount of cunning in snapping up the eggs laid by
some wild ducks, a few of which breed yearly on a reservoir near the same
place, and it has often been impossible to get a sitting without bringing
them to the hens inside. A man has to be regularly on the watch at this
time, and he and the rooks have many a race for the newly-laid eggs. ‘The
black rascals sit three or four together on some of the trees on the banks,
looking as if they had no concern whatever in mundane affairs; but let a
duck swim out to take its morning’s bath, and flop! down they go right to
the place it has come from, and its egg is gone in five minutes; lucky is
the man if he arrive in time to secure it himself, for they are almost wholly
indifferent to any amount of shouting and hallooing off. Two swallows
and a house martin just seen this spring, April 11th, rather earlier than
usual.—F’. S. Mitchell ; Clitheroe, Lancashire, April 20, 1876.

Note on Rooks, &c.— As a proof that even the best authorities are

THE ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4927

liable to error, I beg to cite the following instance :—Gilbert White; in his
‘Natural History of Selborne,’ says, “Rooks do not copulate in trees nor
on their nests, but on the open ground.” This is not correct, for on March
a7th I distinctly saw, in two different places, rooks copulating in trees, I
do not say this is the rule, by any means, but at least it is an exception.
First heard the wryneck on March 23rd. The ring dove has again taken
to those graceful undulating motions which they always assume in the
breeding season.—C.. Matthew Prior.

Arrival of Swallows and Sand Martins,— Yesterday, on passing a large
fish pond, where I have for many years past seen the earliest arrivals of
swallows, at 2 p.m. I could not see one, but on my return, about 4 p.m,
there were fifty or more swallows, with about half a dozen sand martins,
busily hawking about over the surface of the pond, which is several acres in
extent. They are the first I have seen for the year, and the only arrival of
spring migrants I have yet seen.— Stephen Clogy ; April 18, 1876.

Great Bustard in Orkney.—You may be interested to learn that a great
bustard was shot here on March 29. On that date Mr. W. Stephenson, of
New Holland, Stronsay, seeing a large number of gulls circling over some
object in one of his fields, and thinking it might be one of his sheep dead,
went towards them, and discovered the object of their interest to be a large
and strange bird. It seemed so tame that he attempted to drive it to the
farmstead, but it at length took wing, and, after flying for about a mile,
returned over the same field, when Mr. Stephenson killed it with an almost
vertical shot, at what he considered to be about one hundred yards from the
ground. The bird coincided in every respect with the description given by
Yarrell of the great bustard, and the ill-developed plumes on the chin
showed it-to be a female bird of mature age. The stomach was perfectly
packed with partially digested grass and green stuff, and the ovary contained
several eggs in a very early stage of formation. The body was muscular
and in good condition, but almost entirely destitute cf fat, the total weight
being nine pounds and three-quarters. The stretch of the wings was four
feet ten inches and a half; length from tip of beak to tip of tail, two feet
eleven inches; circumference over folded wings, one foot nine inches and a
half; and height, with neck slightly curved backwards, two feet six inches.
—John Bruce ; Kirkwall, Orkney. (From the ‘ Field,’ April 8, 1876.)

Great Bustard in Orkney.—With reference to the great bustard recently
obtained in Orkney, I have much pleasure in informing you that it has
been stuffed, and is now in the possession of Mr. Stephenson, of Stronsay
Vale, on whose farm and by whom it was shot. Previous to being observed
in Stronsay it had been seen on an uninhabited skerry by several people,
and supposed to be an eagle. Tolerably strong easterly winds prevailed for
three days before its discovery, which might have assisted it in its supposed
journey from the Continent. I may add that the body, when skinned, had

4928 Tue ZooLocist—May, 1876.

a strong and decidedly unpleasant aromatic odour. When washed with
fresh water this greatly disappeared, and, after béing stewed, it gave myself
and several other gentlemen who tasted it the idea of coarse-grained meat,
with the flavour of jugged hare. There is no record, so far as I can
discover, of the great bustard having visited these islands before.—John
Bruce. (From the ‘ Field, April 15.)

White Peewit—On the 10th of March a singular variety of the peewit
was taken at Strettern, Cambridgeshire. The body and wings are white,
with a feather here and there of the natural colour; the tail as in ordinary
specimens of this bird. It has been set up by Mr. F. Doggett, naturalist,
of Cambridge, where I had the pleasure of inspecting it.—/’. Wheeler ;
Chesterton, Cambridgeshire. (From the ‘ Field.’)

The Demoiselle Crane.— A bird of this species, the Grus Virgo of
Linneus, was recently picked up dead on the banks of the River Cale, in
this neighbourhood.—W. Herridge ; Wincanton. (Fvrem ‘ Science Gossip’ of
March 1st.)

Notes on a South-American Heron.— Mr. Hudson communicates the
following notes on the little heron (Ardetta involucris) to the Zoological
Society of London :—“ It was a small isolated bed of rushes I had seen him
in. The mud below and for some distance around was quite bare and hard,
so that it would have been impossible for the bird to escape without being
perceived; and yet, dead or alive, he was not to be found. After vainly
searching and re-searching through the rushes for a quarter of an hour, I
gave over the quest in great disgust and bewilderment, and, after reloading.
was just turning to go, when behold! there stood my heron on a reed no
more than eight inches from, and on a level with, my knees. He was
perched, the body erect, and the point of the tail touching the reed grasped
by his feet; the long tapering neck was held stiff, straight, and vertically,
and the head and beak, instead of being carried obliquely, were also pointing
up. There was not, from his feet to the tip of the beak, a perceptible curve
or inequality, but the whole was the figure (the exact counterpart) of a
straight, tapering rush: the loose plumage arranged to fill inequalities, the
wings pressed into the hollow sides, made it impossible to see where the
body ended and the neck began, or to distinguish head from neck or beak
from head. This was, of course, a front view; and the entire under surface
of the bird was thus displayed, all of a uniform dull yellow, like that of
a faded rush. I regarded the bird wonderingly for some time; but not the
least motion did it make. I thought it was wounded or paralysed with
fear, and, placing my hand on the point of its beak, forced the head down
till it touched the back; when I withdrew my hand up flew the head, like
a steel spring, to its first position. I repeated the experiment many times
with the same result, the very eyes of the bird appearing all the time rigid
and unwinking, like those of a creature in a fit. What wonder that it is so

Tue ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4929

difficult, almost impossible, to discover the bird in such an attitude! But
how happened it that while repeatedly walking round the bird through the
rushes I had not caught sight of the striped back and the broad dark-coloured
sides? I asked myself this question, and stepped round to get a side view,
when, mirabile dictu, I could still see nothing but the rush-like front of the
bird! His motions on the perch as he turned slowly or quickly round, still
keeping the edge of the blade-like body before me, corresponded so exactly
with my own that I almost doubted that I had moved at all. No sooner
had I seen the finishing stroke of this marvellous instinct of self-preservation
(this last act making the whole entire) than such a degree of delight and
admiration possessed me as I haye never before experienced during my
researches, much as I have conversed with wild animals in the wilderness,
and many and perfect as are the instances of adaptation I have witnessed.
I could not finish admiring, and thought that never had anything so
beautiful fallen in my way before, for ¢ven the sublime cloud-seeking
instinct of the white egret and the typical herons seemed less admirable
than this; and for some time I continued experimenting, pressing down the
bird’s head, and trying to bend him by main force into some other position ;
but the strange rigidity remained unrelaxed, the fixed attitude unchanged.
I also found as I walked round him that, as soon as I got to the opposite
side and he could no longer twist himself on his perch, he whirled his body
with great rapidity the other way, instantly presenting the same front as
before. Finally, I plucked him forcibly from the rush, and perched him on
my hand, upon which he flew away; but he flew only fifty or sixty yards off,
and dropped into the dry grass. Here he again put in practice the same
instinct so ably that I groped about for ten or twelve minutes before refinding
him, and was astonished that a creature, to all appearance so weak and
frail, should have strength and endurance sufficient to keep its body rigid
and in one attitude for so long a time.’—‘ Proceedings of the Zoological
Society.’

American Bittern in Dumfriesshire. — A very good example of the
American bittern was shot at a small inland loch in Dumfriesshire on the
25th of March, 1873, which I believe has not yet been noted in the
‘Zoologist.’ It was exhibited by Dr. J. A. Smith to the Royal Physical
Society of Edinburgh on the 25th of February, 1874, and has since, I am
happy to say, found a place in my collection. Mr. Gray tells me that in the
West of Scotland this species has occurred more frequently than our common
bittern.—J. H. Gurney, jun. ; The Edinburgh Hotel, Edinburgh.

The Labrador Duck.—The Labrador duck, or pied duck, is a somewhat
aberrant eider. Its habitat is, or was, North America—for it is believed
now to be on the verge of extinction. The last killed, according to the
writers of the article “ Birds” in the new edition of the ‘ Encyclopedia
Britannica’ (part xii.) was in 1852. I saw three specimens last week in

4930 THE Zoo_octst—May, 1876.

the Brown-street Museum at Liverpool—an adult male, a young male, and
afemale. The adult male was black upon the breast, belly, crown and
back, and white on the rest of the body: no blue, or green, or other colours,
so far as I could see. The female was a good deal like a female velvet
scoter, though rather lighter. It was an interesting series. In the article
to which I have referred it is stated that no estimate has yet been made of
the number of specimens existing in museums. I cannot here refrain from
drawing attention to this admirable essay, which I much fear may remain
unknown to “the many.” The part xii. is obtainable separately, and the
price is only seven shillings and sixpence. The bird article takes up nearly
half of it, and I am quite certain that few could read it without learning
many facts which they did not know before. The only danger is that, being
buried in a great ‘ Cyclopedia,’ it may not get the circulation it deserves to
have, for it is natural enough that people should not order an article which
they have never seen, and which, in all probability, may be written by some
one having no pretentions to a knowledge of practical Ornithology, but when
I say that in this case it bears the initials “ W. K. P.” and “ A. N.,” I give
the best guarantee for its accuracy, its completeness, and its minuteness,
and all who read it will join with me in hoping that Prof. Baynes, the
Editor, will secure more from the same authors.—J. H. Gurney, jun. ;
Northrepps Hall, Norwich.

Hdible Qualities of the Shoveller Duck.—In my opinion the shoveller is
the very best of all the edible ducks, I have had many opportunities of
testing them, as we always get them in the winter. This winter they were
tolerably plentiful, as was also the shieldrake.—Thomas Darragh.

Female Smew near Curry Rivel.— At the shop of Mr. Greday, of
Taunton, last week, I noticed a female specimen of the smew, which was
shot a few weeks ago near Curry Rivel, not far from the place where
Mr. Petherick shot the male on the 26th of January.—Frederic Stansell ;
Alma Street, Taunton.

Lesser Whitefronted Goose.—In the report of my lecture on the birds of
Egypt (S. S. 4892), the following words occur in reference to the lesser
whitefronted goose (Anser minutus), which I will thank readers to draw a
pen through:—‘this bird having hitherto been regarded solely as a
northern species.” Iam obliged to Professor Newton for pointing out to
me privately that no such thing is the case. Indeed I knew that Major
Irby got it in Oudh, which ought to have guarded me from saying it was a
northern species; and Prof. Newton tells me besides that it is sometimes
shot in Greece. All naturalists agree that its occurrence for the first time
in Africa is very interesting.—J. H. Gurney, jun.; The Edinburgh Hotel,
Edinburgh.

Great Northern Diver off Erith ——A great northern diver was shot off
Erith by one of the: men engaged in Easton Foundry on the 12th of
February, 1876.—A. H. Smee; April 13, 1876.

THE ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4931

Fulmar Petrel of Martin.—It appears that the picture of the fulmar
in Martin's ‘ Voyage to St. Kilda’ (1698) was drawn by Mr. James Monroe,
cf., Edwards’ Nat. Hist., 289. I cannot say it is very accurate. The
tail is represented as forked instead of slightly convex, but Martin's account
of its habits is very interesting. He mentions one thing which I dare say
those who have had fulmars to skin have noticed, viz., the absence of blood
from the body (1. ¢., p. 56).—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Enormous Mackerel.—I have just measured a mackerel. It was, over
all, one foot six inches and a half; eye to fork, one foot three inches and
a half; greatest girth, nine inches and three-eighths ; weight, two pounds
eight ounces. This is the largest I have yet seen.—Thomas Cornish;
Penzance, April 18, 1876.

Seyllarus Arctus in Mount’s Bay.—I have again received Scyllarus
Arctus, taken by a trawler in Mount’s Bay. It was alive when taken
out of the net, but dead when brought to me. This crustacean is getting
so comparatively common in our western seas that it ought to have an
English name given to it.—Thomas Cornish ; April 11, 1876.

Proceedings of Scientitic Societies.

ZooLogicaL Society or Lonpon.

April 4, 1876.— Prof. Newton, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair.

The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to the
Society's Menagerie during the month of March, 1876, and called particular
attention to the following acquisitions:—A male brown monkey (Mucacus
brunneus, Anderson), transmitted home to us from Siam, as a present; by
Mr, T. G. Fermor Hesketh ; two caracaras (Polyborus tharus), in a very
remarkable plumage, presented by Lord Lilford, March 2nd, and said to
have been obtained in Patagonia; lead-coloured falcon (Hypotriorchis
concolor), presented March 38rd, by Mr. A. F. Allman, having been
captured on board a vessel on a passage down the Mozambique Channel;
and three sirens (Siren lacertina, Linn.), from South Carolina, presented by
Mr. G. E. Maingault, curator of the Museum of Natural History, Charleston,
March 29.

Mr. H. E. Dresser exhibited and made remarks on a specimen of a
hybrid between the black grouse and hazel grouse, belonging to Mr. J.
Flower, and supposed to have been obtained in Norway. It had been
purchased in the flesh in the London market.

4932 THe ZooLtocist—May, 1876.

Prof. Newton exhibited and remarked upon a copy of a Dutch translation
of Pliny, containing a figure of the dodo (Didus ineptus) and belongiug to
the Rev. Richard Hooper, which seemed to be an earlier edition of the
same work which’ was formerly in the possession of the late Mr. Broderip,
and was described by him in the Society's ‘Transactions’ (vol. iv., p. 183).

Mr. R. Bowdler Sharpe exhibited a specimen of the true Swedish Surnia
ulula, obtained many years ago at Amesbury, in Wiltshire, being the first
recorded British-killed example of this species.

Mr. A. H. Garrod read a paper in which he gave a description of the
organs and some of the most important muscles of the darter (Plotus
anhinga), from specimens which were recently living in the Society's
collection.

Mr. Edward R. Alston read a paper on the genus Dasyprocta, and gave
a description of a new species, from Central America, for which the name
Dasyprocta isthmica was proposed. The geographical range and synonomy
of the other Agoutis were reviewed; D. punctata of Central America was
regarded as distinct from D. Azare of 8. Brazil, and D. variegata was
shown to extend into New Grenada. In all ten species of Agouti were
recognised as distinct.

A paper by Mr. P. L. Sclater and Mr. O. Salvin was read, in which they
gave descriptions of fifteen new species of birds from Bolivia. Amongst
these was a singular new form belonging to the Tanagride, proposed to be
called Malacothraupis dentata. A second paper by the same authors
contained a revised list of the Neotropical Anatide.—P. L. Sclater.

Death of Mr. John Joseph Briggs.—The readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ will
read with regret the announcement of the death of Mr. John Joseph
Briggs, of King’s Newton, Derbyshire, for many years a zealous corre-
spondent in matters relating chiefly to Ornithology. Mr. Briggs was one
of those practical out-door observers, who made notes by the wayside rather
for his own information and amusement than for the benefit of others.
And, although he never published any separate volume on his favourite
branch of Zoology, he contributed numerous notes on the subject to the
pages of the ‘ Zoologist’ and to the ‘F ield,’ and was always ready to
recount his experience with a view to elicit the truth as often as occasion
seemed to require it. The results of his experience, too, were worth
learning, extending, as his observations did, over many years, and his
pleasantly written letters will be missed by uot a few who used to read and
respect his opinions —Edward Newman.

THE ZooLoGist—JUNE, 1876. 4933

A First Peep at ihe Bird-breeders on old Farne.
By H. Ecroyp Smiru, Esq.

THE northern part of old Northumbria’s coast probably offers
greater facilities, combined with comparative security, for the
breeding of our numerous sea-fowl than any other reach of our
British shores, unless we except that of Cornwall and the Scilly
Isles. A host of rocky islands and islets constitute here three
main groups—the Farne to S., the Staple to N.E., and lastly Holy
Island, with its isolated islets. The whole archipelago—which
belongs to the see, if not still to the county, of Durham —extends
parallel with the main-beach, N.E. and §.W., to a length of about
twelve miles, and extends seaward in a varying breadth of from
four to five miles. I preface with these particulars as several
recent maps delineate the groups very incorrectly.

Having a vivid remembrance of glowing accounts of the oological
and ornithological treasures of Farne,—to say nothing of its having
been the latest British resort of that fine marine bird, the great
auk,—it was with exultant feelings that I found myself, on the
morning of the 2nd of last June, upon the village-beach of Bam-
borough, and beneath its commanding old Castle, about to embark
upon a long-desiderated visit to a few of the nearer islands, Dis-
appointed of a companion, who had in fact originated the trip,
I was forced throughout to depend upon individual resources alone
in warding off suspicion of plundering; the agents of the property,
in consequence of wholesale plundering from the main in recent
seasons, having issued very stringent and foolishly indiscriminating
orders. It was a fine invigorating morning,—

“ The sky was bright, the breeze was fair,
And the main-sail flowing loose and free,”
as our craft sped steadily across the little channel, separating the
castle-crag from the most landward of the Farne group. Upon a near
approach to its white cliffs, glaring in the sun and utterly devoid of
vegetation, the inhabitants, in form of cormorants, became distinct,
stauding like a lot of rustic sentinels, all agape with wonder and
curiosity at their unexpected visitors. It was not till the boat
touched the rocks, and the smell of their nests had assumed an
unmistakable character, that any of the creatures would trouble to
budge, and thus expose their nests and eggs to view. The latter
SECOND SERIZS—VOL. XI. aH

4934 Tue ZooLocist—JUNE, 1876.

lay mostly in twos and threes (five forming the complement of this
species), and invariably coated with lime: I personally secured a
_ few nice examples for the first time, including a narrow and almost
straight-sided variety. The nests are constructed of fish-offal, dried
grasses, sea-weed and straw, and occasionally lined by a little of
the birds’ down. As those of previous seasons are usually furbished
up again, in course of time they will occasionally attain the height
of from three to four feet,—accompanied, of course, by a propor-
tionate stench,—and at a distance much resemble dirty old barrels
that have been stranded from wreck. They cannot always, how-
ever, escape the wrath of Holus: a high wind and tide had
combined, since last season, to make a clean sweep of the ancient
tenements, greatly to the advantage of my olfactory nerves.

Recalling my last experience of a breeding-haunt of this species,
the contrast was striking in the extreme. The “ Bird Rock” near
Towyn will not soon be forgotten by any genuine lover of Nature
who visits this fine and isolated crag, whose high and beetling brow
and sides prove wholly inaccessible to man, and furnish a secure
home for a large colony of cormorants (though four to five miles
from the sea), as also for ravens, falcons and hawks. The cor-
morants of this favoured spot have uncommonly “ good lines,”
what with abundance of fine fresh trout in Towyn river close by; —
trout, eels and other fish in the neighbouring Tal-y-Llyn; and any
quantity of other food in the more distant, but still regularly
frequented sea. It is a most interesting sight to watch, in the
gloaming, the return of the cormorants to their “ hill-settlement,”
in parties of all sizes, from one or two to a score, all over two
invariably assuming the wedge-shaped form of a flock of wild geese
or ducks, and flying at a height of about three hundred feet.

But to return: after touching at an islet where the gulls were
beginning to incubate, I landed upon a larger island, the main
station or “home farm” of the keeper, and which we may term
Farne proper. The eider ducks upon this and the Lighthouse
Island (which has other houses) are carefully preserved. A few of
their earliest laid eggs are alone taken for sale, the rest are pre-
served for incubation. Except perhaps upon some of the more
distant and consequently less-accessible islands, those named are
the only places on the English coast where this species continues
to breed. Each pair keeps apart from its congeners, and in flight
the contrast is great between the colours of plumage of the sexes.

THE ZooLocist—JuNE, 1876. 4935

Examining the keeper’s egg-store, formed mainly to supply country
orders, I was able to secure some beautiful varieties of the guille-
mot’s egg, fresh to my collection, rich though it has long been in
this class; finer examples of the eider duck’s than seen previously ;
and kittiwake’s, different both in contour and colouring to those
often obtained on the Yorkshire coast. Omitting the terns, of
which presently, the following list gives the bird-breeders here,
placed in proportion to their reproductive powers :—

1. Herring Gull. 8. Razorbill.

2. Lesser Blackbacked Gull. 9. Ring Dotterel.

3. Puffin. 10. Rock Dove.

4. Cormorant. 11. Shieldrake.

5. Guillemot. 12. Shore Lark.

6. Oystercatcher. 13. Little Ringed Dotterel.
7. Kittiwake.

The eggs of the rock dove are very rarely secured, so inaccessible
are the crevices where its nests are built. Upon this island the
small colony of guillemots occupies a group of bare and (above
water) detached rocks, where the eggs are deposited either on the
surfaces or on any little shelf or hollow in their sides that can be
found. The keepen’s stock of eggs is mainly found from the earliest-
laid of all kinds: in the case of the gulls, one or two are taken
from the usual complement of three, when the birds generally lay
others in replacement, but they appear by no means inconvenienced
by eggs of different ages in the nest. At Priestholm (Puffin Island),
two seasons previously, I found several of the nests to contain one
perfectly fresh egg, laid with others which had been incubated for
several days, and yet no one had been known to have visited the
nests, which, moreover, were not as usual placed among the rocks,
but in hollows of the grassy turf on the open island summit!
Several of the islands now touched at seemed wholly in possession
of these two species of gulls, and, as nineteen out of every twenty
nests contained the complement of eggs, no doubt incubation was
commencing.

So far as I could glean, the scores of islands unvisited to the
east and north presented similar scenes, and it was palpable the
keeper and his two young assistants were wholly incompetent
to supervise one-half of this fine bird-breeding property. The

Same may be said of the Staple group, where another keeper is
stationed,

4936 TuE ZooLocist—JuNE, 1876.

Returning homeward by the Lighthouse Island and another
lower and more abounding in soil and slight vegetation, I found
that the terns, in the earlier part of the day, had most obligingly
commenced laying, so that I was able to find numerous deposits of
single eggs by the arctic and common terns: others of the Sand-
wich tern, in very beautiful varieties, 1 had obtained of the keeper.
No doubt other species breed upon the more distant and less-
visited islets.* Large and small, all at this season swarm with
bird-breeders, and, if life and health permit, this peep at them will
certainly not be the last that I shall obtain. Where craggy and bare,
the scene forcibly recalled the glorious days of boyhood at Flam-
borough, where the deeply-indented cliff-line was all alive with
millions of sea-fowl, before the railway had introduced hordes of
reckless and heartless scoundrels to strew the bright water and the
white rocks with the bleeding corpses of interesting birds, which
they could make no earthly use of. It was, in truth, one of the
finest sights in the North of England during the month of June,
and though, through the jealousy of agents, the naturalist has much
trouble to encounter, we may yet be thankful for the preservation of
the still unnumbered bird-breeders on old Farne.

H. Ecroyp SMiru.

The Propagation of the Oyster.
By W. Savitte-Kent, Esq., F.L.S. +

In the course of the exhaustive evidence concerning the present
scarcity of the oyster elicited in the inquiry before a Select Com-
mittee of the House of Commons, published in the ‘Field’ for
March 25 and April 1, several questions of considerable importance

* The deposition of eggs by the common (and probably other species of) tern
varies much—affected doubtless by wind and weather. Upon first visiting Walney
Island, the eggs of this species were deposited so low in shallow sandy beach as to
be washed several feet higher by the succeeding neap but increasing tide. A couple
of seasons later not a solitary egg could be found below high-water mark of spring-
tides; all lay in hollows among adjacent sand-hillocks. At a third visit they were
found yet further inland, as well as upon the beach, among sea-weed left by the
spring tides. It is thus evident that no single year’s experience furnishes any
criterion, and the “hard and fast line” drawn by some dogmatic writers is false to
Nature.—H. E. S.

+ Reprinted from the ‘Field’ of April 15th, 1876, and communicated by the
Author,

THE ZooLocist—June, 1876. 4937

are raised relative to the reproduction, or “spatting,” of this most
palatable mollusk. Among the most prominent of these is that
relating to the obscure and much disputed one as to the sexual
distinctions of the oyster—or, indeed, whether any such do exist.
The majority of witnesses, including Mr. Frank Buckland, hold to
the opinion that this bivalve is essentially hermaphrodite; that is,
that both the male and female elements are combined in each and
every individual, and that the eggs produced are self-fecundated.
This opinion receives support from the circumstance first noticed
by Leuwenhoeck so far back as the year 1697, viz., that the living
embryos, or spat, are found fully developed within the mantle-folds
of the parent—a fact which, associated with the fixed or stationary
habits of the animal, at first sight considerably favours the her-
maphrodite theory. This same opinion is universally supported in
popular treatises on the oyster. During the course of the inquiry
before the Parliamentary Committee, however, one witness, Mr.
Austin, an oyster merchant from Canterbury, produced some im-
portant evidence in a contrary direction. This witness entirely
disagreed with the hermaphrodite theory, and considered the sexes
to be distinct, also remarking that the phenomena known to oyster
cultivators as the “white” and “black” sickness among oysters
was, in his opinion, characteristic in the first instance of the male,
and in the last of the female representative of the species. The
reasons given by Mr. Austin for this statement were through his
having ascertained, with the aid of the microscope, that in the case
of the black sickness the little oysters were fully formed, while
with the white no such formation was discernible. Mr. Austin
had further observed that the black sickness came later than the
white—a circumstance to which he thought the present scarcity of
oysters was due. To insure a successful “spat,” he considered
that the white and black sickness should occur together.

While not endorsing the opinion of Mr. Austin expressed in the
- Jast two sentences, there are strong grounds for believing that his
deductions concerning the sexual individuality of the oyster are
correct, as also that the distinctions between the two sexes are
associated with the phenomena he observed. The common fresh-
water mussel (Anodonta cyqnea) is, in fact, a case in point, where,
under almost parallel circumstances, it has been satisfactorily
ascertained that the different sexes are in separate individuals.
In this species the ova are lodged, and the embryos developed and

4938 TuE ZooLocist—J UNE, 1876.

hatched, within the cavities formed by the external gills; opinions
differing, however, as to the manner in which these ova take up
this position. The majority of authorities favour the opinion that
they pass directly from the oviducts to the gill-cavities, and there
remain, though it has been suggested by Von Hessling that the
ova are possibly conveyed by means of the respiratory currents
from one individual to another. Some observations personally
made in reference to the reproductive phenomena of a marine
representative of the group, the Modiola modiolus, would seem
to indicate that Von Hessling’s hypothesis is by no means im-
probable.

Fine clusters of this bivalve have been long since established in
the tanks of the Manchester Aquarium, whither they were imported
with Alcyonium, Dianthus, and other zoophytes from the North
Sea. On passing a tank containing a number of these one day last
August, it was observed that dense volumes of granular matter
resembling smoke were being ejected from the excurrent apertures
of many individuals ; in some instances it was further noticed that
the granular cloud was of a lighter colour and less dense con-
sistency. ‘The depth of the tank being inconsiderable, a few drops
of water containing samples of the two clouds were removed by
means of a pipette, and, on examination with the aid of the micro-
scope, yielded the results anticipated—namely, that the darker
and more coarsely granular discharge was composed entirely of
ova, while the lighter one consisted altogether of spermatozoa-
By employing a still higher magnifying power— 4, in. Gundlach—it
was likewise noticed that, where the two elements mingled with
one another, the spermatozoa readily attached themselves to the
ova, a single ovum in many instances bearing five or six or more
of these rod-like bodies. This attachment was altogether irregular,
no distinct micropyle being detected.

Pressure of other matters at the time interfered with the pur-
suance of the subject beyond this identification of the sexual
elements, and the manner in which they were brought together to
insure the fecundity of the ova. If the succeeding phenomena of
development of Modiola agree with those which obtain in Anodon
—that is, within the gill-chambers of the parents—it would be
requisite for the ova, after fertilisation in the outside waters, to be
again drawn within the parent’s shell by the inflowing respiratory
currents. This explanation is quite in keeping with the hypothesis

Tue ZooLocist—JuUNE, 1876. 4939

of Von Hessling; and the accomplishment of such a result would
be easily attained in the calm weather, with the least amount of
disturbance in the water, usually prevalent at the spawning season
of these mollusks. At the same time it is very evident that if this
general transfer of the ova, after being fertilised in the water,does
take place, the males will be the recipients and foster-parents of
the eggs and future progeny equally with the females; which cir-
cumstance perhaps throws some light on the hitherto much vexed
question concerning the reputed hermaphrodite nature of a large
number of the lamellibranchiate Mollusca.

Whether in the oyster—assuming there to be two distinct sexes—
the reproductive process is identical with what is here recorded of
Modiolus, remains to be ascertained; though, on the other hand,
it is also possible that the milt only is ejected into the water, and
then drawn into the gill-chambers of the females to fertilise the
ova, which would in this case not be released until the embryos
are fully developed. The appearance of the “ white sickness” at a
date considerably in advance of the black one, as evidenced by
Mr. Austin, would under such circumstances be readily explained,
being indeed a necessary and natural condition instead of an
abnormal one, as this witness was disposed to regard it. That the
white secretion, or “sickness” as it is called by the trade, is
usually identical with the milt or male reproductive element
throughout that group of the Mollusca which includes the oyster,
was first pointed out by Prevost so far back as the year 1823, at
which date he discovered and made known the separate sexuality
of the genus Unio; these observations being still more amply
and generally confirmed by the investigations of Wagner, Milne-
Edwards and C. T. von Siebold. The genera Pecten and Cyclas
are among the very few in which it has been satisfactorily demon-
strated that the two sexes are combined in-the same individual,—
that is, that they are truly hermaphrodite,—which information has
been mostly derived from the painstaking and valuable labours of
M. lLecaze-Duthiers.

The experiences here related concerning the propagation of the
genus Modiola seem to be by no means confined to the same group
or even class of animals. It was, in fact, the first observation of
almost parallel phenomena in connection with the well-known
tubicolous annelid, Serpula contortuplicata, that led at once to an
easy solution of those associated with the mollusk. One morning

4940 THE ZooLoGist—JUNE, 1876.

last Whitsuntide a tank at the Manchester Aquarium, devoted
especially to tube-worms and containing some remarkably fine and
luxuriant groups of this particular species collected on the Devon-
shire coast, exhibited signs of unusual turbidity. The water for
some distance above the top of the tubes was much clouded,
and on closer observation it became apparent that these worms
were themselves the producers of the turbidity. Here and there
little clouds of granular matter resembling smoke were being shot
out of the apertures of the tube, the entire effect produced sug-
gesting the silent discharge of mimic artillery. Sometimes there
was a lull for a few minutes, when suddenly the bombardment
commenced again at some outlying station, followed, as though
directed by electric agency, by a general salvo along the whole
line. That there are two sexes of the Serpula has been long since
satisfactorily established, and it was easy, even with the unassisted
eye, to detect the difference between the male and female elements
ejected ; the aid of a strong magnifying power, however, still more
completely confirmed the essential distinctions. After mingling
with one another, the cloud of milt and ova gradually dispersed
itself through the water, doubtless proving the origin of the innu-
merable young individuals that have since made their appearance
in the tanks.

A question concerning the habits of the oyster, of very trivial
importance compared with the manner of its propagation, but at
the same time almost equally disputed, is that of its position on
the ground or other fulcrum of support in a state of nature—
whether, in fact, it rests with the flat or convex shell downwards.
Almost all authorities, in books and elsewhere, persist that the
convex valve is the one that takes this position, the flat one being
the upper and outer one. Such an assumption, however, is entirely
at variance with what might be logically anticipated, or indeed
with what is known to occur in parallel instances. Furthermore,
the oysters themselves afford direct evidence to the contrary.
Growing upon a flat surface, it is only natural that the upper or
outer of the two shells should be the more convex one; and that
such is the case is amply illustrated in the case of the saddle-shells
(dnomia). Anyone, however, desirous of satisfying himself more
fully on this point should examine a series of rough Channel
oysters just brought in from the sea. It will be then observed that
the delicate hydroid zoophytes, Tubularia, Sertularia, &c., as also

THE ZooLocist—JUNE, 1876. 4941

the more massive Alcyonium digitatum, the sponge-like egg-cap-
sules of the whelk, and other substances, are almost invariably
attached to the convex valve, which could not possibly occur unless
this was the upper or outer one. During dredging operations
individuals no doubt occasionally get overturned, so that these
parasitic growths make their appearance on the reverse side, and
may be afterwards caught and so brought to market. These
exceptions are, however, of rare occurrence, and we might almost
as reasonably anticipate that soles, turbot and other flat fish rested
with their convex surface applied to the ground as that such a rule
obtains with the oyster.

W. SavILue- KeEnr.
Aquarium, Great Yarmouth, April 3, 1876.

(The question of sex in oysters has long been one of great interest to
physiologists and naturalists—I do not consider the words perfectly synony-
mous—and the propounding of any new, or unexpected, or revived opinion
would be sure at any time to provoke considerable discussion, or indeed
altercation: as I cannot therefore consider it settled in the negative merely
because Dr. Bree and Mr. Saunders, in the following letters to the Editor
of the ‘ Field,’ express such decided opinions, I will for the present suspend
any judgment I may have in the matter.—Hdward Newman.]

Srr,—Mr. Lloyd has satisfactorily answered Mr. Saville-Kent’s
astounding statement that the “ five-fingers” did not feed upon
oysters. If you will grant mea short space, I will show that his
statements, or surmises, in his letter of last week, are equally
unfounded.

Some years ago I made the propagation of the oyster my especial
study, and the facts I relate may be relied upon as true. I will not
discuss here the question whether the oyster is self-fertilising or
whether the sexes are distinct. All naturalists with whom I am
acquainted are believers in the former doctrine, and so am I,
although I at the present moment have no positive data upon
which to speak more positively.

Let us follow the history of the oyster after the eggs are emitted
by their parent—-that stage termed by oyster merchants and their
men as “white sick.” If an oyster is examined in this condition,
it will be found to contain a vast number of eggs of a cream colour.
Mr. Eyton (see his book upon oysters) found one grain to contain

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 2E

4942 THE ZooLoGist—JUNE, 1876.

25,000 eggs, and the entire spawn one anda half million. No male
oyster has ever been seen to have any intercourse with an oyster in
this condition. In the course of forty-eight hours the colour of
“white sick” will have slightly altered, and assumed a grayish
tinge. Ifexamined by the microscope, it will be found that this is
due to the early formation of the oyster-shell. I believe that these
shells are formed by the union of two eggs, thus, 00, and then the

a ~_ ‘ )
addition of two more, giving the following appearance, 09, and that

these eggs form the future shell and oyster. I do not state this
positively, but rather as a guide to future observers. The same
rule has been said to obtain in Buccinum. Of this, however, I am
quite sure, that the continued change of colour in the eggs, from
the pale tinge to their gray and sometimes almost black condition,
is due to the gradual growth of the gray shell.

The eggs are now what is termed “black sick,” and in this
condition are believed by the unscientific to be the male, while the
white spawn is said to be the female oyster! No statement can
be more unfounded or more absolutely untrue than this. The
eggs in their creamy condition give origin to the shells of the
oysters, which grow larger and deeper in colour according to
their age.

Just before their emission from the shell, the young oyster itself
may be observed working about a cluster of cilia—hair-like ap-
pendages—which afterwards are withdrawn within the shell, and
constitute the “beard.” The young oysters are now emitted into
the water, and commence the business of life. Swimming about
by means of their cilia, they seek out and at last find a resting-place,
known by the name of “cultch.” To this “cultch” they attach ~
themselves, close to the hinge on the apex of the round shell, with
the flat shell upwards. ‘The round or lower shell, which is, in fact,
the habitat of the oyster, is immovable. The upper flat shell only
has the power of motion, and is opened, and that by a specially
adapted apparatus, for the rest of the oyster’s life. It follows, if
you place an oyster at any period of its existence on the flat shell,
it can only open as far as a yielding surface below will permit it.
If the surface is sufficiently hard, the oyster cannot open, and must
die. It must be remembered that the natural position of the oyster
is a fixed one, the flat shell opening only at the will of the creature.
As to annelids and other shelled things forming upon the round

THE ZooLocist—JUNE, 1876. 4943

underneath shell, this is exactly consistent with their economy—to
work where they are least disturbed.

Now the “spat,” as it is termed after its adherence to the cultch,
if left alone would be a fixed object for life. The oyster dredger
and his men now come in, and before the poor thing is six months
old they drag it or tear it away from the cultch. This is done when
the dredgermen are what is called cleaning their beds, in the close
summer months. No spat ought to be allowed to be torn from its
cultch for at least two years. If the beds cannot be cleaned without
destroying the oyster, well then let them alone. It is quite obvious
that machinery could be used to effect the object of removing weeds
and five-fingers and dog-whelks without injuring the spat. All
things must come to an end; and so will the cultivation of the
oyster, if natural laws and well-known facts are disregarded, and
every one is permitted to destroy the goose which lays the golden
eggs. With regard to temperature at the spatting season, I do not
believe that, ceteris paribus, it matters much, unless excessively
_ cold and boisterous. The young oyster gets a complete shell
within the shell of its mother. When emitted, for the forty-eight
hours which I believe is about the time it wanders about in search
of cultch, it is in the greatest danger, not only from boisterous
weather, but from the numerous enemies which in such a state it
possesses, and which, being microscopic, we know nothing about.

Pages of evidence may be written down, and committees may sit
for session after session; but unless the laws of Nature in the
economy of the oyster are observed and acted upon in its culture,
it follows that this delicious edible must in the course of time
become extinct. The oyster is a gregarious animal, living in
immense masses, the dead shells of which become the “ cultch” of
the young brood. In dredging both are removed, and the oyster
is laid down in beds where the proper cultch does not exist. The
Blackwater is said to be the finest oyster river in the world, and
yet people are permitted to go there at all times and remove the
cultch from its bed. I am told that this cultch or “soil” has
actually been sold for land draining—another feature in the golden
egg tale. The commercial value of oysters has enormously in-
creased, and the best of our oysters from this neighbourhood are
bought by the French and Dutch, who will always give a better
price than Englishmen. If we were to prohibit the exportation of
oysters, we should soon have them cheap enough, and eaten only

4944 THE ZooLocist—J UNE, 1876.

by our own countrymen. Fond as | am ofa good native, 1 would
not advise such a breach of “ free trade” policy as this; but, in my
opinion, it is is the only real plan to secure a cheap oyster.

Much may be done also by regulating—not stopping —the
summer working of oyster-beds. Dredges should be so constructed
as to leave the year-old oysters, and bring up only two-year-olds,
weeds, five-fingers and dog-whelks.

C. R. BREE,

S1r,—In the ‘ Field’ of April 15th there appeared a communica-
tion from Mr. W. Saville-Kent on the subject of “ The Propagation
‘of the Oyster,” in which the evidence given by Mr. Austin before
the Select Committee of the House of Commons, and also certain
facts observed with regard to the spatting of Modiola modiolus, are
quoted in opposition to the opinion entertained by most scientific
naturalists that the oyster is hermaphrodite.

Mr. Saville-Kent considers that “there are strong grounds for
believing that Mr. Austin’s deductions concerning the sexual indi-
viduality of the oyster are correct,’ and that the black spawn
consists of ova produced by a female oyster, while the “ white sick”
is the milt of the male, and that the former can only be fertilised by
being brought into contact with the latter.

This theory is combated in a letter from Dr. Bree in the suc-
ceeding number of the ‘ Field,’ in which the history of the develop-
ment of the ova into the perfect oyster is fully described; but some
further evidence of the fallacy of the unisexual theory is desiderated.
I have waited another week, and still none of your correspondents
furnish the results of their observations on this point. I therefore
venture to ask to be allowed to make the following contribution
to the stock of information which microscopic investigation has
elicited with regard to the early history of the oyster, and I think
my observations prove that, certainly, “ white sick” is not milt, but
that it consists of ova, which, without commixture with other
spawn, can be developed into embryo oysters such as those found
by Mr. Austin in his examination of the “ black sickness.”

On the 27th of May, 1865, one of my dredger friends, hearing
that I wanted a “sick” oyster, brought me one, which, on an attempt
being made to open it, had proved to be “milchy.” On being
placed in a vessel filled with sea-water it began to emit the spawn,

THE ZooLoGIst—JuNE, 1876. 4945

which, when ejected from the shell of the parent oyster, lay in a
white mass at the bottom of the glass vessel. I immediately
removed small quantities of the spawn with a dipping tube, and
transferred them to separate vessels. Under the microscope each
granule had the appearance of a white, opaque, heart-shaped
motionless egg. In those vessels in which a larger quantity of
spawn had been deposited, it soon died off, and in a few days most
of it had become decomposed ; but in one vessel, which presented
a large surface of water exposed to the air, and contained only a
small quantity of spawn, the water remained bright and pure, and,
after four days, the ova showed unmistakable signs of vitality,
a slow, restless motion being perceptible on examination with the
microscope. On the fifth day the motion was more rapid, and cilia
were distinctly visible under the microscope. On the seventh day
the embryos rose from the bottom of the vessel, and swam with
increased rapidity. On the tenth day they had acquired shells, and
presented exactly the appearance with which microscopists who
have examined black spawn are familiar. Unhappily, I am unable
to record any further progress made by my artificially-hatched
oysters. Although I took care to supply them with suitable
“cultch,” they could not make themselves at home, and died off
miserably, after an active existence of some days’ duration. The
same result has attended all my experiments even with mature
and healthy spawn, and I am inclined to believe that that condition
of weather which practical oyster-culturists are agreed is requisite
to enable the young oyster to attach itself—viz., steady, warm and
bright weather, with still, clear water—is also favourable to the
production of certain elements which serve for the nourishment of
the tiny creature, and in the absence of which it is starved, even
though it be sheltered from the rough waves by artificial means.

It will, of course, be understood that the emission of white spawn
in the case described above was abnormal and unnatural, and it is
no wonder that the mass of it died when removed from the parent
shell, being thus deprived of the vivifying influence of the ciliary
currents perpetually flowing over the branchiz of the oyster, within
the folds of which the ova are intended to remain until they are
brought to maturity.

In spite of all that has lately been said and written about over-
dredging, it is a fact that countless myriads of embryos are every
year matured within the shells of native oysters on the grounds of

4946 THE ZooLoGist—JUNE, 1876.

the Whitstable Company, and are emitted as “black spawn,” to
all appearance vigorous and healthy. It is also a fact that these
grounds are well supplied with “ cultch,”’—7.e., old oyster-shells,
which are admitted to be the very best material to invite the attach-
ment of the young oysters; and whenever the sharp eyes of the
dredgers discern indications that spat is falling, orders are at once
given to cease working with the dredge. Yet year after year the
hopes of oyster-catchers and oyster-eaters are alike disappointed.

SIBERT SAUNDERS.
Whitstable, May 2, 1876.

Starfishes and Oysters. By Enwarp NEWMAN.

I was rather taken aback the other morning by reading in the
columns of that excellent periodical, the ‘ Field,’ a very able paper
from the pen of Mr. Saville-Kent, with the heading “ Starfish and
Oysters,” and which commences with the following paragraph :—

“Tf any poor unfortunate representative of animate nature has been
singled out for especial obloquy and abuse, and of whom it may be said
‘he has no friends,’ that unhappy creature is the starfish. Far and wide,
both at sea and on shore, these luckless radiates enjoy the most unenviable
notoriety. Fishermen, gourmets, and naturalists have alike united to abuse
them from time immemorial, in association with their accredited oyster-
eating propensities. Last century, such was the animus in high places
against the common starfish (Uraster rubens), in virtue of the delinquencies,
real or imaginary, of that species in this direction, that the High Court of
Admiralty laid penalties even upon those who did not “tread under their
feet or throw upon the shore a fish which they call five-fingers, resembling
a spur-rowel, because that fish gets into the oyster when they gape, and
sucks them out.’”

There can be no doubt that the charge in question has been
repeatedly made and is very generally believed: scarcely any one
now doubts that these starfishes, or as they are usually called by
fishermen “ five-fingers,” actually will destroy and devour multi-
tudes of oysters, thus tending to promote that numerical decrease,
which, if not patent to all, is at least admitted on all hands to have
taken place of late years: now the question very naturally arises,
How far is this charge substantiated? Let us hear Mr. Kent:—

“ My first score on behalf of these persecuted, if not hitherto absolutely
friendless, ocean waifs, is embodied in the following :—For upwards of a

THE ZooLocist—JuneE, 1876. 4947

twelvemonth a special tank in the Manchester Aquarium was devoted by
me to the solution of the mystery hitherto enveloping the method in which
the starfish attacked the body of the oyster and made it hisown. * % *
In this tank at the Manchester Aquarium (No. 2, south corridor), there-
fore, a number of oysters of various sizes were placed, and with them a
collection of starfish of the largest dimensions, including Uraster rubens,
U. glacialis, Cribella oculata, Solaster papposa, S. endeca, Luidia fragilis-
sima, Asterias aurantiaca, &c. Notwithstanding the avowed epicurean
tastes of our starfish, however, not a single attempt has been made by any
one variety of these radiates to meddle with the oysters throughout the
considerable interval during which they have been associated with one
another. This circumstance is of itself sufficient to indicate that a great
mistake concerning the habits of starfish has crept in somewhere, plainly
showing at the same time that the oyster-devouring charge which is laid
against them is without foundation.”

On the other hand, Mr. Lloyd volunteers his evidence as a witness
for the oyster and against the starfish. If Mr. Kent is a competent
witness from his actual experience at Brighton, Manchester and
Yarmouth, Mr. Lloyd is still more so from his still more extended
experience at Hamburg and the Crystal Palace :—

“Mr. W. 8. Kent, in the ‘ Field’ of April 22, assumes that such oysters
as I have seen attacked by starfish in the manner I have described in the
‘Field’ of the previous week (April 15) were ‘in a weakly and unhealthy
condition.’ But his assumption is incorrect, because I am careful to say
that if I have taken away the starfish at the commencement of an attack
nothing has happened to the oyster, and it has gone on living and flourishing
as well as oysters do live and flourish in aquaria. At p. 46 of the ‘ Crystal
Palace Aquarium Handbook’ occurs this passage, written by me three years
ago :—‘ They (Uraster rubens) are very voracious, and may be frequently
seen in the Crystal Palace devouring oysters by insinuating their bladder-
like, semi-transparent stomach (pouting from the mouth) between the tightly-
closed shells of the bivalve, which then soon opens, and the oyster is
destroyed.’ Now, an oyster never has its shells tightly closed if it is
unhealthy, as the earliest sign of ill-health in bivalves is want of means of
controlling the adductor muscles which pull the shells together. Yet I have
drawn the stomach of a starfish from an oyster when the latter has been
so tightly closed that appreciable force has been required for such with-
drawal.”

This exactly corresponds with my view of the case, and prior to
reading either Mr. Kent or Mr. Lloyd I had published in the ‘ Field’

4948 Tuer ZooLocist—JuNE, 1876.

newspaper of April 27, 1872, the following paragraph, which I
scarcely incline to revoke, except under pressure of more conclusive
evidence than I at present possess :—

* All the sea-stars are exceedingly greedy animals, and greatly
addicted to the consumption of oysters. Regardless as they are of
their own lives and their own entirety, they are still more careless
of the lives of others: the oyster is torn from his stronghold, and
devoured while still in possession of his most vigorous, though
sedate, existence. All the fishermen are aware of this penchant
for oysters on the part of the sea-stars, and attribute their loss of
limb to a too-great eagerness to gratify this appetite. They say
that the oyster, who is fond of fresh air, always sleeps with the
door of his cottage ajar; and that the sea-star, who is always
walking about the oyster-beds, seeking, like man’s spiritual enemy,
whom he may devour, espies an unusually fair and fat mollusk
peacefully slumbering in her wigwam, and exclaims to himself,
‘ Here’s a delicious native! snip!’ and forthwith seizes her by the
beard—all oysters have beards, regardless of sex. ‘Snap,’ says
the oyster, seizing the starfish by the leg. The marauder is very
indifferent to the proceeding; he merely jerks off his leg and
leaves it to its fate, well aware that Nature will supply him with a
substitute as soon as he requires one; so he walks off again, bent
on gratifying his appetite as before. By the way, there is a
superiority in the substituted leg of a starfish over those in use
among our sailors and soldiers, inasmuch as they are made of the
same material as those that have been lost, and therefore accom-
modate themselves more readily to the exigencies of the case.”

I have also anticipated Mr. Kent’s objection some three or four
years before it was made :—“‘ Some have affected to disbelieve
the accounts of the predatory warfare carried on by the starfish
against the oysters; but although the fisherman’s account of the
modus operandi may not be perfectly reliable or strictly scientific
in its details, still it appears certain that the sea-stars consume a
large number of oysters. In order to account for the starfish
getting at the ‘natives’ so readily, it has been suggested that the
starfish has the ability to secrete an acid sufficiently powerful to
dissolve the hinge of the bivalve, but I feel scarcely willing to
accept this solution.”

Epwarp NEwMAN.

THE ZooLocist—JUNE, 1876. 4949

Substance of the Report of the Council of the Zoological Society
of London, read at the Annual General Meeting, April 29th,
1876.

Roll of Members.—The aggregate number of Fellows, Fellows
elect, and Annual Subscribers, at the close of the year 1875,
amounted to 324]. The corresponding number at the close of
1874 was 3197, showing an addition during the year 1875 of 44.

Income.—The income of the Society for the year 1874 was so
large, and so far beyond all former precedent, that the Council
could hardly have expected to be able to give a more favourable
statement for the year 1875. This, however, they have now the
pleasure of doing. The total receipts from last year have again
exceeded those of the preceding year, though the amount of excess
is not very considerable. The income of 1875 amounted on the
whole to £28,788 Ils. 4d., which was more than that of the
previous year by the sum of £321 6s. 5d., and is the largest annual
income ever yet received since the Society’s foundation. Of this
excess of income it will be remarked that £246 9s. lld. is
accounted for by the compensation received from the Grand
Junction Canal Company for the damages caused by the explosion
on the Regent’s Canal on the 2nd October, 1874. The circum-
stances of this explosion were explained in the Council’s last
Annual Report, and the estimated amount of the damages caused
to the Society was stated. The Council are pleased to be able to
inform the Fellows that the whole of this amount has been refunded
to the Society by the Canal Company. But, even when this
extraordinary item of receipts is deducted, the income of 1875, in
spite of many unfavourable circumstances, still shows an increase
over that of 1874 by the sum of £74 lls. 6d.

The Garden receipts in 1875 amounted to £16,826 15s. 6d.,
being £66 19s. 6d. more than those of tle previous year, and have
never been exceeded except in 1873.

Expenditure.—The sum of £31,667 15s. was required for the
ordinary and extraordinary expenses of the year, and the sum of
£772 15s. was carried to the Reserve Fund.

The ordinary expenditure of 1875 exceeded that of 1874 by the
sum of £1499 10s. 9d. This increase is attributable partly to the
excessive cost of provisions for the Menagerie, under which head
£370 17s. 8d. more was expended in 1875 than in the preceding
SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. 2F

4950 THE ZooLocist—JUNE, 1876.

year. The high price of hay, which is a very large article of con-
sumption in the Gardens (upwards of 250 loads being required for
the annual supply), was one of the chief causes of this excess.

The extraordinary expenditure of 1875, which amounted alto-
gether to £7479 9s. 3d., was mainly caused by the new Lion-house,
to which a sum of £6966 Is. 3d. was devoted. Other smaller
special works in the Gardens required a further expenditure of
£463 8s. in 1875.

Buildings and Works.—The expenditure on the staff of work-
men, together with the labour and materials required for ordinary
repairs in the Society’s Gardens in 1875 amounted to £2160 4s. 9d.
Under this head are included all the items necessary for the main-
tenance of this branch of the Society’s establishment in a perfect
state of efficiency. Besides this, as already mentioned, a sum of
£7429 9s. 3d. was expended on the following special Works and
Buildings :—

= ay PL F ee a (
New Falcon’s Aviary (balance) —- : 25 0 0
Repairing damages of Explosion (balance) i
—— 30 8 8
Works or 1875.
New Lion-house and works connected
therewith - - - - - 6966 1 +8
New Framing-ground and Potting-sheds 2382 16 7
New Tortoise-house’~— - - - =| ADB 53
New Water-main - - - E - 94-8 6
— 73899 0 7
£7429 9 8

It will be observed that the greater part of this sum has been
devoted to the new Lion-house, which, as mentioned in previous
Reports, the Council have had long in prospect, and of which the
main portion has now been completed: when thus complete it will
form, it is believed, by far the largest and most perfect building for
the accommodation of the larger Carnivora ever erected. The total
length of the main building is 228 feet, exclusive of the porticoes ;
the width, up to the front of the dens, 35 feet. The dens are
fourteen in number, and will accommodate, if necessary, as many
pairs of animals, each animal having a separate inside den. The
larger dens measure 20 feet by 12. The smaller are about 12 feet

Tur ZooLocist—JunNz, 1876. 4951

square. The height of the building at the central elevation is 30
feet. At the back of the dens is a wide passage extending the
whole length of the building. From this passage doors open into
every inner den, and in this are fixed the chains and pulleys for
opening the sliding doors between the dens, so that the whole of
the work connected with cleaning and management of the animals
is effected from behind. In the centre, at the back of the passage
are two day-rooms and four sleeping-rooms for the keepers, two of
whom will always sleep on the premises. The four out-door
playing-cages behind, which are still to be erected, measure 44 feet
by 29. The animals will be transferred into them through a kind
of movable tunnel running on wheels along the keeper’s passage.

The present occupants of the Lion-house consist of six lions,
seven tigers, two jaguars, two leopards, three pumas, and a clouded
tiger, altogether twenty-one in number. The only desideratum
among the larger Felide is the ounce (Felis uncia) of the moun-
tains of Central Asia, of which as yet no living specimen, it is
believed, has ever been brought to this country.

In order to furnish winter quarters for a pair of the giant tortoises
of the Aldabra Islands, acquired last summer, the glass front which
formerly covered a portion of the old Lions’ dens was removed into
the North Gardens, and re-erected there, at a total cost of
£105 14s. 8d. With the addition of a back wall and a small
heating apparatus, a very efficient building has thus been formed
for the object in contemplation.

Losses by Death in the Menagerie, and the Causes thereof.-—
Prof. A. H. Garrod, the Society’s Prosector, has continued his
investigations into the causes of death of the animals that have
died in the Gardens during the past year. He reports that the
death-list of the year 1875 indicates that chronic rather than acute
diseases were the causes of mortality in an unusual percentage of
cases, which (as it indicates that the incentives to immediate
disease, such as cold and bad hygienic arrangements, were absent)
is a very favourable sign. The female Indian elephant and the
manatee were the most serious losses, the former having suffered
from chronic phthisis and rheumatic arthritis, the latter apparently
from the lack of a food sufficiently nutritious for its requirements.
Such food it is, of course, extremely difficult to procure in this
country, if we may form any estimate of its ordinary quantity from
the habits of the animal in a state of nature.

4952 Tue ZooLocist—JuNE, 1876.

As is usually the case, the prevalent disease among the Old-World
monkeys was tuberculosis of one organ or another; while among
the New-World monkeys tubercle was far less frequent.

The ruminant animals, on post-mortem examination, were found
to be more than ordinarily free from hydatid tumours in the liver ;
and intestinal parasites were remarkable for their absence in all the
animals, indicating that their food was carefully selected and
prepared.

The Polar bear deposited in the Society’s Gardens by Captain
Allen Grant, suffered from a large ulcer on its palate, which, no
doubt, was the cause of its persistently refusing food, and conse-
quent death.

The specimen of the king penguin (Aptenodyles Pennantt),
presented by F. E. Cobb, Esq., on the 18th of May, 1875, died on
the 11th of August, 1875, from what is so frequently the cause of
death among these birds, namely, acute inflammation of the walls of
the interthoracic air-cells, which spread to the pericardium.

Additions to the Menagerie.—The total number of registered
additions to the Menagerie in 1875 was 1458, of which 559 were
acquired by presentation, 557 by purchase, 156 were bred in the
Gardens, 143 were received on deposit, and 43 obtained in
exchange.

Animals Bred in the Gardens.—The following is a list of the
animals which have been bred in the Gardens of the Society between
the Ist of January, 1875, and the Ist of January, 1876. When more
than one specimen has been bred the number is mentioned :—

a. Mammals.—Two whitefronted lemurs; three collared fruit-
bats; blotched genet; two coatis; two Cuming’s octodons; four
hairy-rumped agoutis ; Persian gazelle, male ; eland (Oreus canna) ;
zebu, male (Bos indicus); three-quarter-breed zebu (between Bos
indicus, male, and hybrid Bos frontalis, female); Cape buffalo,
female ; fallow deer; two Wapiti deer; two Molucca deer, male};
hog deer; axis deer; Prince Alfred’s deer; Virginian deer;
Pampas deer, female ; two Reeves’s muntjac; short-tailed muntjac;
three hairy armadilloes; great kangaroo; red kangaroo; Derbian
wallaby; two hybrid rat kangaroos (between Hypsiprymnus
Ogilbyi, female, and H. Gaimardi, male).

b. Birds.—Four Upland geese; six trumpeter swans; two
variegated sheldrakes; ten summer ducks; eight Chiloe wigeon ;
twelve Chilian pintails; eleven Australian wild ducks; nine

THE ZooLocist—Junz, 1876. 4953

spotted-billed ducks; two rosy-billed ducks; four hybrid pigeons
(between Columba maculosa and C. gymnophthalua) ; three
vinaceous turtle doves; seven crested pigeons ; four bronze-winged
pigeons; common crowned pigeon; six hybrid Japanese pheasants
(between Phasianus versicolor and P. torquata); nine Amherst
pheasants; two three-quarter-breed Amherst pheasants (between
hybrid Thaumalea Amherstie, male, and hybrid T. picta, female) ;
‘Siamese pheasant; four Temminck’s tragopans; four peacock
pheasants.
c. Reptiles.—Five Russell’s vipers.

Bat flying in the Sunshine—Whilst walking on ‘illmire, a large
common near York, with some of my friends, on the 18th instant, I noticed
a bat flying about a house. The day was about the hottest we have had
here this year, and the sun was shining very brightly at the time: it was
about four o'clock in the afternoon.—Edward H. Christy ; 20, Bootham,
York, May 21, 1876.

Leadenhall Market in May.—On the 5th and 15th of May I took the
opportunity of being in the City to visit Leadenhall Market. In spite of
legislation, Dutch and English, there were quantities of ruffs and reeves,
I am sorry to say, and redshanks and other birds; and in some cases I even
saw the eggs offered for sale at the same stalls with the birds. There were
also many godwits of both species, and one spotted redshank in splendid
summer plumage, besides plovers, and on the dtha graylag goose, which
I never saw in Leadenhall so late before.—J. H. Gurney, jun.; Reform
Club.

Greenland or Iceland Falcon in Guernsey,—I have a beautiful male
specimen of the Greenland or Iceland falcon, shot here on the 11th instant.
Length, twenty-three inches; spread of wings, forty-seven inches; length
of wing, twenty-one inches; from the elbow to the point of longest quill,
fifteen inches; length of tail, eight inches and a half; length of leg, six
inches and three-quarters; tarsi, three inches. Feathered in front of tarsi
two-thirds of its entire length. Weight, forty-seven ounces and a half,
Guernsey weight. The crop and meat—no bones or feathers mixed with
it—weighed two ounces: it had just fed off a pheasant. Cere, orbits and
feet, a very light yellow; claws, horn colour, not very dark. Bill short and
rounded, blue at the base, shading off almost black at the point, with a very
strong projecting tooth in the upper mandible; the under mandible deeply
notched from the point inwards to meet the tooth. yes very dark, almost
black. Chin and throat white; breast white, with a few dark hair-like

4954 Tue ZooLocist—Junez, 1876.

streaks; belly white, each feather with a diamond-shaped spot, small up-
wards, but increasing in size all the way to the vent; on the sides the spots
are larger and of irregular shape; the boot is spotted, but feathers in front
of tarsi white; top of head gray, centre of each feather dark slate-colour,
margined with white; ear-coverts much lighter than top of head; back and
wing-coverts dark slate-colour and white, forming irregular bars across the
back; rump and upper tail-coverts a lighter colour, without any white, the
quill of each feather, from the shoulder to the tail, black, showing a distinct
line in each feather; tail gray, with dark bands; under wing-coverts -white, ‘
spotted and streaked very much like the curlew or whimbrel, and the bird
on the wing had the appearance of being all white. Now I want to know
if it is the Greenland or Iceland falcon? ‘The bird on its legs by my side
is asplendid specimen, and though not set up as in either of Yarrell’s plates,
yet as I look at it, even to the very cere, it looks a Greenland in comparing
it with the plates; but then come the under tail-coverts, which are spotted,
and of the quill-feathers the second is the longest, but the first and third
are not of equal length. I have described the bird as well as I can; perhaps
some day an abler pen than mine may do it more justice. Previous to its
capture it had been about here over a month, and was very wary and shy—
no getting a shot at it. I believe it was never fired at but once, so it grew
bold, and on the 7th it stooped and caught a pheasant by the ramp: away
it went, with the pheasant all legs and wings, until the feathers gave way.
The falcon was disappointed of its prey, and the feathers blew over the field,
but on the 10th he struck a hen pheasant dead, seized her in his talons, and
flew away with her. On the 11th he came for another, when he received
the contents of the keeper’s gun.— James Couch ; Guernsey, April 22, 1876.

Greenland Falcon in Scotland.—A fortnight ago a fine specimen of this
rare and noble visitor was sent me alive; it had been caught in a gin, on
the 20th of April, in Argyleshire. It is now in the Clifton Zoological
Gardens. The following is a description of the bird:—Almost entirely
white, spotted with brownish longitudinal marks, disposed in the middle of
each feather, on the back and wings. Back of the head and neck also white,
faintly streaked down the middle of each feather with brown. Throat,
breast and vent pure white, very faintly marked at the sides, which latter
marks are hid by the wings. ‘Tail, upper and lower tail-coverts pure white,
without any marks. Irides dark brown; bill pale grayish horn, darker at
the tip and deeply notched; feet grayish white; claws grayish horn colour.
Comparing the above with Mr. Newton's description of the Greenland
falcon, I believe I am correct in assigning it to that species, and if, as
I hope, the bird will do well in its present home, I shall have the oppor-
tunity of recording the change of plumage at the next moult, when it
should assume transverse markings, and the feet become gradually pale
yellow.—H. J. Charbonnier ; Bristol.

THE ZooLoGist—JUNE, 1876. 4955

Plumage of the Roughlegged Buzzard.—I am much obliged to Mr.
Gurney for his note on the plumage of the roughlegged buzzard (S.S. 4921).
I had not, however, as he supposes, passed over the correction in the “ Cor-
rigenda” to the first volume of the fourth edition of “ Yarrell,” and am
therefore still of opinion that mine is a bird of the second year; and my
reasons for thinking so are, as previously stated, that the general markings
are more like the adult than the young bird, as there described. I may add
a few more particulars to those I have already given :—Nearly the whole of
the feathers of the upper part are edged, and some very broadly, with dirty
white, and only a very few with rust-colour; the fore arm and wrist are dull
white on the edge. The inner webs of the primaries are white to the end
of the broad part, with a brown streak running up the shaft; this streak
gradually increases in width on each feather nearer the body. ‘The under
surface is marked as follows ;—The chin, throat and breast are dirty white,
streaked longitudinally and patched irregularly with brown. The feathers
of the sides covering the thighs and upper part of the belly are nearly
uniform brown; those on the lower part of the belly are white, barred with
brown ; under tail-coverts dirty white. The tail is grayish white at the base,
becoming darker towards the tip, and the brown markings are so exactly like
those of the Suffolk bird se graphically described in Montagu’s ‘ Dictionary’
that I need here only repeat it :—“ Near the tip is a brown bar above an inch
in breadth; above that another, half an inch broad; and above these each
feather had a spot upon it in the middle, mimicking, when spread, a third
bar.” The outer feathers are irregularly streaked on the outer webs. My
bird and this Suffolk specimen seem also to have been very nearly the
same length, and the new feathers in the tail, which I have previously
described, had only a small streak, instead of a spot, on the middle of this
feather, on the proximal part ; and I pointed out that there are also markings
on the broad distal bar of this new feather almost making it into two bars.
It therefore appears to me that.as the broken bar on the proximal part is
disappearing, another bar is appearing on the distal part, which when fully
formed will give three distinct bars on the tail. The under surface of the
tail is grayish white, darkening towards the tip, and the bars of the upper
surface can be traced faintly shaded through. There is no mention of any
bars on the tail of the young bird described in ‘“ Yarrell;” moreover, it is
also there stated that “ Mr. Gurney is of opinion that the fully adult dress
is not assumed until the third year.” This can surely mean nothing less
than that there is an intermediate dress worn in the second year. If there-
fore Mr. Gurney is still determined to make my bird a ‘young one,” he
must, I think, admit that they sometimes borrow their father’s coat—
especially the tails—at the same time wearing a rather shabby vest of their
own,—John Sclater ; Castle Eden, May 11, 1876,

4956 THE ZooLoGist—J UNE, 1876.

Ring Ouzels in Winter.—Prof. Newton, in the fourth edition of Yarrell's
‘ British Birds’ (p. 287), says that the only occurrence in winter of the ring
ouzel in this country seems to be Gilbert White’s, in 1770. I have, how-
ever, in the course of my reading, come across one or two occurrences as
late as the end of November and as early as February.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Golden Oriole in the Lizard Distriet—We have some of these beautiful
birds with us, and I dare say before the end of the month I shall hear of
their visiting the groves’ of the Abbey of the Lord Proprietor of Scilly, to
whom I have written bespeaking his attention to their arrival. I have seen
a male and female, which are in the hands of Mr. Vingoe. The female is
a very adult bird, with the brown lineal longitudinal streaks on the breast
and belly. The male bird is dull in colour, and appears to be in the second
year’s plumage. Another specimen, a female, mutilated by a hawk, was
also sent here to-day.—Edward Hearle Rodd; Penzance, May 2, 1876.

Golden Oriole in County Dublin.—I have had the opportunity of ex-
amining a very perfect specimen of the golden oriole (Oriolus galbula,
Linn.), which was picked up dead, on the 30th of April, at Nutley, near
Dublin, and is being preserved by Mr. Williams, of Dame Street. It is an
adult female, in beautiful plumage, not a feather soiled, and is, I believe,
the first one ever obtained in the county; my friend, Mr. A. G. More, how-
ever, informs me that about five years ago a male bird frequented the
Botanical Gardens at Glasnevin for several successive weeks. The present
example appears to have succumbed to the combined effects of starvation,
fatigue, and perhaps cold, as we have been experiencing hard frosts lately.
It is in the possession of Mrs. Roe, in whose place it was found.—J. Douglas-
Ogilby ; 36, Elgin Road, Dublin.

Bluethroated Warbler in Yorkshire.—I have much pleasure in recording,
for the first time in Yorkshire, the occurrence of the bluethroat, or blue-
throated warbler. A specimen of this rare little bird, which had been picked
up dead under the telegraph-wires at Seamer, near Scarborough, was taken
to Mr. Roberts, of Scarborough, on the 12th of April. Its head and neck
had been considerably damaged from coming in contact with the wires, in
addition to which the man who found it kept it for several days, and then
carried it to Scarborough in his pocket. Mr. Roberts thought, when he first
saw it, that it would be impossible to mount it, but with skilful handling
and great patience he has now managed to make it into a very presentable
specimen. It is a female bird, in good plumage, and Mr. Roberts told me
it contained well-developed eggs. ‘The occurrence of this specimen is the
more interesting as it is an example of the type which possesses a white
spot in the centre of the blue on the throat (vide new edition of “ Yarrell,”
p. 323). Only one other individual of this type is recorded as having been
met with in Britain. —Julian G. Tuck; Old Vicarage, Ebberston, York.

Tur ZooLocist—June, 1876. 4957

Siskin breeding in Wicklow.—I had the satisfaction of recording in the
‘ Zoologist’ (S. S. 8914) the fact that the siskin undoubtedly breeds in
Wicklow, and I now have the pleasure of informing you of a second instance.
This time the nest is placed at the top of a deodar cedar, about eighteen
feet from the ground, and at present contains, as well as I cau estimate by
the sense of touch, three or four young ones. The tree is so weak near the
top that I was unable to look into the nest. The nest is all moss outside,
and in shape and size is very similar to that of the goldcrest. The note of
the siskin is so unmistakable and distinct from that of most of our
songsters, that when the owners of the nest above described were pairing
and building their cry could be heard across the whole pleasure-grounds,
though several other birds were calling at the same time. Confiding, tame,
and easy of approach, the siskin, with its twittering, frisky song, lively
manners, and sprightly attitudes, is a great favourite of mine, and I regret
that the confidence it reposes in man is sometimes abused.—Richard M.
Barrington ; Fassaroe, Bray, Co. Wicklow, May 21, 1876.

Jackdaws stealing Guillemots’ Eggs.—I have been told by an old climber
at Flamborough that the jackdaws are in the habit of stealing the eggs of
the “scout,” or guillemot, and flying with them to the top of the cliffs, to
devour them there; in fact, the appearance of the broken shells on the
grass above the cliffs is an unfailing sign that the egging season has
commenced. Apropos of guillemots, Mr. Bailey killed a silvereye or bridled
guillemot off Flamborough on the 24th of March, which I have added to
my collection. —Julian G. Tuck; April 7, 1876.

Martin returning Annually to the same Nest.— As the swallows are
now arriving to gladden us with their merry chirp and graceful motions,
perhaps the following may interest some of your readers :—In the year 1850
Mr. Gilbert, a farmer, living at Rainham, Kent, wished to test the worth of
a common saying, that if you mutilate the nest of a martin it never returns
to it. He broke down a portion of a nest built near his window, and to
which he thought he had observed the same bird come four or five previous
summers. To convince himself whether he was right or not, he caught the
bird and put a silver ring round one of its legs. Much to his gratification,
he saw this same bird return to the nest nine following summers: it is
therefore reasonable to conclude that this bird found its way to the
same spot at least fourteen different seasons, notwithstanding the partial
destruction of its nest. The bird was remarkably tame.—H. Coz; 5, Park
Road, West Dulwich, May 9, 1876.

Wood Pigeon building in a Buzzard’s Nest.—Last year a pair of
buzzards built their nest in an old stunted and weather-beaten elder-bush
growing on a wall close to the cliffs near Kingswear Castle, and notwith-
standing the exposed situation and facility with which the nest could be

SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. 2G

4958 THE ZooLoGist—JUNE, 1876.

reached, succeeded in bringing off two young ones. Within fifty yards of this
bush runs a path, and it is a marvel to me the nest was never discovered
and robbed. I visited it one day when I expected the young to be fully
fledged, but was a day or two too late, for they had flown, although I noticed
them with the old birds close at hand. On approaching the bush a wood
pigeon flew out, and on climbing up to look at the nest I discovered the
pigeon had built her nest by the side of the buzzard’s,—in fact, had
evidently made use of some of its material,—the two nests being worked into
each other. The pigeon must have commenced building before the young
buzzards could have flown, for her nest contained two eggs, which apparently
had been incubated for several days. The buzzard’s nest was a large
structure composed of twigs and lined with cow-hair and wool.—Gervase F’.
Mathew ; H.M.S. ‘ Britannia,’ Dartmouth, May 9, 1876.

Hooded Merganser.—I must apologise to Mr. Gurney for having left his
question concerning the occurrence of this species at Sheerness in March,
1870, so long unanswered. The birds in question were merely the common
redbreasted merganser, the male being in fine breeding plumage. Iam
sorry such a mistake should have occurred, and can only attribute it to a
slip of the pen, for I never noticed the error myself, and am much obliged
for attention having been called to it, and hope the Editor will pardon me
for not having observed and corrected it before.—TId.

The Divers.—-It is not easy at the time when there are no traces of what
is called the summer plumage, to distinguish our British species of divers
(Colymbus) apart. ‘The blackthroated diver, in its plain gray garb, is a rock
on which many a good observer has foundered. To me that bird has always
been more difficult to distinguish from the great northern diver than from
the redthroated. Iam at a loss to discover any difference in colour, except
it be that the hind neck is somewhat grayer in the blackthroated. The
blackthroated diver is a bird which varies much in size, but in that respect
it is always between its two congeners.—J. H. Gurney, jun.; April 25,1876.

Attitudes of the Guillemot.—If I am not mistaken, a question was raised
some time ago in the * Zoologist’ concerning the attitude of the guillemots
when they sit upon the rocks. I took note about it when I was at Flam-
borough Head last month, and I found that about as many of them face the
sea as face the cliff—it is six of one and half-a-dozen of the other; but
what is curious is that these birds sit in clumps, and all of each clump
generally face the same way. I could think of nothing that guided them in
it, and I suppose it is purely a case of “follow my leader.” Whichever
way the first guillemot which arrives on the ledge seats himself, the others
follow suit.—Id.

The Puffin—I should be glad to know if any of the readers of the
‘ Zoologist’ have observed the power of the puffin, not only to stand erect
on its feet, but also to walk on the rock with apparently the greatest ease ?

OO a es a

THE ZooLocist—J UNE, 1876. 4959

When the bird stands upright its legs are at an angle of about forty-five or
sixty degrees. This I can vouch for from personal observation.—Julian
G. Tuck.

Scarcity of the Razorbill.—I wish to ask your readers a question about
the razorbill, which is, whether they have noticed that it is getting scarcer,
more particularly on the east coast. In 1871 I found it fairly common at
Flamborough,—at least I should say every fourth bird about was a razor-
bill,—but this year I only saw a single example, though it is true that, a few
days after I left, Mr. Bailey wrote me that he shot twenty. Prof. Newton
tells me that their diminution is a fact he was quite aware of; but it was
new to me, and I should like to know to what extent it may be the case,
and if it has been noticed in the west. I have been this year to the Bass
Rock, where I only saw one, and to the Fern Islands, where I did not see
any, though on two former visits I have shot them there. I thought it
might be a later bird to come to the rocks than the guillemot, but on
inquiry of the people at Flamborough and the Fern Islands, who were most
likely to know, I was told it was not so.— J. H. Gurney, jun.

Common Gull.—A flock numbering some scores frequented this coast
during the winter, and was seen almost daily at low water, or’slack-tide, in
our little bay, feeding, among the breakers and in the shallows, on the
refuse discharged from the town drains, which seemingly afford them a
constant and abundant supply. It is interesting to watch their evolutions,
at one moment the flock concentrating, the next dispersing, though still
maintaining the circular order of flight, individuals occasionally alighting,
but more frequently skimming the surface or walking on the crest of a
waye, the wings upraised, petrel-lhke; snatching-——and that almost im-
perceptibly—the floating object. At high-water on a calm day they may
be seen reposing, all huddled together in the offing; then the “ shriek of the
wild sea-mew” resounds with thrilling effect. They are for the most part
young birds, as described by Temminck after the first or autumnal moult.
I have found the immature gulls of this species much darker than generally
described and represented by authors; for instance, Macgillivray says, “ After
the autumnal moult the back is grayish blue, with a mixture of brown
feathers ;”* Morris, that it has a “ bien poudré appearance ;” Jardine, that
“the young have the upper plumage clove-brown:” Temminck, ‘‘ Ceux de
l'année toutes les parties superieures d’un gris brun,” which Yarrell repeats
in as many words, saying, ‘“‘ First autumn, the back, wing coverts and
secondaries, brownish ash.” Neither Brisson, Baillon, Buffon, Pennant nor
Cuvier describes the plumage of the immature bird. Bewick says, truly
enough, of the common gull, “hardly two of them are found exactly alike,”
which may possibly account for one author telling us that the young bird
has the back clove-brown, and another that it is grayish blue. The fact is

* At page 578, vol. il., for “ male in winter” read “summer.”

4960 THE ZooLoGist—JuUNE, 1876.

we have still much to learn respecting the change of plumage in the gulls,
though some light has been thrown on it of late. It is much to be desired
that ornithologists would devote their attention to the study of one group
at a time: that of the Raptores would take years, to say nothing of the
Hirundines, in the partial and general migration of which and other species
we are told, by Prof. Newton, little progress has been made of late years.
A pair of common gulls made a nest in a neighbouring garden; it was
composed of sticks and stalks, on which the female sat, but no eggs were
laid. One of the birds having absented itself was found at its former
owner’s.—Henry Hadfield ; April 5, 1876.

Ivory Gull, &c,.— In the ‘ Zoologist’ for November last (S. S. 4689)
I recorded the occurrence of an adult ivory gull in Filey Bay during the
month of August. Not long ago I was speaking about it to Mr. J. H.
Gumey, jun., who told me that he knew of more than one instance in
which albinos of other species had been taken for the true ivory gull.
When at Filey, on the 3rd instant, I made further inquiries of Mr. Brown,
and was shown a photograph of the specimen, taken after it was mounted,
which leaves no doubt whatever in my mind as to the species. When
recently shot; Mr. Brown tells me, there was a beautiful orange-coloured
blush on the plumage. It is now in the possession of the gentleman who
shot it—Mr. T. M. Edwards, J, Arboretum Square, Derby. Mr. Brown
showed me what he and I both believe to be an adult male laughing gull
(Larus atricilla), in full breeding dress. It was shot near Filey (about three
miles inland) during the very rough weather which occurred about the
middle of March. It exactly corresponds with the figure of the laughing
gull in Mr. Morris’s ‘ British Birds,’ having a head of a dull blue-black—
just the colour of the back of a Larus marinus. The bill and tarsi had
been painted; the latter struck me as being very long. Only one similar
specimen has ever passed through Mr. Brown’s hands, and he knows the
familiar brownheaded gull in every stage of plumage. From Filey I walked
on to Scarborough for the purpose of observing the herring gulls at their
breeding-places, and was much pleased at seeing a considerable number of
these beautiful birds. Altogether I should say there are from forty-five to
fifty pairs: I was able to count above sixty individuals resting on the water
at one time. It is said that the lesser blackback breeds here also, but I did
not notice a single one. The herring gulls were by no means very shy, so
I had a good opportunity of watching them; one noble fellow, especially,
with a head and neck like newly-fallen snow, kept passing me within easy
gunshot. Their cry, though perhaps unmusical in itself, seems to be in
perfect harmony with the surrounding scenery. I wish those whose efforts
procured the passing of the Sea Birds Act could have been there to see the
results of their labours.—Julian G. Tuck; April 7, 1876.

eee ———

Tue Zootocist—Junez, 1876. 4961

Blue Lumpfish at Penzance.—The blue lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus,
female) occurred, in two specimens, here last night. The peculiarity worth
noting is that these fish were—as was also the last of the same sort which
I had about three weeks since—taken in mackerel drift-nets, fishing at
surface in deep water.—Thomas Cornish ; Penzance, April 27, 1876.

Torpedo near Penzance.—I have received from a trawler a specimen of
the electric ray (Torpedo). The trawler from whom I had it refused to sell
it with the liver in it, preferring to keep that part himself as a specific for
rheumatism.—Id. ; May 18, 1876.

Large Halibut.—Messrs. Parker Bros., fish-market, have exhibited this
week the largest halibut ever seen in the Eastern Counties, weighing
upwards of three hundred pounds, and measuring over seven feet in
length.—‘ Norfolk Chronicle,’ April 29, 1876.

Hatching Eggs of Limnwus pereger.—April 29, 1876. I noticed many
groups of eggs of Limnzus pereger deposited in various parts of a small
aquarium (one foot diameter and fourteen inches deep), some on the glass,
others on leaves of Valisneria spiralis, each group consisting of from sixty
to one hundred eggs, each egg forming a little sphere, about one-thirty-
secondth part of an inch in diameter, with the embryo on one side near the
circumference. The only movement observed in the embryo was a slow
rotation from right to left, or in the direction of the earth’s diurnal rotation
upon ifs axis.

May 3. The movements of the little mollusks within the eggs were
various and continuous—some revolving, some alternating. The two black
eyes are very distinct under a microscope-power of about 100-linear ; pul-
sations of the heart very distinct and regularly performed in each second
of time.

May 6. Shells of the mollusks and the animals appear more granular;
pulsations still seen through their shells. Mantle round margin of mouth
of shell distinct; horns enlarging, showing granular substance in the inner
base at centre; animal frequently moving and turning its shell, as the
adult creatures do, apparently holding on by its foot to the circumference
of the egg-shell.

May 8. The spiral form of shell is distinctly seen to-day ; the movements
of the mouth are obvious. The animal gradually enlarges and encroaches
upon the inner area of its egg.

May 10. The little mollusks are hatched and are leaving their egg-shells
and creeping upon the sides of the aquarium: their little mouths are con-
tinually in action, lapping the young Conferve from the glass reservoir : they
have formed an additional calcareous layer at the mouth of their shells.

May 11. The young mollusks have all left the eggs, and some have

4962 THE ZooLoGist—JuNE, 1876.

journeyed five or six inches in distance from their former position.—IV. B.
Clarke ; 9, Marine Terrace, North Shields.

Royal Visit to the “ Zoo.”—The Prince and Princess of Wales, with
their children, the Princes Albert Victor and George, Princesses Louise
Victoria, Victoria Alexandra, and Maud; the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke
of Connaught, Prince Ernest Augustus and Princesses Frederika and Mary
of Hanover, have visited the Zoological Society’s Gardens, Regent’s Park,
to see the Indian collection of animals and birds lately brought to England
by the Prince of Wales. After visiting the lion-house, the Royal party
walked to the Indian tent to look at the animals there deposited for a time.

The Secretary, Mr. Sclater, with his usual courtesy, has sent me the
subjoined list of the Indian animals.— Edward Newman.

REPORT ON THE INDIAN ANIMALS DEPOSITED IN THE Socrety’s GARDENS
BY H.R.H. ruz Prince or Waters, May, 1876.

Sucklers—Two green monkeys, two Rhesus moukeys, five tigers, seven
leopards, cheetah, one viverrine cat, one Indian civet, four tailless dogs, one
bull-dog, three Tibetan mastiffs, two white dogs, two Indian wild dogs, one
Himalayan bear, one sloth bear, four Indian elephants, six domestic sheep,
two Thar goats, four shawl goats, eight Indian antelopes, two zebus, two
spotted porcine deer, three axis deer, two musk deer, one domestic ass.

Birds —One graywinged blackbird, two wedgetailed pigeons, five domestic
pigeons, eight Surat doves, one black francolin, two hill francolins, four
Chukar partridges, fifteen Impeyan pheasants, twenty-one Cheer pheasants,
two Pucras pheasants, four whitecrested kaleeges, three Bankiva jungle-fowl,
ten horned tragopans, five Indian pea-fowl, three ostriches.

The whole collection contains sixty-seven specimens of mammals and
eighty-six of birds, referable to about thirty species, not including domestic
varieties. Of these the most interesting in a scientific point of view, are—

1. A pair of the Thar goats (Capra iemlaica), from the higher Himalayan
ranges. A male of this fine species of wild goat was presented to the Society
in 1852, by Capt. Townley Parker, and is correctly figured in Wolf and
Sclater’s ‘Zoological Sketches,’ vol. i., pl. 25, but no example of it has been
since received.

2. Two examples of the Laghuna, or lesser porcine deer (Cervus minor),
of Hodgson, from the Terai of Nepaul. Of this form of deer, which appears
to be a valid species intermediate between the axis and the hog-deer, no
previous specimens have reached this country.

8. Two male musk-deer (Moschus moschiferus), from the Himalayas. The
Society have previously had but one female of this delicate animal, presented
by Sir F. R. Pollock, in 1869.—P. L. Selater.

THE ZooLocist—JUuUNE, 1876. 4963

Proceedings of Scientite Societies,

ZooLoaicaL Society or Lonpon.

May 2, 1876.—Rozertr Hupson, Esq., F.R.S., Vice-President, in the
chair.

The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to the
Society's Menagerie during April, 1876, and called particular attention to a
collection of Angolan animals, presented to the Society by Lieut. V. R.
Cameron, the celebrated African traveller. Lieut. Cameron-had also brought
with him two chestnut-backed colies from the River Daude, presented to the
Society by Mr. Henry C. Tait. Two young cassowaries, from Duke of York
Island, presented by the Rev. George Brown, had also been received. Some
other birds sent home by Mr. Brown had died on the passage.

Mr. G. Dawson Rowley exhibited and made remarks on a specimen of
Macherirhynchus nigripectus, from New Guinea, believed to. be the first
example of this rare bird which had reached this country.

Extracts were read from several letters received from Dr. George Bennett,
giving some account of the proceedings of Mr. L. M. D’Albertis, and of his
recent expedition up the Fly River in December, 1875.

Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., exhibited and made remarks on an example of
the lesser whitefronted goose, from Egypt, being the first record of the
occurrence of this species in Africa. -

Mr. Osbert Salvin exhibited and made remarks on a piece of a trunk
of a pine from Guatemala, which had been perforated by a woodpecker
(Melanerpes formicivorus), for the purpose of storing acorns.

Mr. A. Grote exhibited and made remarks on Col. Gordon’s drawing of
Ovis Polii, which was the original of the figure given in the Society’s
‘ Proceedings’ for 1874.

Mr. George Busk read a memoir on the Ancient or Quaternary Fauna
of Gibraltar, as exemplified in the mammalian remains of the ossiferous
breccia, which occurs in the caves and fissures recently explored in different
parts of the Rock. Mr. Busk, after a preliminary description of the
geological features of the Rock and its fossiliferous caverns and fissures,
treated specially of the various bones of the bear, cat, horse, rhinoceros,
stag, ibex, and other animals, of which the remains occur there, and
proceeded to refer them to the species to which they seemed to belong.

Prof. A. H. Garrod read a paper on the anatomy of the colies (Colius),
which he regarded as belonging to the piciform group of the division of
anomalogonatous birds, according to his arrangement, but constituting an
independent family.

A communication was read from Mr. E. L. Layard, containing the descrip-
tion of a new blackbird (Turdus), from Taviuni, one of the Fiji Islands.

4964 Tue ZooLocist—JuUNE, 1876.

The Rev. Canon Tristram read a note on the occurrence of the roebuck
in Palestine.—P. L. Sclater.

EntomonocicaL Society oF Lonpon.

April 5, 1876.—Prof. J. O. Westwoop, M.A., F.L.S., &c., President, in
the chair.

Additions to the Library.

The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the
donors :—‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society,’ No. 167; presented by the
Society. ‘Exotic Butterflies, by the Author, W. C. Hewitson, Esq.
‘The Naturalist; Journal of the West Riding Consolidated Naturalists’
Society,’ vol. i., nos. 8 and 9 (for March and April); by the Society. ‘The
Zoologist’ for April; by the Editor. ‘ Newman’s Entomologist’ for April ;
by the Editor. ‘The Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine’ for April; by the
Editors. ‘Psyche,’ Organ of the Cambridge (Mass.) Entomological Club,
no. 22; by the Editor. ‘Annual Reports of the Trustees of the Museum
of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College, Cambridge,’ for 1874 and
1875; by the Trustees. ‘Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Natural
Sciences,’ vol. iii., no. 1; by the Society. ‘The Canadian Entomologist,’
vol. viii., no.1; by the Editor. ‘Traité Elémentaire d’Entomologie,’ tome ii.,
fasc. i. (Orthoptéres et Neuropteres); by the Author, Maurice Girard. ‘Sur
le Prosopistoma;’ by the Author, M. Emile Joly. ‘L’Abeille,’ tome xii.,
nos. 168, 169; by the Editor. ‘ Bulletin de la Societe d'Histoire Naturelle
de Toulouse,’ 1875, fasc.4; by the Society. ‘Bulletino della Societa
Entomologica Italiana,’ 1875, trimestre 4; by the Society. ‘Tijdschrift
voor Entomologie—Achtiende Deel,’ 3e & 4e Aflevering ; ‘ Repertorium der
Acht Eerste Jaargangen,’ 1858—1865; by E. A. de Roo van Westmaas.
‘Repertorium hetreffende den Negenden tot en met den Zestienden Jaar-
gang,’ 1866—1873; by F. M. van der Wulp. ‘Ueber das Aufreten der
Wanderheuschrecke am Ufer des Bielersee’s,’ von Albert Miller, in Basel ;
by the Author. ‘Gita Entomologica all’ Isola di Pantellaria di Enrico
Ragusa’; by the Author. ‘Mission Scientifique au Mexique et dans
l’Amérique Centrale— Sixiéme Partie, Etudes sur les Orthoptéres,’ par
M. Henri de Saussure; by the Author. ‘Petites Nouvelles Entomo-
logiques,’ nos. 143 and 144; ‘Monographie Revision and Synopsis of the
‘Trichoptera of the European Fauna,’ part iv.; by the Author, Robert
M‘Lachlan, Esq.

‘Historical Sketch of the Generic Names proposed for Butterflies;’ ‘The
Tertiary Physopoda of Colorado ;’ ‘ Notice of the Butterflies and Orthoptera
collected by Mr. George M. Dawson, as Naturalist of the B. N. A. Com-
mission ;’ ‘Synonymic List of the Butterflies of North America, North of
Mexico (Nymphales);’ ‘ Entomological Notes,’ iii. and iv. ; ‘Note sur ]’Giuf

a a

THE ZooLoGist—JuNE, 1876. - 4965

et le jeune age de la chenille d’Cineis Aello;’ ‘The Distribution of the
Insects in New Hampshire ;’ presented by the Author, Samuel H. Scudder.

‘Recensio Orthopterorum: Revue Critique des Orthoptéres décrits, par
Linne, De Geer et Thunberg,’ par C. Stal, 1 & 2; ‘Genera Tingitidarum
Kurope,’ disposuit C. Stal; presented by the Author.

_ ‘ Ofversigt af Kongl. Vetenskaps-Akademiens Forhandlingar ; ’"—‘ Genera
Coreidarum Europe,’ disposuit C. Stal; ‘Genera Lygeidarum Europe,’
disposuit C. Stal; ‘Genera Reduviidarum Europe,’ disposuit C. Stal;
‘Orthoptera quaedam africana,’ descripsit C. Stal; ‘Genera Penta-
tomidarum Europe,’ disposuit C. Stal; ‘Orthoptera nova,’ descripsit
C. Stal; ‘Hntomologiska anteckningar,’ af Carl Cederstrém; ‘ Coleoptera
Caffrarie, annis 1838—1845, a J. A. Wahlberg collecta: Curculionides,’
descripsit Ol. Im. Fahraeus, Div. 1—Adelognathi (Lacerd.); Div. 2—
Phanerognathi (Lacord.); Fam. Brenthide, Anthribide et Bruchide, |
descripte a Ol. Im. Fahreus; Fam. Scolytide, Pausside, Bostrichide
et Cioide, descripte a Ol. Im. Fahraeus; Longicornia, descripsit Ol. Im.
Fahraeus, nos. 1 & 2. ‘Oedemopsis Rogenhoferi, Tschek, funnen pa Hunne-
berg i Westergétland,’ af A. E. Holmgren; ‘Insekter frin Nordgrénland,
samlade af Prof. A. E. Nordenskiold ar 1870,’ Granskade och beskrifna af
A. E. Holmgren ; ‘ Dispositio methodica Exochorum Scandinavie,’ Auctore
Aug. Emil. Holmgren; ‘Skandinaviens och Finlands Acandthiider beskrifne
af O. M. Reuter; ‘ Acanthiide Americane,’ descripte ab O. M. Reuter;
‘Skandinaviens och Finlands, Aradider, Reduviider, & Nabider, beskrifne
af O. M. Reuter; ‘ Nabide novee ct minus cognite,’ Bidrag till Nabidernas
kannedom af O. M. Reuter; ‘Nya Svenska Capsider,’ antechnade af
O. M. Reuter; ‘ Férteckning éfver Svenska Podurider af ‘Tycho Tullberg ;
‘Bidrag till kannedom af Fjarilfaunan pa St. Barthelemy,’ af H. D. J.
Wallengren; ‘Skandinaviens Pyralider och Choreutider,’ beskrifne af
H. D. J. Wallengren; ‘Bidrag till Sédra Afrikas Fijarilfauna,’ af
_H. D. J. Wallengren; presented by the Royal Swedish Academy of
Sciences at Stockholm.

‘Bihang till K. Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Férhandlingar :'—
‘Recherches sur le systéme des Mantides,’ par C. Stal; ‘Recherches sur
le systéme des Blattaires,’ par C. Stal; ‘Om de Skandinaviska arterna af
Ophionidslagtet Campoplex,’ af A. E. Holmgren; ‘Index Specierum Noc-
tuarum et Geometrarum in Scandinavia hucusque detectarum,’ auctore
H.D.J. Wallengren; presented by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
at Stockholm.

‘Kongl. Svenska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar :'—‘ Enumeratio
Hemipterorum,’ Bidrag till en Fértechning 6fver alla hittills kanda
Hemiptera jemte systematiska Meddelanden,’ af C. Stal, 4; ‘Sveriges
Podurider,’ beskrifna af Tycho Tullberg; presented by the Royal Swedish
Academy of Sciences at Stockholm.

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 2H

4966 Tue ZooLocist—JuUNE, 1876.

Election of Members.

The following gentlemen were balloted for and elected Ordinary Members
of the Society :—Joseph William Douglas, Esq., of Lee, Kent: Edward C.
Rye, Esq., of Parkfield, Putney; Charles Fenn, Esq., of Lee, Kent; George
Lewis, Esq., of Queen’s Road, Putney; John Dunning Kay, Esq., of Leeds;
and William Charles Copperthwaite, Esq., of the Lodge, Malton. Also,
Benjamin A. Bower, Esq., of Lee, Kent, was balloted for and elected a
Subscriber.

Exhibitions, &c.

Mr. F. Bond exhibited a specimen of Xylina lambda, taken near Erith,
in September last, by Mr. W. Marshall, being the fifth instance of its
having been taken in Britain. Also Ebulea Stachydalis, taken by himself
at Kingsbury, Middlesex, in June, 1862.

Mr. Champion exhibited a specimen of Adgialia rufa, Fab., taken by
Mr. Sidebotham, of Bowdon, near Southport, and he brought specimens of
Psammodius sulcicollis sent by Mr. Sidebotham for distribution amongst
the Members.

The President made some observations respecting the habits of the
common gnat, in continuation of his remarks at the meeting of 4th
November, 1872. [See ‘ Proceedings,’ 1872, p. xxxi.] Large numbers of
females had again appeared in his house at Oxford, not a single male
having been observed; and he believed that they had hybernated in the
house, appearing during the first warm days of spring. He also remarked
that Dr. Leconte’s valuable collection of Coleoptera had been presented to
the University at Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Sir Sidney S. Saunders exhibited two examples of Stylops Kirbii, taken on
the wing by him at Hampstead, in the forenoon of the previous day. He
had found eighteen males in all: one Andrena contained three undeveloped
males. Mr. Enock followed up this exhibition by an account of his own
captures of male Stylops at the same time. He captured eleven on the
wing, and one Andrena was taken with four individuals.

Mr. Eaton stated that he was preparing a Supplement (dealing with the
limitation of the genera) to his ‘‘ Monograph on the Ephemeride ” (Trans.
Ent. Soc., 1871). A considerable amount of new material had been most
kindly submitted to him by Mr. Robert M‘Lachlan, of Lewisham, and
M. Herman Albarda, of Leeuwarden, comprising specimens from almost all
parts of the world. Amongst the most interesting were some specimens in
fluid from South America, and a collection from Sumatra. From the
Amazonian collection in spirits, it would appear that the deficiency in legs
in Campsurus and some of its allies was due to their being shed with the
pupa-skin when the insect obtained well-developed wings. In some forms
all of the legs were then cast off by the female (this was apparently the case

THE ZooLoGist—JuNE, 1876. 4967

with Euthyplocia also); in others the anterior pair of legs was retained by
the female, as it was seemingly by all males. The separation of the legs
cast off takes place between the femur and the trochanter. The posterior
legs would be useless to them, as on attaining the complete winged stage of
development they retain the subimaginal pellicle, and live but few hours in
the air. From Lahat there were subimagines of a Cronicus, a genus known
previously only from a fossil in amber from Prussia. Several new forms,
whose existence was expected from analogy, were in these collections. The
whole family seems to consist of associated series of genera. In every series
the forms differ from one another in the number of sete or wings; while in
tarsi and neuration and eyes they are very much alike. Such are a form
distinguishable from Lachlania by the female possessing three long sete
instead of two only; another differing from Potamanthus (restricted) in
the middle seta being extremely short and minute; and another which
resembled Siphlurus, excepting in the possession of a long intermediate seta
instead of a minute rudiment of one. There were many new genera allied to
the typical Leptophlebia, in addition to the series of species associated with it
in the Monograph as sections, which will now be separated as genera from it.

The President exhibited some drawings which he had prepared of insects
belonging to the Dipterous genus Systropus, of which he intended shortly
to publish remarks on their transformations.

The Rev. R. P. Murray stated that he was preparing a resumé of all the
species of Japanese butterflies hitherto noticed, and that he would be grateful
to any entomologist who could assist him with the loan of specimens.

Mr. Smith made some remarks on the distribution of some genera of
Hymenopterous insects from New Zealand, a collection of which had
been placed in his hands by Mr. C. M. Wakefield. He was followed by
Mr. M‘Lachlan, who remarked on the gradual extinction of the endemic
Fauna of New Zealand, although introduced forms throve there in a
remarkable manner.

Mr. M‘Lachlan exhibited a series of a remarkable Trichopterous insect
received from its discoverer, Fraulein Marie von Chauvin, of Freiburg, in
Breisgau, described by Stein as Anomalopteryx Chauviniana. In the male
the anterior wings were lanceolate and the posterior much abbreviated,
whereas those of the female were normal, excepting that the posterior wings
were smaller than usual. He also exhibited apterous females of Acentropus
niveus received from Mr. Ritsema, of Leyden; and a slide with a full-grown
female of the root-form of Phylloxera vastatrix, recently obtained by him
(with many others) from a vinery near London that was greatly infested

with the insect.
New Part of ‘ Transactions.’

The fifth Part of the ‘ Transactions’ for 1875 (containing the title-page,
index, &c.) was on the table.

4968 | THE ZooLoGist—JUNE, 1876.

May 8, 1876.—Sir Srpyry Smita Saunprrs, C.M.G., Vice-President,
in the chair.

Additions to the Library.

The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the
donors :—‘ Proceedings of the Scientific Meetings of the Zoological Society,’
1875, part 4; presented by the Society. ‘The Naturalist: Journal of the
West Riding Consolidated Naturalists’ Society,’ no. x., for May; by the
Society. ‘The Zoologist’ for May; by the Editor. ‘Newman’s Entomo-
logist’ for May; by the Editor. ‘The Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine’
for May; by the Editors. ‘Nature,’ nos. 386 to 839, for April; by the
Publishers. ‘The American Naturalist,’ vol. x., nos. 3 and 4; by the
Editov. ‘L’Abeille,’ nos. 170 and 171; by the Editor. ‘ Bulletin de la.
Société Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou,’ 1875, no. 3 ; by the Society
‘Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift,’ 1875, Heft. ii., and 1876, Heft. i.;
by the Society. ‘A Series of Papers on Tenthredinide and other Hymen-
optera, extracted from the Proceedings of the Natural History Society of
Glasgow ;’ by the Author, Peter Cameron, jun. ‘ Stettiner Entomologische
Zeitung,’ 1876, 1—6; by the Berlin Society.

By purchase :—‘ Entomologischer Kalender fiir Deutschland, Oesterreich
und die Schweiz auf das Jahr 1876.’ ‘Opuscula Entomologica edidit
C. G. Thomson,’ fasciculus septimus.

Election of a Member.

M. Jules Lichtenstein, of Montpellier, was balloted for and elected a
Foreign Member.

Exhibitions, &c.

The Rey. J. Hellins sent for exhibition various British Lepidoptera
recently submitted to M. Guenée for his opinion and determination. The
collection included a dark variety of Acronycta myrice from Mr. Birchall ;
certain Acidaliz, sent by Mr. Hellins and Mr. G. F'. Mathew, apparently
to be referred to A. mancuniata; several extraordinary aberrations referred
to Melanippe rivata, Oporabia, sp.?, Coremia ferrugata, &c., from Mr. Dale
and Mr. Mathew; an example of Polia Chi, var. olivacea, from Major Hut-
chinson ; several Eupitheciew, from Dr. Buchanan White, including the var.
oxydata of E. subfulvata; and an insect which Dr. White proposed to name’
septentrionata, not known to M. Guenée. The most important of all was a
Noctua bearing some resemblance to Xanthia circellaris (ferruginea), not
known to M. Guenée, taken at Queenstown, flying over bramble-blossoms,
in July or August, 1872, by Mr. Mathew. Concerning this insect it was
remarked that it had been shown to Dr. Staudinger (now in London) by
M. Guenée, and it was also unknown to him as European.

Tue ZooLtocist—J UNE, 1876. 4969

Mr. Distant exhibited a series of six examples of the butterfly Ithomia
Tutia, Hewitson, from Costa Rica. These had been selected to show the
very considerable variation in markings to which the species is evidently
liable.

Mr. Distant also communicated remarks on the Rhopalocera of Costa
Rica, with Descriptions of Species not included in the Catalogue of Messrs.
Butler and Druce, published in the « Proceedings of the Zoological Society’
for the year 1874.

Mr. Douglas exhibited specimens of the Corozo nut (Phytelephas macro-
carpa), the vegetable ivory of commerce, of which the interiors were entirely
eaten away by a species of Caryoborus (one of the Bruchides), A specimen
of the beetle was shown with nuts, from the London Docks, which had
been recently imported from Guyaquil.

The Secretary read a letter he had received from the Foreign Office
Department, enclosing a despatch from Her M ajesty’s Minister at Madrid
relative to the steps taken to check the ravages of the locust in Spain. It
appeared that considerable apprehension had been felt in many parts of
Spain that the crops of various kinds would suffer greatly this year from the
locust; and the Cortes had already voted a large sum to enable the Govern-
ment to take measures to prevent this calamity, and by a circular addressed
to the Provincial Governors by the Minister of ‘Fomento,’ published in
the Official Gazette, they were directed to make use of the military forces
stationed within their respective districts, to aid the rural population in this
object. It was stated that thirteen provinces were threatened with this
plague.—F. G.

Hooks Received,

Explorations of the Colorado River of the West and its Tributaries in 1869,
1870, 1871 and 1872, under the Direction of the Secretary of the
Smithsonian Institution. Washington. 1875.

The work contains 285 pages and 80 wliole-page illustrations, principally
representing scenery, in the Far West of North America, of a very striking
character: some represent Indians as in life, or as we occasionally see them
in photographs: ‘these have no resemblance to the Red Indian as fiction
and—I regret to add—as philanthropy would paint him.

A History of British Birds, by the late William Yarrell, V-P18., FAS.
Fourth Edition, revised by Alfred Newton, F.R.S., &e. Part IX,

This work still progresses very slowly. Part IX. contains the buntings,

the three European species lately identified by Mr. Gould as inhabitants, or

4970 Tue ZooLoGist—JUNE, 1876.

rather accidental visitors, of Britain, being incorporated. These have already
been noticed in the ‘ Zoologist,’ but I will recapitulate them here :—

1. Emberiza rustica, the Rustic Bunting, caught at Brighton on the
28rd of October, 1867, and now in Mr. Monk’s collection.

2. Emberiza pusilla, the Little Bunting, also taken at Brighton, on the
2nd of November, 1864, and also in the possession of Mr. Monk.

3. Emberiza melanocephala, the Blackheaded Bunting, shot on the Race-
course at Brighton, November Srd, 1868. I think Prof. Newton has com-
mitted a grave error in assigning the name of “ Blackheaded Bunting” to a
new British species, Emberiza scheeniclus being so universally known by
that name.

Our Summer Migrants: an Account of the Migratory Birds which pass the
Summer in the British Islands. By J. KE. Harting, F.L.S., F.Z.S.
Illustrated from Designs by Thomas Bewick. London: Bickers and
Son, 1, Leicester Square. 1875. 836 pp. demy 8vo.

This book is very useful and interesting ; the woodcuts (servile copies of
Bewick) are generally excellent, and I am quite unable to explain the
accurate manner in which they are reproduced. The process, whatever it
may be, by which these figures are produced, has the disadvantage of
perpetuating error as well as truth; thus the short tail of the redbacked
shrike reappears in all its deformity. Take the volume altogether it is a
most acceptable addition to our knowledge of British Ornithology, and a very
pretty book for the drawing-room table.

Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution,
showing the Operations, Expenditure, and Condition of the Institution
for 1874. Washington. 1875. 416 pp. demy 8vo.

This volume contains an immense amount of matter rather useful than
ornamental; amongst other papers I would invite especial attention to a
translation of Arthur Morin’s Essay on ‘‘ Warming and Ventilation,” which
originally appeared in Paris. We English rather pride ourselves on loving
comfort, and in support of these ideas we attempt to show that foreigners,
and especially Frenchmen, have no equivalent for the word: consolation,
soulagement, assistance, secours—the only translations [ recollect in my old
French dictionary—certainly fail to convey my idea of a well-ventilated and
well-warmed apartment, the attainment of which is within reach of a French-
man, but not of an Englishman. We construct churches, chapels, theatres,
and indeed private houses, regardless of expense, but utterly regardless
also of comfort; in these respects our insular prejudice prevents our
copying anything but fashions from the French, and hence we are debarred
the advantage of profiting by their example: so we are condemned to live
in foul air, thorough draughts, stifling heats, piercing cold, and sea-coal

THE ZooLoGist—J UNE, 1876. 4971

smoke, as may be most profitable or least troublesome to the architect, to
whom the name of Arthur Morin is unknown, or simply employed as
expressive of contempt. Committees and estimates, again, are insuperable
obstacles to economy and “ comfort.”

Ornithology of the Straits of Gibraltar. By Lieut.-Colonel L. Howard L.
Irby, F.L.S. London: R. H. Porter, Tenterden Street. 1875.
Demy 8yo, 280 pp. letterpress.

Colonel Irby, before attaining that title, was a correspondent of the
‘ Zoologist,’ and the volumes for 1851, 1852, 1853 and 1854 were enriched
by many of his contributions. I remember being extremely pleased with
his “ Habits of the Green Sandpiper,” and his “ List of Birds observed in
the Crimea in 1851.” It is a most sincere pleasure to see him again in
print, and evincing the same interest in Natural History which he exhibited
a quarter of a century ago, and to know that his eye has not grown dim nor
his natural power of observation in any respect abated.

The scene of Colonel Irby’s recent observations has long been classical
ground to me, and a translation of a paper on migrants observed crossing
the Straits was one of my earliest ventures in Ornithology. It was not
without regret that I suffered the loss of Colonel Irby’s instructive con-
tributions for so long a period, or that I saw them in connection with
technical matter in a journal where they are less calculated to diffuse
general instruction ; still I fear that many prefer the restriction of this kind
of information to the extremely select circle of readers who have no doubt
enjoyed it more thoroughly from the elimination of more popular Natural
History. Be this as it may, Colonel Irby’s papers, wherever published, are
always instructive and always acceptable.

The volume is accompanied by excellent maps of both the European and
African sides cf the Straits—maps that enable us to mark the locality
where each species has been seen. I observe Colonel Irby notices the very
general, indeed the almost universal, occurrence of migration among birds.
He observes, ‘“‘ Few, indeed bardly any, birds do not migrate or shift their
ground to some extent. I can name very few indeed which do not appear
to move, viz., griffon vulture, imperial eagle, eagle owl, blue thrush, and all
the woodpeckers, tree creeper, blackheaded warbler, Dartford warbler, crested
lark, chough, raven, magpie, redlegged and Barbary partridges, and Anda-
lusian quail. Generally speaking it seems to me that in the vernal migration
the males are the first to arrive, as with the wheatears, nightingales, night
herons, bee-eaters; but this is a thing which requires confirmation. Some
species, as the Neophron, pass in pairs.”—P. 13.

Nothing is more commendable or more observable than the caution with
which Colonel Irby receives information from other sources. Every fact
he records has been tested by all the means within his reach before he

4972 Tue ZooLocist—JUNE, 1876.

gives it to the public; the feeling of assured confidence in every statement
he has made adds not only to the interest but to the value of the book.

Aquarium Notes: the Octopus and the Devil-fish of Fiction and of Fact.
By Henry Lee, F.L.S., Naturalist to the Brighton Aquarium.
London: Chapman and Hall, 193, Piccadilly. 1875. Post 8vo,
114 pp. letterpress and several illustrations.

A good subject for a book and well timed, for the octopus is a nine-days’
wonder that must lose its attraction. It is well written, but I cannot say
much in fayour of the illustrations; the octopus, for instance, looks as
though it had a short clay-pipe stuck in his hat; the figures of Sepia
Sepiola and Loligo are all conventional, and not in attitudes which those
creatures could possibly assume, and that of the Poulpe colossal of De
Montfort has been reproduced and repeated usque ad nauseam. However,
Mr. Lee—having had the rare, the almost unique, advantage of seeing
the animals he describes—is not necessitated to repeat what he reads
with such unvarying uniformity as a mere compiler. I hope to see other
batches of these ‘ Aquarium Notes,’ and also hope to see the matter derived
from personal observation.

Abstracts of the Results of a Study of the Genera Geomys and Thomomys,
and on the Habits of Geomys troza. By Dr. Elliott Coues, of the
United States Army. Washington. 1875.

Some Account, Critical, Descriptive and Listorical, of Zapus Hudsonius,
and on the Breeding Habits, Nest and Eggs of the Whitetailed
Ptarmigan. By Dr. Elliott Coues, U.S. Army. Washington. 1875.

The American Journal of Microscopy. Nos. 1,2 and3. New York. 1876.

Notes on the Yueca Borer (Megathymus Yucce, Walk.). By Charles V.
Riley, M.A., Ph.D. St. Louis. 1876.
From the moment I received this admirable treatise I have regretted the
apparent impracticability of transferring it bodily to the pages of the
‘ Zoologist’ or ‘ Entomologist.’

The Geographical Distribution of Animals, with a Study of the Relations of
Living and Extinct Faunas, as elucidating the past Changes of the
Earth’s Surface. By Alfred Russel Wallace. In ‘Two Volumes, demy
8yo, with Maps and Illustrations; Vol. I., 503 pp., Two Maps and
Thirteen Plates; Vol. II., 607 pp., Two Maps and Seven Plates. 1876.

These volumes exhibit a vast amount of research and study, and sooner
or later must constitute an essential part of the library of every working
zoologist. Epwarp Newman.

EDWARD NEWMAN

BORN MAY 18, 1801.
DIED JUNE 12, 1876.

Ir is my sorrowful duty to record the death, after
a short illness, of him who founded this Journal, and
conducted it for a period of nearly thirty-four years.
Not only those who knew him personally, but that
wide circle who knew him as a correspondent or
through his writings, will feel a shock that one so long
beloved has passed away, and will mourn him as a dear
friend. As ready as he was able to impart information
on every branch of Natural History, he will be regretted
by many who sought—and as certainly obtained as
sought—his kindly help.

His labours are finished, and his earthly career of

usefulness is completed; but his memory will remain
bright in the minds of those who had the benefit of his

friendship.

SECOND SERIES—YOL. XI, 21

4974 THE ZooLocist—JuLY, 1876.

Aotices of Hew Books.

Transactions of the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists Society.
1875-6. Vol. 1I., Part 2. Norwich: Fletcher & Son.

WE have, we believe, from time to time drawn the attention of
our readers to the published reports of this exceedingly energetic
and well-managed Society. The ‘ Transactions’ now under notice
are eminently creditable to any local Natural-History Society ;
and it is to be regretted that we cannot point to more so-called
scientific clubs whose publications are equally meritorious, We
are sorry to remind our readers—although we need scarcely do
so—that the majority of the Natural-History Societies of Great
Britain publish neither Reports nor Transactions, although the
gathering and recording of observations is really their avowed
object.

The Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society has its head-
quarters at Norwich: it consists of President, a dozen Vice-
Presidents, a full complement of officers, amongst whom we observe
names of high standing in the scientific world, and about one
hundred and fifty members. Amongst the objects of the Society
we may name two very important. ones, viz. :—

“The protection, by its influence with landowners and others, of indi-
genous species requiring protection, and the circulation of information
which may dispel prejudices leading to their destruction.

“The discouragement of the practice of destroying the rarer species of
birds that occasionally visit the county, and of exterminating rare plants in
their native localities.”

If this Society had no other object than these it ought to have
every support and good wish for its welfare from those who do not
wish to see our rarities disappear, and some of the commoner
objects in both our Fauna and Flora become objects of search,
especially birds and ferns, both of which, in this metropolitan
district, bid fair shortly to become extinct.

The first report in these ‘ Transactions’ is that of the Treasurer,
whom we would congratulate upon having so good a balance in
hand as £21 odd: this, we may suggest to some other like officers,
is a slightly exceptional thing; generally the balance is on the
other side.

TuE Zootocist—Juty, 1876. 4975

After a goodly array of books and publications received during
the period over which the report extends, is the President’s
Address: this is full of good practical writing, consisting of a
resumé of the year’s work. He begins with an apology in the
most approved style, but soon the reader sees how needless this is.
Next he congratulates the Society upon its flourishing condition,
in which we join him, and then gives a list of work done at the
monthly meetings. In looking over this we find the weakest point
in the Society; for out of its hundred and fifty members. only a
dozen have contributed anything in the way of papers; of these
six are devoted to Zoology, three to Botany, and three to Me-
teorological observations. This latter subject is almost universally
neglected by Natural-History Societies, although so important to
all. How otherwise than by constant and accurate observations, and
comparison of notes, are we to acquire the golden key—for such
there must be—which will unlock those laws which govern the state
of the atmosphere ?

This question of weather brings us to another important part of
the President’s Address, that of the four field excursions, at all of
which—to quote the President’s own words—

“ Excepting on one occasion, the principal element of enjoyment was
present, I mean fine weather; but these excursions, although successful in
many points of view, were not productive of much fruit, looking at them in
a scientific light, as, with the exception of Mr. Plowright’s list of the Fungi
found by him at Scoulton, not a single specimen, animal or vegetable, has
been exhibited, or even a notice of anything observed at any one of the
four placed before the Society at its usual meetings.”

The President then goes on to say :—

“It is much to be regretted we do not follow the example of some other
societies, or in fact pursue the course proposed when this Society was first
formed. Let a day and place be fixed for the excursion, and each when
there follow his own bent; at the close of the day let each individual produce
the result of his labours: this might perbaps induce other members to
become active naturalists, but at present I must confess it seems to me
that our trips have degenerated into a series of very pleasant picnics. I
hope you will not suppose that I would discourage these excursions; far
from it, for while we can induce ladies and gentlemen to attend these and
our monthly meetings, there is a chance of awakening an ardent love for
some branch of Natural History, which may, perhaps, one day be useful to
the Society.”

4976 Tue ZooLocist—Juty, 1876.

This is a bugbear with many Field Clubs: one valuable ex-
ception we know of,—that of Liverpool,—where at each field
meeting there is a judicious distribution of prizes of small value,
say from half-a-crown to half-a-guinea or upwards: these are given
in all subjects for the greatest number of species in any particular
branch of Natural History collected and identified; again, other
prizes are given at the end of each season for other work, such as
monographs upon any especial group: only care should be taken
not to allow any particular branch of Natural History to pre-
dominate, as it has at Liverpool, where the Club has degenerated
almost into a Botanical Society. If the Norwich Society judi-
ciously expended some of the Treasurer’s balance of £21 in this
manner we are sure an impetus would be given to the field
meetings, which would be highly beneficial to the Society, not
only in creating a greater taste for the gentle science of Biology,
but also, from the addition of new members, financially.

Amongst the papers read before the meetings of this Society is
one by the Secretary on the Cetacea inhabiting, or occurring in, the
British Seas. We agree with him when he speaks of “ the difficulty
attending the study of the order, consequent upon the unwieldy
size of many of the species, and the great rarity of others,” and we
are sure that any observer who lives in an inland city, and makes
the study of whales his forte, is equal to almost any undertaking.
Mr. Southwell follows later in the year with another paper: this
time he attacks the obscure and little-known order of Sirenia. It
is a great pity that the ‘Transactions, although an important-
looking stout octavo volume, were too crowded to admit of these
valuable contributions in detail.

In January Mr. Geldart read a valuable paper on sea-weeds :—

«The principal points alluded to in this paper were: (1) The Dimorphism
of the Fructification of the Rhodosperms or Floridex, and the analogy of
this Dimorphism to that found in other higher orders of Cryptogams; and
(2) The aggregate character of such Chlorosperms as Ulva.

“The true spores and tetraspores of the Rhodosperms were described in
four different genera—Plocamium, Nitophyllum, Ceramium, and Poly-
siphonia, and it was explained that the object of the two-fold fructification
was not at all understood, but that it was supposed that while in the case
of the true spores the descent of the species was direct, in that of the tetra-
spores there was an ‘alternation of generations,’ the germination of the
tetraspores producing in the first instance a prothallus unlike either the

Tue Zootocist—Juy, 1876. 4977

original parent or the second generation. In describing the Antheridia of
the Rhodosperms the writer acknowledged that although he had seen them
he had failed in either tracing their action himself, or in finding in any text-
book a definite account of how fertilization was effected by their means.

“The pseudo analogy between the true spores and the tetraspores of
Rhodosperms and the Micro- and Macro-spores of Selaginella and Tsoetes
was alluded to, and the probable true analogy between the tetraspore and
the primary four-fold aggregation of the macrospore in Isoetes, and the
development of the spores in mosses was pointed out, and it was asserted
that from specimens in the writer’s possession the primary four-fold division
of the cell, which forms the tetraspore Callithamnion, could be shown.

“Tn speaking of Ulva it was shown that from his own observation the
writer had come to the conclusion (which he had since found published by
Professor Thiselton Dyer, in Art. ‘ Biology,’ Enc. Brit.) that the frond of
Ulva must be considerod as an aggregate of simple forms of Alge, having
a true analogue in Volvox globator.”

At the February meeting a gentleman wishes to put the “ world
arights” with a paper “On the Destruction of many Birds through
the Ignorance of Gamekeepers and Gardeners.” Would it not be
well for him to get some clause on the subject inserted into the
next Education Act?

Our valued correspondent, Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., next appears
with an able lecture entitled “The Rambles of a Naturalist in
Egypt,” of which the President gives the following summary :—

“Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., gave a lecture, entitled ‘The Rambles of a
Naturalist in Egypt,’ which was almost entirely confined to the Ornithology
of the country, which he said was remarkable for the number of aquatic
birds that made the Nile their home, and that to observe their nidification
was the principal object of his visit last year: he stated that the number of
birds identified by him was 223, a number far exceeding that observed in
Algeria. He then stated the number of game birds shot by himself and
friends, consisting of snipe, quail, two species of sand grouse, and ducks
(but for these latter they were too late to kill many), showing that there
was plenty of temptation for the sportsman as well as the naturalist, and
that the snipe-shooting of the Delta was equal if not superior to the best
in India. In some of the lakes the coots were in such abundance that on
the water he mistook them for an island, and when they rose they looked
like the smoke out of the funnel of a steamboat. Flamingos, also, were in
prodigious numbers. After mentioning the names of those naturalists who
had written on Egypt, he informed us that he hoped ere long to add a work
of his own to those already published.

4978 Tuer ZooLocist—JuLy, 1876.

“Tn touching on the subject of migration, Mr. Gurney broached (to me,
at least) a new theory, namely, that some of our summer migrants amongst
the Insessores may be considered to breed in Southern Africa in winter as
well as in England in the summer, and thus really may be double-brooded.
He remarked that though the outlines of the Egyptian goose and the ibis
on the monuments are extremely accurately drawn, the colouring was very
far from natural.

“Their chief discovery was that of the lesser whitefronted goose (Anser
minutus, Naum.) in Egypt, a bird which was formerly supposed to have been
a northern species. Many writers had identified the sacred hawk with
the kestrel; this Mr. Gurney thought was a mistake, he believed it was
intended for the lanner falcon, an opinion which he informed us was shared
by his father; this latter bird is far from common. He also stated that
birds of prey abounded, and that there was an unlimited amount of food for
them in the shape of countless hordes of semi-wild pigeons; and that kites
and vultures (these latter popularly called Pharaoh’s hens) are the sanitary
police or scavengers, and for this useful but disgusting service they are
very favourably looked upon; and he believed that it was sight which
guided these Raptores to their food, and not scent. The sacred ibis, he
informed us, contrary to the general opinion of ordinary mortals, no longer
inhabited Egypt, but had gone further south. He then entered into a
description of the different kinds of herons, as well as the peculiar method
of catching coots on the lakes with a casting net, which bird is there more
highly prized by the fishermen for the table than the wild ducks: after
alluding to the ravens, Mr. Gurney finished a very interesting lecture by
glancing at the Entomology of the country, which as far as he was con-
cerned, was confined to some of the noxious insects; fleas, flies, and
mosquitoes, he said, were in enormous hosts, and rendered themselves
exceedingly disagreeable.”

Although we have previously (S. S. 4891) noticed this lecture,
we wish particularly to call the attention of our readers to the
statement above quoted—the theory that some of our summer
migrants again breed in South Africa in winter, or at two periods
in one year. This is a most interesting subject, which would be
well worth discussing in the ‘ Zoologist.’

By far the most elaborate part of the President’s Address is his
own article upon the Aculeate Hymenoptera of his district: those
interested in this most beautiful order will find this worthy an
attentive perusal.

Last, and not least in this Address, is the reference to the reading
of ten unpublished letters written by good old Gilbert White of

THE Zoo.ocist—J ULY, 1876, 4979

Selborne, whom every naturalist, from boyhood upwards, has
learned to respect for his quaint, simple and truthful observations.
These valuable letters are given in full later in the ‘ Transactions,’
and form a most interesting portion of them. With them is an
autotype fac-simile of Gilbert White’s handwriting and signature.
This alone is worth the price of the book. The President says—

“Tneed not refer to their contents more than to call attention to the
fact that Mr. Marsham obtained at Stratton a bird (Tichodroma muraria)
not known to have been before observed in this country: Gilbert White's
remark that Mr. Marsham would ‘have the satisfaction of introducing a
new bird of which future ornithologists will say—found at Stratton in
Norfolk by that painful and accurate naturalist, Robert Marsham, Esq.,’.
after an interval of 82 years will at length be fulfilled. To Professor Bell,
now the occupant of White’s house, and the diligent collector of every
memorial of him, we are under the great obligation of receiving copies of
Marsham’s letters to White, thus enabling us to complete the correspond-
ence of the two eminent naturalists.”

These letters are published with the leave of the Rev. H. P.
Marsham, F.R.S., and addressed by Gilbert White to Robert
Marsham, great-grandfather of the reverend donor. To read these
letters brings back the boyish joys we felt when we first “ devoured”
a copy of White’s letters. We advise all who have not read these
newly unearthed letters to lose no time in doing so. Who, after
the first smile at its quaintness is past, can read the following
without admiration ?>—

“ As you seem to know the Fern-owl, or Churn-owl, or Eve-jar; I shall
send you, for your amusement, the following account of that curious,
nocturnal, migratory bird. The country people here have a notion that the
Fern-owl, which they also call Puckeridge, is very injurious to weanling
calves by inflicting, as it strikes at them, the fatal distemper known to
cow-leeches hy the name of puckeridge. Thus does this harmless, illfated
bird fall under a double imputation, which it by no means deserves ;—in
Italy of sucking the teats of goats, where it is called Caprimulgus; &
with us, of communicating a deadly disorder to cattle. But the truth of
the matter is, the malady above-mentioned is occasioned by a dipterous
insect called the wstrus bovis, which lays it’s eggs along the backs of kine,
where the maggots, when hatched, eat their way thro’ the hide of the beast
into it’s flesh, & grow toa large size. I have just talked with a man, who
says, he has been employed, more than once, in stripping calves that had
dyed of the puckeridge: that the ail, or complaint lay along the chine, where
the flesh was much swelled, & filled with purulent matter. Once myself I

4980 THE ZooLocist—J ULy, 1876.

saw a large, rough maggot of this sort squeezed out of the back of a cow.
An intelligent friend informs me, that the disease along the chines of _
calves, or rather the maggots that cause them, are called by the graziers in
Cheshire worry brees, & a single one worry bree. No doubt they mean a
breese, or breeze, the name for the gad-fly, or wstrus, the parent of these
maggots, which lays it’s eggs along the backs of kine.”

Again :—

«“ You seem to wonder that Mr. Willughby should not be aware that the
Fern-owl is a summer bird of passage. But you must remember that those
excellent men, Willughby & Ray, wrote when the ornithology of England,
& indeed the Nat: History was quite in it’s infancy. But their efforts were
prodigious ; & indeed they were the Fathers of that delightful study in this
kingdom. I have thoughts of sending a paper to the R. S. respecting the
fern-owl; & seem to think that I can advance some particulars concerning
that peculiar, migratory, nocturnal bird, that have never been noticed
before. The rain of Octo" last was great, but of Nov? still more. The
former month produced 6 in. 49 hund. but the latter upwards of 8 in.:
five & 4 of which fell in one week, viz. from Noy. 13th to the 19th. both
inclusive! You will, I hope, pardon my neglect, & write soon. O, that I
had known you forty years ago!

“T remain, with great esteem,
«Yr. most humble servant,
“Git. WHITE.

« My tortoise was very backward this year in preparing his Hyberna-
culum; & did not retire till towards the beginning of Decem™ The late
reat snow hardly reached us, & was gone at once.”

Again :—

“When Mr. Townsend avers that the Nightingales at Valez sing the
winter thro’, I should conclude that he took up that notion on meer report ;
because I had a brother who lived 18 years at Gibraltar, & who has written
an accurate Nat. Hist. of that rock, & it’s environs. Now he says, that
Nightingales leave Andalusia as regularly towards autumn as other Summer
birds of passage. A pair always breeds in the Govern*’*: garden at the
Convent. This Hist. has never been published, & probably now never will,
because the poor author has been dead some years. ‘There is in his journals
such ocular demonstration of swallow emigration to, & from Barbary at
Spring, and fall, as, I know, would delight you much. There is an Hirundo
hiberna, that comes to Gibraltar in Oct™ & departs in March: & abounds
in and about the Garrison the winter thro’.”

But if we give way to our desire to quote from these letters, this
notice would be incomplete without the whole of them; and we

Tue ZooLocist—JuLy, 1876. 4981

trust they will be incorporated in the new edition of “Selborne”
so long promised by Professor Bell.

Amongst the published papers is one by Mr. C. B. Plowright
upon Fungi observed on one of the Society’s field days. We wish
there had been further observations upon this little-worked branch
of Cryptogamic Botany, which may be studied with pleasure, inte-
rest, and truly profit, when the student can dine off them. He who
has eaten Hydnum imbricatum need wish for no better dinner.

Those of our readers who live in the country—in the true
meaning of the word—will do well to read Mr. Frank Norgate’s
paper upon the “ Nesting Habits of certain Birds, and Remarks
with a View to their Encouragement by the erection of Nesting-
Boxes,” of which a brief outline has already appeared in the May
number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (S.S. 4891). If these readers had once
seen the joyous crowd of birds we once saw around a fine old
farm near Marston Moor, in Yorkshire, all of which built in artificial
boxes and holes made purposely for them to nest in, they would
scarcely hesitate to encourage their nesting, especially when they
found the difference in their crops from the almost total disap-
pearance of ‘‘ wireworms,” &c., besides the constant amusement
and knowledge obtained by watching their operations. The fol-
lowing by no means exceptional case, quoted from Mr. Norgate’s
paper, is sufficiently suggestive :—

“Some birds use extraordinary materials for their nests. A missel
thrush once made a nest here almost entirely composed of thin strips of
green and white paper which had been hung up to scare sparrows from a
seed bed. Thrushes’ nests have been recorded which were built with string,
lace and linen collars, &c. On one occasion I had turned out of my col-
lection a pair of stuffed squirrels, which the gardener placed near some
fresh sown peas to scare the enemy. (I think he had a very vague idea as
to whether the dreaded enemy was a mouse ora titmouse.) For some days
afterwards it was quite amusing to see a pair of great tits plucking the
stuffed squirrels in order to line their nests with the red fur: these birds
seem to prefer red fur, or the rust-coloured cottony down from the seed of
the reed mace, to anything else for lining or even for the entire structure
of their nest, though they sometimes use rabbits’ felt or moss.”

Mr. Stevenson’s valuable Ornithological Notes for 1875 must
receive a passing nolice; but as many of these have already
appeared in the ‘ Zoologist,’ we forbear to quote.

Some useful work appears at the end of these ‘ Transactions,’

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. ork

4982 THe ZooLocist—Juty, 1876.

viz., part vi., sec. ii., of “ Fauna and Flora of Norfolk.” We wait
with impatience to see more of this.

Having gone somewhat roughly over these ‘ Transactions,’ and
noticed what there zs in them, we cannot conclude without noticing
what there zs not. The first thing is the total want of any reference
to Marine Zoology (excepting the Cetacea). It seems a very
remarkable thing that a county with so large a seaboard as Norfolk
should have no champion to work up that most obscure, little-
worked, but most interesting study. We hope for better things,
however, when the new aquarium is opened at Yarmouth, if it is
properly constructed,—that is, the animals kept in unchanged,
circulated water, with a dark, cool and sufficiently large reservoir,—
and if there be a competent curator. Scientific naturalists in
England and abroad have too often regarded aquariums as toys,
but Dr. Anton Dohrn, with the assistance of Mr. W. A. Lloyd,
has at Naples, out of his private fortune, set a fine example of
what aquariums can do in the direction of real solid biological
work. Dr. W. B. Carpenter, among other naturalists, has recently
studied there, and is to lecture on the Naples Aquarium on the
29th of this current June.

We also observe that there is only one order of insects touched
upon, that by the President. Where are the Coleopterists,
Dipterists, and Lepidopterists? -Was there no rarity in any of
these orders taken during 1875-6? We have little doubt that the
prize system at the field meetings would soon bring some to light
amongst those orders, as well as among land and freshwater shells.

In conclusion, we will only say—even with these omissions—to
other kindred Societies, “Go ye and do likewise !”

STR

Ornithological Notes from North Lincolushire.
By Joun Corpeavux, Esq.
(Continued from’S. S. 4899).

APRIL AND May, 1876.

APRIL commenced with some fine warm weather, lasting to the
8th; after this we had a most dull, cold, and cheerless month.
There was in many cases a very late arrival of our summer
migrants.

THE ZooLtocist—JuLy, 1876. 4983

Snow Bunting.—April 5. I saw the last this morning, three
birds, and one of these, evidently a male, was in mature plumage,
and a most beautiful object he was, on a bright sunny day flitting
from clod to clod of some brown fallows. This is eleven days
later than I have ever previously noticed them in this county.

Hooded Crow.—April 5. The last of the hooded crows were seen
to-day on their old favourite feeding-ground, the Humber foreshore.
I met with them again, six weeks later, under very different cir-
cumstances both of scene and place, beyond the golden green of
the opening birch woods, on the fell sides above Loch Hess, and
the deer-forests northward of Loch Lochy, amidst some of the
wildest and most beautiful scenery of the Highlands, a singular
contrast to the flat, muddy foreshores of this ugly tidal river.

Hoopoe.—A fine male hoopoe was shot during the first week in
April by the keeper on the Hainton Estate, near Wragley.

Wheatear.—April 11. First seen, a female; I saw no more till
the 24th, when, with a warm south wind, numbers arrived in
pairs.

Lesser Blackbacked Gulls——April 14. These gulls are in flocks
inland ; they are in full breeding plumage. A fortnight later and
they will have gone northward to their breeding stations.

Yellow Wagtail.—April 17. First seen; three or four days
beyond the average time of arrival.

Fieldfare.—April 18. In flocks near the coast.

Carrion Crow.—April 18. This is still a very commou bird in
this neighbourhood, two or three pairs nesting in every small
plantation. They are a late nester compared with the rook. We
took the first egg to-day from a nest on the top of an oak in a
wood. On the 24th J took three eggs from a nest in the top of a
bushy spruce, about twelve or fourteen feet from the ground.
These eggs, which differ greatly from the normal size, measure two
inches in length by 1°05 in breadth (this was the largest egg, the
other two were slightly smaller). This nest, as usual, was most
warmly and thickly lined with wool, hair, old rags, &c., closely
mixed and matted together. I have observed one thing in
- connection with the carrion crow in this neighbourhood, that from
the time the first egg is deposited we almost invariably find the
hen on the nest between three and five in the afternoon. Can any
one tell me at what time during the twenty-four hours the egg is
deposited by birds? The only notice of this subject that 1 can at

4984 THE ZooLocist—JULy, 1876.

present recollect in any Natural-History publication is by the late
Dr. Saxby: in this journal for 1862, p. 8166, he says, “ Careful
observations of twenty different species of our insessorial birds has
enabled me to ascertain the fact that, as a general rule, they lay
their eggs between the hours of 7 and 12 P.M.”

Chimney Swallow.—Arrivals in North Lincolnshire. One seen
at Elsham, near Brigg, on the 7th, a very warm and sheltered
situation, amongst woodlands; Bradley, near Grimsby, April 17th,
one seen; two on 18th, same locality; Great Cotes marshes, April
2lst; Killingholme on the 23rd.

Willow Wren.—April 22. Seen and heard. I saw one ina larch
and spruce plantation on the 15th, but we did not hear the well
known silvery, ringing song of this little bird before the 22nd. In
a neighbouring parish to this, a friend, who is a good observer,
says it was mute till after the 26th.

Whinchat.—April 24. Wind S., very warm and fine. First
seen. The tree pipit and common whitethroat appeared for the
first time on the same date.

Redbreast.—Early in April I found a thrushes’ nest completed
and ready for the eggs in a laurel in my garden; from some cause
or other the nest was never used by the builders: since this a pair
of robins have utilised the forsaken nest, and built their own inside,
successfully bringing off a brood.

Magpie.—April 26. Took the first magpie’s nest; it contained
five fresh eggs. I find the magpies’ nests invariably lined with
fine roots.

Cuckoo.—April 27. Seen and heard. In 1874 it was April
25th; 1875, April 24th.

Sedge Warbler.—May 3. Seen.

Whimbrel.—May 3. First spring arrival, twenty seen together ;
a flock of forty on the 6th.

Wild Duck.—May 6. Found the first wild duck’s nest this
season; it contained six eggs. The ducks had not commenced
sitting on the 10th, for they were still flying in company with the
mallards.

House Martin.—May 8. First observed.

Golden Plover.—May 10. Saw four pairs together this afternoon
in one of the pastures: they are in nuptial plumage; although ina
flock each pair kept together, and when they rose they flew in
pairs.

THE ZooLocist—JuLy, 1876. 4985

Gray Plover—May 10. Numerous on the Humber fisheries.
They are generally in breeding plumage, and I see some magni-
ficent old richly plumaged birds in the flocks. They will now
soon take their departure for high latitudes, and I cannot help
wishing they would drop a few of their valuable eggs in these
marshes before departing for those far-away Petchora tundra’s.

Fieldfare.—May 16. A friend told me that he saw upwards of
forty in one of our plantations on this day. They were much
tamer than usual, and he got very near them.

JOHN CoRDEAUX.
Great Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire,
June 2, 1876.

Noles from Castle Eden. By Mr. JoHN Scater.
(Continued from §. S. 4860).

Marcu, 1876.

Goldencrested Wren.—On the 25th I-saw a great many in a fir
plantation; they appeared to be all females.

Golden Plover.—28th. A good many on the coast. One shot
near Hartlepool was brought to me to stuff: the feathers of the
belly of this specimen are black and white; a few darker feathers
had also appeared on the back. The owner, through whose hands
a great many of these birds pass, declares that he has not observed
one in the same state before: although it is common enough, it
would rather appear that they mostly leave this part of the coast
before any change of plumage takes place. This was a female, the
ovaries being in an advanced condition.

APRIL.

Wagtails—Wagtails have appeared in larger numbers than
usual, chiefly the black and white, but the gray species are also
more common. The yellow wagtail has not yet appeared; the
latter has, for the last few years, been rather a scarce bird in this
neighbourhood. The gray wagtail is very commonly called the
yellow wagtail in this part, and a gentleman, only the other day,
told me that- he had seen several yellow wagtails, but when I
showed him a specimen of the male gray wagtail he said, “ Aye,
that’s the bird.”

Carrion Crow.—One trapped by a watcher, who told me that.

4986 Tur ZooLocist—JuLy, 1876.

the bird had cost him no end of trouble, having previously refused
all sorts of bait, but was at last caught by an empty egg-shell; the
man having eaten the egg for breakfast, seemed proud that he had
at last fairly shown that he “had more brains than the crow.”
This species still contrives to rear a brood or two every season in
the Dene, near the coast. I never see them far inland, but they
are always to be seen feeding on the sea-shore, among the rocks.

Royston Crow.—-10th. Royston crows seem to have all left the
neighbourhood.

Woodeock.—On the J8th the keeper brought in a woodcock
which he had been stupid enough to shoot. I opened the bird,
which was a female, and by the state of the ovaries convinced him
of his folly ; the bird had evidently settled to breed here. He has
since seen three or four more, a pair constantly visiting a small
“runner” from the pigstye near his house.

Willow Wren and Tree Pipit.—2\st. I heard the song of the
willow wren and tree pipit?

Roughlegged Buzzard—On the 25th I saw a roughlegged
buzzard flying slowly past the house, escorted by some eight or
nine rooks; he or she appeared to have come’ from the rookery,
and was not then flying as high as the trees. The rooks, however,
kept at a respectable distance on the flanks and rear: the buzzard
seemed to take no notice of them. This seemed a very light-
coloured bird; it has not been seen since, and would therefore
appear to have only paid us a flying visit.

Fieldfare.—On the 28th a large flock reappeared in the grounds
around the house: since the 24th of January, when they entirely
left us, I have seen none until to-day.

Missel Thrush and Blackbird.—Hearing the loud screaming of
a young bird, and immediately following it the wild alarm notes of
a male blackbird, which I saw flying towards a bare and solitary
thorn, I ran expecting to find a cat or hawk the cause of the dis-
turbance, and on reaching the spot, off went what I at the first
moment took for a male kestrel, but the next instant I both saw
and heard, by his harsh notes, that the marauder was a missel
thrush. I found the young blackbird at the foot of the thorn,
seemingly nothing the worse; but it might have been different if I
had not appeared on the scene, and I wish vow that I had not
been so hasty, as I cannot prove he would have killed it; but I am
satisfied in my own mind that he would. There was no nest of the

Tue ZooLocist—Juty, 1876. 4987

thrush anywhere near, nor was it a likely place for the thrush to be
locking for his usual food.
May.

Jackdaws.—Jackdaws have either been more mischievous this
year than usual, or I have been more fortunate in observing their
habits. I have previously noted (see Zool. S. S. 4749) my belief
that it is common for them to kill young birds “in dry weather
when worms are scarce,” but I now find that it is a very common
habit of theirs when worms are plentiful. I have this season on
several occasions seen them—far from the rocks in which they
build—flying about from tree to tree on the lower limbs, anxiously
scanning the herbage beneath for young blackbirds and thrushes,
both of which are particularly numerous this season. I heard one
killing a young blackbird in a beech tree, but ‘the tree is so bushy
—a nearly solid mass—that I could neither see the performance
nor get up afterwards, so I cannot say whether he was not robbing
a nest of young. Both the parent blackbirds were there, and
apparently did their best to protect their young; but Jack went
on with his business, muttering his name all the time; the black-
birds at last saw me and flew away, and Jack was at once silent,
and after a second or two looked out, and, seeing me, made off
without his prey. I have also had proofs that they rob the
pheasants’ nests, by their dropping the eggs on the road as they
are carrying them across to their nests; and a few days since I
caught one in a trap baited with a young rabbit: the eyes of the
rabbit were both cleanly taken out, and he had been pecking it
behind the ear, exactly after the manner of the Royston crow. I
may mention that on the 16th of April I saw a jackdaw flying
about in the Dene with a large morsel in his beak; a number of
other jackdaws were chasing him and trying to take it from him;
he at last settled with it on a tree. I watched him for some time
with a glass, but no attempt was made to eat it then.

Curious Nesling Freak of the Spotted Flycatcher.—On the 18th
I was taken to see what was supposed to be a very curious nesting
freak of the chaffinch; the nest, or rather nests, might easily pass
for that of the chaffinch, but there can be little doubt it is the work
of a spotted flycatcher. It was placed on a beam at the side of a
pump, beneath the platform on which people stand to pump
water; the nest is a double one, of an irregular oval form at the
base, sloping up much more on one side than the other, until it

4988 Tue Zootocist—JuLy, 1876.

appears in the shape of the figure 8 at the top: itis a solid mass,—
I mean the structure has been carried up simultaneously,—and
two beautifully cup-shaped nests are finished all but the lining.
It is principally composed of green moss, some stems of dried
grass, red cow-hair, a few horse-hairs, and a variety of feathers; a
few small feathers lying loose in the bottom of one nest are
without doubt taken from the breast of the spotted flychtcher.
There is a considerable quantity of wool used throughout, and it
appears on the outside almost like a network, and is studded with
lichen. I would gladly have left this curious nest where it was for
further observations, but I found a number of small boys were
quarrelling as to which had most right to it, so I brought it away,
as it was sure to be destroyed. Curiously enough I could see no
birds about but the chaffinch, but then he is everywhere. On the
27th (exactly a fortnight after making the above note) I was told
that another nest had been built on the same spot, so I went again
and found it to be so. This nest was an ordinary one, built with
the same materials and quite finished, and rather flatter than the
others; the foundation of this one is also rather oval, and very
nearly as large as the other two, and the main structure is not in
the middle, but at one end of it. I tried to bribe the boys to let
this one alone, and went back next morning expecting to find an
egg in it; but no, the little “ brats” had been before me, taken the
egg and smashed it, but I saw the spotted flycatcher not far from
the place, which settled the matter in my mind, so I brought home |
the nest and placed it beside the other.

Fieldfare-—May 17. The fieldfares, which reappeared on the
28th of April, have never left the grounds until to-day, all are gone.

Pied Flycatcher.—The Rey. R. Taylor, of Hesledon, near this
place, told me that a pair had commenced a nest in his garden,
but the sparrows having destroyed the nest they have since dis-
appeared. I have only twice met with this species here: first in
the spring of 1862, and I was struck with the resemblance of this
bird to the round stumpy individual figured by’ Bewick, shot at
Corbridge-on-Tyne ; it was sitting on a small ash tree in the park:
the second I saw in the spring of 1867, sitting on some rails in the
nursery gardens; it was a very fine male.

Spring Migrants—Unlike last year almost all our spribg
migrants have appeared in goodly numbers, but all have arrived
late, except the two already mentioned. I observed none before

THE ZooLocist—JuLy, 1876... 4989

the month of May. I have neither seen nor heard the corncrake or
the grasshopper warbler.

Gray Wagtail—May 28. I have seen three broods of these
birds, fully fledged and capable of looking after themselves, being
dispersed on different parts of the streams. I had a great treat
given me the other day by one of these young birds: I was sitting
under a yew at the side of a stream when I heard the notes of one
on the wing; it alighted on a bare ash just above me, and at once
commenced a really very sweet and pleasing song. I never before
heard a wagtail sing.

JOHN SCLATER.
Castle Eden, Durham.

Rare Birds near Ringwood during the Winter of 1875-76.
By Mr. G. B. Corsin.

THE following species have fallen under my notice, and I
personally inspected the majority of them :—

Peregrine Falcon.—Two females were killed, and a male seen in
October. One of the females was the largest I had ever seen, but
its plumage was dull.

Hen Harrier and Montagws Harrier.—A male of the former
was killed dn the 16th of November, and a female was trapped in
the forest in January. I saw a male of Montagu’s harrier in
December in a somewhat strange situation,—viz., flying over the
river,—where some months before I had seen an osprey. The
harrier flew within fifteen yards of where I was standing, and I
had a good opportunity of admiring its airy and beautiful swallow-
like flight.

Merlin.—A female was shot on the 15th of February, when in
the act of striking at a skylark.

Great Gray Shrike.—A beautiful specimen was caught in a trap
which had been placed for a hawk upon the top of a post. It is
the first 1 had ever seen in the flesh.

Bitiern.—A male was shot on the 19th of February. It was in
beautiful plumage, and is the only one I have seen this season.

Sclavonian Grebe (?).—I interrogate the name, as I have a doubt
connected with it. In March a fisherman brought me a grebe he
had found on the river; at a glance I saw it was different in

SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI, 2L

4990 _ Tue Zootocist—Juuy, 1876.

appearance from any common grebe I had seen before, as it was
larger, measuring—when held up by the neck—about eleven
inches. It also had a very conspicuous greenish pink sort of
membrane at the base of the lower mandible, which faded com-
pletely in a day or two. The front and sides of the neck are of a
dark reddish chestnut; the rest of the bird, except the breast, is of
a dusky hue, and the silvery breast is itself much shaded with the
same colour. ‘The bill is black with a light tip, and the eyes
were dark, almost black. The head itself is sleek in appearance,
and not what I suppose the Sclavonian grebe would be, but it was
pronounced to be that species by an ornithological reader of the
‘Zoologist’? who saw it. It seems to me to answer best the
description of the “black-chin grebe” of ‘ Montagu’s British
Birds,’ which we know is now considered a variety of the dabchick.
Though larger than any common grebe I have hitherto seen, yet it
is not so large as the Sclavonian is described to be, even if it
answered the description of the latter, which it does not. Is such
a variety of the common grebe as the one I have described well
known to the readers of the ‘ Zoologist’?

Egyptian Goose.—A beautiful male of this lovely species was
found dead near the river on the 11th of February. Three of the
birds had been seen occasionally, during the previous fortnight,
going and returning at flight time, and had been shot at several
times, but I am told they, as a rule, kept out of range.” The bird
in question is undoubtedly one of the three, as three or four days
before its discovery only two geese had been seen by the numerous
gunners. Whether they were “escapes” or not I would not
venture to say, but it is somewhat remarkable that a specimen was
killed in February, 1870, and that and the present are the only
ones | ever saw.

Goosander.—Occasionally killed; from the middle of December
up to the end of February I saw nine, all females or immature
males. How long are the males attaining their adult dress? as
several of those I saw were in different conditions of plumage; one
of them in particular had a lovely salmon-coloured breast and
belly, but the back had all the gray markings of the immature bird.
I have but once seen a male in mature plumage killed here, five
or six years ago.

Gadwall.—I saw a dreadfully mutilated specimen of this species
offered for sale on the 15th of December, which had been killed

THE ZooLocist—JULY, 1876. 4991

the previous night in this neighbourhood. On the 30th of Decem-
ber I had a duck sent me as this species, but it proved to be a
much larger bird, and only a variety of the common wild duck. I
need not state that the gadwall is very rare in this neighbourhood ;
I had never seen it before. Wigeon and teal were as usual common;
and I heard of pintail, tufted, and shoveller duck being killed, but
I saw neither.

Black Tern.—Two of these were killed, one on the 25th of
October, the other on the 29th of November; both were in the
white plumage.

G. B. CorBin.

Ringwood, Hants.

Ornithological Notes from Devon and Cornwall.
By J. GatcomBE, Esq.

(Continued from Zool. 8. 8. 4824.)

APRIL AND May, 1876.

Ring Ouzel.—April 2. Several ring ouzels heard and seen on
Dartmoor.

Chiffchaff.—April 5. Chiffchaffs were very plentiful in the
Land’s End district.

Curlew.—April 7. Curlews numerous on the boggy moors by
the side of the River Fowey, Cornwall.

Buzzard and Peregrine Falcon.—April 8. Examined a very
fine buzzard, the leg of which had been dreadfully smashed by a
“oin;” also a beautiful adult peregrine falcon which had been
trapped in the same manner, and its leg was only hanging by a
sinew: this poor bird, I was told, had been in the trap for many
hours, and must have suffered dreadfully. It is a great shame that
keepers should be allowed to use such cruel traps, which they do
not visit sometimes for days together. Whilst on the subject of
“gins,” I may mention that during last winter I found a blackbird
in my garden, which had fallen off its perch in a shrub, literally
starved to death, in consequence of having the whole of its bill
wrenched off close to the base by one of those traps which are
constantly used by boys for catching small birds. There was no
doubt of its being starved, for it was so emaciated that the breast-
bone protruded nearly through the skin. The fine peregrine falcon

4992 Tue ZooLocist—Juty, 1876.

before mentioned was in rather unusual plumage, for although the
sides and thighs were finely barred, the whole of the belly from
the lower part of the chest was beautifully marked with well-defined
heart-shaped spots.

Swallow.—April 15 (the day after a tremendous gale from the
north-east, with hail and snow). Observed some swallows. The
wind had changed to the south-east, and the weather became
rather mild.

Swift.— April 28. Remarked the first swift, and on the 29th saw
several more. Wind strong, but the weather mild. I have ob-
served for the last few years that swifts have become more
numerous in the immediate vicinity of Plymouth than either
swallows or martins. ‘

Whimbrel.—April 29. Saw and heard several whimbrels to-day,
and also on the Ist of May.

Rook.—May 2. Many young rooks in the Plymouth market.

Godwits.—An unusual number of bartailed godwits in spring
plumage seem to have made their appearance on the coasts of
Devon and Cornwall, and many have been killed. The stomachs
of some examined by me contained the remains of “sand-hoppers.”
Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., in a letter to me, also mentions having
met with several in Leadenhall Market, together with one black-
tailed godwit and a fine spotted redshank, all I believe more or
less in summer plumage. Some of these godwits seem to have
been very tame, for on the 10th of May a young friend of mine,
Mr. R. Hocking, of Stonehouse, told me that he had that morning
killed a strange bird from one of the windows of his house, with a
“pea-rifle,” as it was leisurely feeding on a kind of beech just below:
on examination I at once found it to be an exceedingly fine male
bartailed godwit in full summer dress: strange to say, it was the first
bird of any kind he had ever killed in his life. After that I examined
others obtained in the neighbourhood, all more or less in the
nuptial garb, and found the females to exceed the males generally
in size and length of bill, but with far less red on the plumage,—
indeed some with scarcely any at all; and this I have been informed
was the case with the birds seen and obtained in Cornwall.

Herring Gull and Peregrine Falcon.—\ am sorry to say that,
owing to a severe attack of rheumatism, I have not as yet been
able to visit the breeding-place of the herring gulls at Wembury,
but some friends of mine who went there a short time since told

THE ZooLocist—JuLy, 1876. 4993

me that the gulls were nesting as usual, and that a pair of fine
peregrine falcons had taken up their quarters in their midst, as
they did last year, flying round and making a great chatter on
being disturbed. Rabbits are very plentiful in the district. 1 have
heard that a pair or two of peregrines are breeding on the Cornish
coast, that the eggs have been taken from one nest, and I am sorry
to hear that it is intended to take the young from another. Many
young ravens, too, have been captured.

Redbacked Shrike.—I am glad to say—as the species had become
scarce within the last few years—that several pairs of redbacked
shrikes have been seen in the neighbourhood of Plymouth lately.

F JOHN GATCOMBE.
8, Lower Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth.

Steel Traps and Gins.—The usual method of catching rabbits is to place
steel traps or gins at the entrance of their holes or runs. The trap is con-
cealed with earth, grass or leaves, and the animal springs it by stepping on
the pan. The jaws of the trap smash the leg-bones, cut through the flesh
and skin, so that the animal is held by the sinews only, which are tough
and strong. As the rabbit usually moves out at dusk, he generally gets
into the trap at that time, and consequently remains in about twelve hours,
supposing the traps are visited the next morning. During this time the
animal suffers the agony of broken bones, lacerated flesh, besides the terror
and thirst necessarily occasioned by such wounds. When trapping is carried
on in March, April and May, hundreds of young rabbits die of starvation in
consequence of the old does being caught. There is an idea that rabbits
and such animals do not suffer acute pain; but anyone who has heard the
screams of a rabbit or hare in a steel trap would not be inclined to believe
this doctrine. For catching dogs, domestic cats, weasels, stoats, polecats,
magpies, crows, jays, &c., the same instrument is used. A bait is so placed
that the creature cannot get at it without passing over the trap. As in the
ease of the rabbit and hare, the bone-breaking, flesh-lacerating process goes
on, and the hours on hours of protracted torture, the torture in these cases
being frequently of longer duration than in the case of rabbits: for the bodies
of these victims are considered of no value, and it does not matter whether
they die in the trap or not—consequently the trapper is not regular in his
visits. It sometimes happens that the domestic cat will get into gins set
for rabbits, and being a strong animal will drag away the gin, chain and
peg for a considerable distance until arrested by the chain becoming
entangled in stumps or brush. ‘Traps are lost in this manner, and months
afterwards found with the skeleton of the cat. It is difficult to say how

4994 THE ZooLocist—Juty, 1876.

many days an animal so tenacious of life as the cat would live suffering all
the agonies of broken limbs, thirst and starvation. This lingering death is
not so apt to happen to the dog, as he will make known his whereabouts by
his cries, which he will utter almost without intermission, and very painful
it is to hear the cries of a dog under such circumstances. The method
adopted by some trappers for catching birds, such as hawks, owls, crows,
magpies, &c., is rather a refinement in point of cruelty compared with the
plan already mentioned. Birds of this description are apt to alight on
posts placed in fields and other open places, and it is the custom to place
on these posts steel traps of a circular form, so that any bird alighting on
them is immediately caught by the legs. Here, as usual, the limbs of the
. bird are smashed, and the trap, being attached to the top of the post by a
short cord or chain, the bird hangs suspended by the broken legs, head
downwards, and so remains until it flutters itself to death or is killed by the
trapper. As these creatures are of no value, of course these traps are not
visited with any regularity. Other birds besides these mentioned often get
into such traps—that is to say, rooks, jackdaws, woodpeckers and smaller
birds, such as thrushes, blackbirds, starlings and others. Some animals,
such as weasels, stoats, otters, polecats, rats and foxes, sometimes get out of
steel traps by biting off their feet; it is hardly possible to imagine the
agony of such an operation. Jats suffer for a shorter time in gins than
other animals, as the gins are naturally more frequently visited, being in
the near neighbourhood of houses and barns. Hedgehogs, being very short
in the legs, are often caught by the belly as well as the legs, and in this
state are found alive in the traps. Being held in the jagged teeth of a steel
trap in such a way must be fearfully painful. This animal—the most harm-
less and inoffensive creature in existence—it seems hard to punish in this
manner. Sometimes rat-gins are baited and used to catch blackbirds and
thrushes. Birds that are fortunate are caught by the head, and immediately
killed, while others less so get their beaks cut off, and escape to die of
starvation. These cruelties go on in every parish in England, and in my
opinion some measures should be taken to stop them, and I am sure that
many humane persons would forbid the use of such instruments on their
estates could other means be devised of catching the animals required to be
caught or destroyed. The matter under any circumstances seems worthy
of consideration. As my statement may not be credited by some not
acquainted with the details of trapping, any one can prove them by accom-
panying a trapper a few times in his rounds, and if after that he still
advocates the use of steel traps, | should feel much surprised. I may add
that the use of steel traps is totally unnecessary, as other means exist equally
certain of taking any animals required in a merciful and humane manner,
either by immediately destroying them, or catching them alive, without pain
or injury.—F’rom the ‘ Western Morning News.’

eae ee ee

Tur ZooLocist—Juxy, 1876. 4995

Otter in the New Forest.—From time to time otters are met with near
some of the principal streams in the forest; but the specimen I wish to
speak of was captured under somewhat peculiar circumstances. Its presence
near one of the small streams had not been suspected, but after a considerable
fall of snow, on the 21st or 22nd of March last, tracks were discovered by
the woodman. What these tracks were he was at a loss to conjecture, as
they were different from any he had previously seen, and besides this he
noticed that the creature which had made them must have repeatedly
crossed the steam, so he determined to follow up the trail, and found it was
lost in an immense furze-bush at some considerable distance from the bank
of the stream. Having a rabbit-net with him, he placed it across the
entrance, and proceeded to beat the bush, when to his surprise a large otter
made a rush clean through the net, and away into the stream again, where
it made good its retreat, for the man, although he searched, could not find
it. The following day he secured the help of a friend and two dogs, and
on going to the furze-bush they found it again occupied by the otter, not-
withstanding the narrow escape the creature had had the day previously.
Eventually the otter was killed, but the man told me he fought most
fiercely, and the dogs, which were small, did not care to be bitten a second
time; ultimately the woodman’s stout stick brought the conflict to a close.
I saw the otter after it was dead, and could not but admire the adaptation
of his strong and muscular limbs for his mode of life, and I could well
imagine he would be no mean adversary to a dog or any other creature,
especially in the water. I may state that the specimen in question was a
male, and its colour a very dark brown ; it weighed about twenty-one pounds,
and measured three feet two or three inches.—G. B. Corbin.

Notes from West Somerset.—In sending the dates when the first
appearances of some of our summer migrants were noticed by me in this
district, I would first observe that never within my recollection have the
birds been later in their arrival or fewer in numbers. Up to this present
time (May 8th) I have failed to observe a solitary blackeap. Day after day
passes without the call of the cuckoo being heard, although the bird has
been repeatedly seen. There can be no doubt that the coldness and
backwardness of the spring have influenced the migration of our summer
visitants, and that the majority of them are doing well in not being in too
great a hurry to face the bleak east winds and frosts of our English May.

April 13. Redpolls still frequent my garden. The Taunton bird-
catchers inform me that both siskins and redpolls were extremely numerous
during the past winter.

April 15. Fieldfares flying overhead.

April 16. Called “‘cuckoo’s day” by the villagers here, as being the

4996 Tux Zooroctst—Juty, 1876.

date when the cuckoo's cry may be expected to be first heard, but they had
to listen for it in vain this present season. It was not until the 21st that —
the call of this bird of spring first greeted my ears in this neighbourhood.

April 25. Nightingales are now in full song in several of the copses
in the village.

April 26. Tree pipits first noticed.

April 28. Swifts observed to-day. An early date for their first appearance.

April 29. Whitethroats and willow warblers only now generally dis-
tributed and common. Yellow wagtail first seen.

May 2. Redbacked shrike seen to-day in the Vicarage meadow; this is
a week in advance of the average date of its arrival.

May 4. Corn crake heard.

May 5. First house martins not noticed until to-day. Swallows now
numerous.— Murray A. Mathew ; Bishop's Lydeard, May 8, 1876.

Arrival of Summer Migrants in County Dublin.—Having read with
much pleasure Mr. Benson’s “ Notes from Dublin,” published in your
April number, I send you my records of the arrivals of our visitors, as they
are in some cases considerably earlier than his.

March 27. Three male wheatears appeared at Lansdowne Road, as noticed
by me in ‘ Saunders’ Newsletter’ for the 28th instant: for some days after
this date I continually saw small flocks near the same place; it was quite
a fortnight afterwards before I observed any females.

March 29. A few sand martins were seen hovering over a pond near
Dundrum ; they did not, however, appear again until the 11th of April, when
I saw numbers along the banks of the Dodder, wherever they could find
shelter from the N.W. wind, which was bitterly cold.

March 31. The chiffchaff was first heard, as noticed by my friend
Mr. Barrington.

April 5. I saw the first swallow along the Dodder; they did not, however,
become numerous until the 11th, when both they and the sand martins
looked sadly out of place with snow on the ground.

April 7. 1 was shown a corn crake, which had been sent up for preserva-
tion from Stewartstown, County Tyrone, and was in very good condition.

April 8. Saw the first willow warbler.

April 21. Whimbrels appeared along the shores of the bay: they were
numerous by the 27th instant.

April 23. I was told by an experienced friend that he had heard the
cuckoo that morning. I did not see one myself until the 30th.

April 26. This is the first date on which I saw house martins, but I can
hardly believe that they have only just arrived, as they appeared to be
already collecting materials for their nests.

April 80. Golden oriole found dead, as before noticed (S. S. 4956).

May 3. Saw the first swift; they became very numerous by the 6th.

THE ZooLoGist—JULy, 1876. 4997

May 4. Numbers of whitethroats about the hedges.—J. Douglas-Ogilby ;
36, Elgin Road, Dublin.

Arrival of Spring Migrants, Nesting of the House Sparrow, &.—The
chiffchaff was first heard on the 31st of March at Luccombe. Though the
14th of April was a cold day, with an easterly wind, and the thermometer
little over 40°, the song of a nightingale was heard at St. Lawrence; and
on the 15th the wryneck’s note was heard. On the latter day six swallows
were seen passing over; they never tarry here on their arrival, preferring
the inland valleys, where sheltered ponds and pools swarm with midges.
Heard of a wood pigeon’s nest with one egg being found on the 14th of April.
Observed robins laying the leafy foundation of their nest early in the month.
That the house sparrow was somewhat late in building I have had pretty
good proof, seeing that on the 12th of April a sudden gust of wind stripped
the ivy from off the south gable of the house, bringing some score nests
down with it—those from beneath the coping so thick together that there
was no distinguishing or counting them: there were no eggs in any of the
nests. Though this mass of ivy fell in the night not a sparrow was killed ;
but their plaintive cry at early dawn was incessant, and they were to be
seen alighting on the closely-matted ivy and reversed nests; not an egg was
found in them or on the ground: on a subsequent day they were observed
gathering, from out the old nests, materials wherewith to construct new
ones. Having, in the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 5753), minutely described the odd
materials used by the house sparrow in building,—for example, a threaded
needle, notice of sermon to be preached, a note of my own, a Latin exercise
of my son’s, &c.,—I need not enumerate the odds and ends these nests are
composed of. Though the house sparrow’s nest is a shapeless, unsightly
mass, it is.warm and snug within ; and the birds at all seasons may be seen
adding feathers and other things to the lining. Both the house sparrow
and hedge sparrow I frequently observe perambulating the gravel-paths, but
what they find to feed on I cannot discover or even imagine, as nothing
eatable is to be seen,—not a seed, not an insect,—but the constant and rapid
pecking plainly shows there is something preyed on, though too minute for
human vision.—Henry Hadfield ; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, April 20, 1876.

Bird Notes from the Isle of Wight.—Though swallows were seen on the
14th of April, none remained here, and no martins were observed till the
beginning of May, but the weather was unseasonably cold; there was a
slight fall of snow on the 2nd, and frost the two nights following. By the
end of the month both swallows and martins were more than usually
abundant, but few breed here. A martin was seen capturing a white
butterfly; the house sparrow I have frequently observed doing so; anda
blackbird was seen to catch-one, which was taken to its young, which left
the nest by the middle of June; they were fed by both male and female till
8.45 p.m. Heard of young thrushes being taken early in May, and I saw

SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. 2M

4998 THe ZooLocist—JuLy, 1876.

a young blackbird fully fledged on the 14th. On the 19th of June a pair
of the latter had commenced, or recommenced, building in a tree close to
the house, and I am inclined to think, with Macgillivray, that sometimes
more than two broods are reared. On the 20th of May some young rooks
were seen that had been shot in the neighbourhood; it has’ been remarked
by Macgillivray that the young are generally fledged by the 20th of May.
Starlings were late in breeding, but on the 24th of May they were observed
feeding their young in the ivy-clad turrets of the castle: one nest was
placed in a hollow elm, only nine or ten feet from the ground. Having
again closely watched the starling’s manner of feeding, I find the bill is
closed when thrust into the ground, in proof of which I have only to state
the result of one observation. A worm being found and well pecked, was
taken up and held transversely at the gape; when a second worm was
discovered the first was laid om the ground until the other was secured ;
both were then caught up, and the search renewed till a third worm was
hit on and despatched in a similar manner, the two first having been thrown
down. Though the beak was now well nigh crammed the bird continued
looking for more until scared away. That the bill was firmly closed is
certain, or the worms must have dropped out. On the 15th of May
cormorants were seen flying across the island, contrary to their usual habit,
which is to follow the coast line. ‘Three large birds were observed on the
16th of May, coming from off the sea, one considerably in advance of the
others; in the distance they were taken for ravens, but though of the size
the flight differed, and on their near approach I found the plumage was of
a dark brown, with some white about it. The wings were rounded, the
head and tail depressed, the flight heavy but powerful, the course northerly.
Not having a glass, I could not be sure as to the species, but have reason
to believe it was the osprey, it being too large for the buzzard, which it
somewhat resembles in colour, though not in flight. The harrier (Mon-
tagu’s) has not been observed, nor is it likely to nest here this season, the
furze on our downs having beeu burnt in all directions.—H. Hadjield ;
June 20, 1876.

Notes from the Zoological Gardens.—With regard to the very attractive
examples of the knot now alive in the fish-house at the Zoological Gardens,
I have heard it questioned whether these sandpipers ever get the full red
breeding plumage in confinement. Certainly I am able to say that there is
now (May 29th) at that place as perfect a knot as I ever saw; and the
turnstone and dunlin, in the same cage, are in the fullest summer plumage,
showing what may be done with attention and care. Not the least striking
birds there are the avocets, which, with a water rail, a yellow wagtail, and a
gullbilled tern, make up as interesting an aviary as could be well imagined.
The latter (the tern) is still in its winter garb, as to the head, but may
partly change if it lives. In another pen adjoining, Jameson’s gull, from

THE ZooLocist—Ju.y, 1876. 4999

Australia is still sitting hard, and I hope some young gulls may come of
it.—J. H. Gurney, jun. ; 127, Mount Street, W.

The Farne Islands—As I happen to have visited the Fame Islands
a few weeks before Mr. Smith, I am the more interested with his pleasing
narrative of his doings, and with the view of eliciting some further informa-
tion I beg to offer a criticism or two. First, I was not aware that these
islands had ever been honoured with the presence of the great auk until
I found the circumstance noted in Hancock’s ‘ Birds of Northumberland,’
for my copy of Wallis—in which the original statement about it is made—
is an abridgment: this, however, would hardly be the latest recorded
specimen. Secondly, I would inquire if any of the cormorant’s eggs on the
Megstown were hatched. They had begun to lay on the 5th of April: if
none were hatched on the 2nd of June, incubation lasts somewhat longer
than has been previously suspected. In how many species of birds we are
ignorant as to the period of the duration of incubation. Thirdly, inserted
among the bird-breeders I find No. 12, shore lark, and No. 13, little ringed
plover. Some further information on this head is desirable. The rock
pipit, which I do not see mentioned in the list, appeared to me to be going
to breed on the islands. Fourthly, I was assured that there were no rock
doves on the islands, and as I do not recollect seeing them on any of my
visits I concluded that the information of the boatmen was to be depended
upon, until I read Mr. Smith’s observations, which seem to show that it
occurs and even breeds there, though doubtless in very small numbers.
I would ask if any example was scen so as to be quite certain that there
was no mistake about the species. It is not at all improbable that that
bird should be there, and it will be interesting to make the fact certain.
I quite agree with Mr. Smith that the present keepers are wholly incom-
petent to protect the islands, and that they are more poached than any other
nursery I know of; but it is to be hoped that something better is in store
for the most interesting spot (to an ornithologist) in the whole of England,
and I believe the owner is ever willing to assist those who go to study
the natural history of the feathered inhabitants of “Old Farne.”—Zd. ;
Northrepps, Norwich.

The Museum at York,—I think the plan of offering criticisms and
suggestions on our provincial ornithological museums adopted by Miss
Carey (Zool. 8. S. 4406) is a very good one: but I must stand up for the
Strickland Collection at York, which was, in its day, considered the finest
private one of native species. It is of historical yalue now; and if it be not
altogether in the best condition that could be desired, the length of time
which the specimens have been stuffed must be borne in mind. Very
sorry was I to see that the redbreasted goose was suffering from an attack
of Dermestes, and that the nearly unique great white heron was getting
mouldy. I hope that remarks such as your correspondent’s will be the

5000 Tue ZooLocist—JuLy, 1876.

means of arousing the authorities to a sense of their shortcomings.—J. H.
Gurney, jun.

The Somersetshire Egyptian Vulture.— When at Twizell House,
Northumberland, the seat of J. P. Selby, who died in April, 1867, at
the age of eighty-seven, I saw, among many beautiful paintings by that
distinguished artist and naturalist, a large and very finely-executed oil-
painting of the Egyptian Vulture, the first, and at that time the only,
specimen which had been obtained in England. TI allude to this picture,
because I have some additions to make to Mr. Selby’s account. The owner
of the bird, Mr. John Matthew, of Chelvey, near Bristol (not Mr. A.
Matthew) has informed me that it was shot by a servant of his father’s ;
that it was first seen in a field near the house; that it was killed on the
cliffs bordering the Bristol Channel, about half a mile distant; and that its
supposed mate—alluded to by Selby—was, he believes, only a heron.
It was stuffed by Mr. Matthew, and has since found a place in his collection
at Chelvey (Crotch, ‘ Birds of Somerset,’ p. 1). When it was opened, we
are told by Bishop Stanley, the smell was exceedingly offensive—a state-
ment for the truth of which I will readily vouch, from what I have myself
seen in Egypt. Stanley gives the wrong date, as did Mudie and others,
which led Mr. Eyton to suppose that England had been visited by the
Egyptian vulture two years following (‘ Rarer British Birds,’ p. 3).—d. ;
June 9, 1876.

Variety of the Sea Eagle.—In addition to the varieties of the sea eagle
(Haliaétus albicilla (Linn.), quoted in the fourth edition of Yarrell (p. 29),
may be mentioned a very pale specimen in Mr. Newcome’s collection at
Feltwell, in Norfolk, which Mr. Baker, of Cambridge, informed me was
caught in the nets which were set for catching falcons in a part of Holland.
It is as much worth recording for the manner of its capture as for its being
a variety.—-Id.

Peregrine Falcons breeding on the Yorkshire Coast.—I have now in my
possession three young peregrine falcons, two males and one female: they
were taken on the cliffs at Bempton. three or four miles north of Flam-
borough Head, by the climbers who gather the eggs of the sea-birds. One
old bird was frequently seen in the spring of 1875. This season two
falcons were seen in the same neighbourhood. The nest was found and
the young birds taken during the last week in May. I learn from the
climbers that it is very many years since the peregrine was known to breed
in these cliffs—IWV. J. Cope; Barnsley, June 20, 1876.

Sparrowhawk and Missel Thrush.— Walking along the banks of the
River Dodder, near Rathfarnham, County Dublin, on Ascension Day,
Mr. Hunter Stokes and I saw a hen chaffinch closely pursued by a sparrow-
hawk. As the birds approached us, the windings and turnings of both
pursued and pursuer were interesting in the extreme: they passed almost

Tue Zoo.ocist—JuLy, 1876. 5001

beneath our feet as we stood on the bank, when, just as the hawk was about
to seize its victim, a missel thrush darted down, right on his back, as it
seemed to us: for a moment there seemed to be a glancing of wings, and
the chaffinch dropped quietly down into the grass beneath our feet. The
hawk, disconcerted, vanished into the woods on the opposite side of the
river, and the missel thrush, with his exulting ery, flew to the top of one
of the highest trees: the sight was a most interesting one. I may mention
that willow warblers seem to be extraordinarily plentiful this year, and
that whitethroats and wheatears are to be met with on the confines of
Rathmines—the busiest and most populous suburb of Dublin.—Charles
W. Benson; Rathmines School, Dublin.

Evrratum.—In the May number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. S. 4919), owing
no doubt to my bad writing, my name was misprinted.—C. IV. B.

Spotted I'lycatcher returning annually to the same Nest.—In the last
number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. 8S. 4957) is a note concerning a martin
returning annually to the same nest. For the last four years a spotted
flycatcher has built its nest on an excrescence in an elm tree; and what
makes it more remarkable is that the nest is always taken, being built close
to a roadway, and is rather conspicuous. The nest isa slight structure,
being made of moss, covered with lichen, and lined with hair. The number
of eggs is generally five-—C. Matthew Prior; The Avenue, Bedford.

Pied Flycatcher breeding in Wharfdale——In May, 1875, having heard
that the pied flycatcher bred in Wharfdale, I went to Barden in order to
procure a few eggs, but was unsuccessful, as they had not begun to build.
This year I thought that if I went a little later I might perhaps meet with
a few; so last Saturday my brother and I set off to Barden, and found two
pairs within a hundred yards of each other. The first pair we met with
had fixed upon a hole in an old oak; we saw the male and female go in
several times: my brother went up the tree, but found that it had not
begun to build. The other pair had selected a hole in a gnarled mountain
ash, about eight feet from the ground: it contained a nest with one egg;
both male and female belonging to this nest were very similar in plumage.
I caught the male with a bird-lime twig whilst in the very act of singing,
and found that it had not yet assumed its vernal drees; it was so much like
the female that I hardly could persuade my brother that it was a male.
I found another nest, which contained no eggs, built in a mountain ash,
about four feet from the ground, just beside the River Wharf, a few miles
lower down the valley. From the foregoing facts I infer that the pied
flycatcher does not breed so early as some ornithologists suppose; also that
its visit to our islands is not accidental,** but that it purposely visits us for
the sake of breeding. Nothing can be more pleasing to a real ornithologist

* Mr. Selby supposes that the individuals found here are driyen out of the track
of their polar migration.—E, P. P. B.

5002 Tur ZooLtocisr—Juty, 1876.

than to see this most pretty bird flitting from bough to bough in pursuit of
insect-food as one takes a ramble during a fine summer morning in some
hilly wooded district. Its song is short, sweet, without much compass or
variety, and is very similar to the redstart’s—in fact, it is often confounded
with it until one gets fully acquainted with it. Unlike the spotted flycatcher
in its manners, when it is chasing insects, it does not return to the bough
or twig from which it started, but very frequently flies to the hole in the
tree selected for its nest, sometimes to the ground, picks something up, and
then perhaps flies off to a considerable distance—for what purpose I am
unable to explain, but J have noticed it repeatedly.—. P. P. Butterfield ;
Wilsden, Bradford, May 9, 1876.

Mottled Blackbirds.—A friend of mine has shot two pied blackbirds in
this neighbourhood. One of them has a white head; the rest of the
plumage is of the ordinary colour. The other is a beautiful bird, having
the head and rump perfectly white, and all the under plumage beautifully
mottled. The latter bird visited a particular street (which abuts upon an
extensive garden) very frequently last winter in search of food; in fact, it
appeared to live amongst us in a semi-domesticated state. Both were male
birds, and apparently very old.—Id.; May 22, 1876.

Thrush laying in a Deserted Nest.—A few days ago I saw a thrush fly
out of a willow tree: thinking that it might have a nest, I peeped in, and
saw three eggs lying upon the top of a very old and decayed nest. I think
there can be.no doubt that, her nest having been taken, she was fain to de-
posit her remaining eggs in the best place obtainable—C. Matthew Prior.

Note on the Song Thrush.—With ‘regard to the manner in which the
song thrush extracts the snail from its shell, Mr. Sclater expresses a doubt
(S. S. 4817) as to the bird fixing the shell and then using its bill, after the
manner of a pickaxe, to break up the snail’s only protection. My observations
certainly are in favour of the doubt expressed, and I have often seen the song
thrush feeding, but never in the manner described in the quotation upon
which Mr. Sclater comments. From what I have seen, the thrush often takes
hold of the snail, or the edge of the snail-shell, in its beak, and beats it to
pieces against a stone or some other hard substance, the sound of which
may be heard at some distance; but this is undoubtedly well known to
every reader of the ‘ Zoologist’ who has taken a walk near a hedge-bank in
the winter time, where a number of the bleached, broken and empty shells
may often be seen near the stone against which they were broken, so that it
is quite possible the thrush resorts to the same spot from time to time.
People who keep thrushes in captivity seem to understand this, since they
put a stone in the cage, and the instinct of the bird teaches it to avail itself
of the accommodation thus provided. If a portion of the snail protrudes
from the partially-smashed shell, the thrush at once seizes it, and proceeds
with the operation of ‘breaking up,” until sometimes the snail-shell is

THE ZooLocist—JULY, 1876. 5003

whirled around the thrush’s head, almost after the manner of a thrasher’s
flail. As far as I have seen, the blackbird does not seem to have the power
or instinct to smash up a snail-shell, much as it likes the contents; conse-
quently people who keep birds in captivity often prefer the blackbird to the
thrush as a cage-bird—not so much from a preference for the mellow notes
of the former as compared with the singing music of the latter, but because
one is so much more cleanly in its habits than the other.—G. B. Corbin.

Nidification of the Pied Wagtail and Swallow.—This summer there were
three pied wagtails’ nests near here,—all in places where there had been wag-
tails’ nests before,—one in a haystack, one in a summer-house, and one on
our ivied wall: on the latter the old bird began to sit on six eggs. Mr. Norgate
tells me that, according to his experience, this is the usual number, though
Yarrell and Hewitson put it at one less. But the most curious situation
I have heard of for a pied wagtail to nest in, this year, was near Reigate,
in Surrey, where—on the 22nd of May—I saw one which had built and
was sitting in an old blackbird’s nest. At first I could hardly believe there
was no mistake; but Mr. Norgate has seen a similar thing in a Portugal
laurel about six feet high. The same day I found a swallow’s nest in the
loop ofa chain which was hanging down from the roof of a cowshed. A few
days ago my friend found a nest of five swallow’s eggs on the handle of the
lid of a “‘ malt-shoot” in a wherry-house in Norfolk.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

“ Black-headed Bunting” (Zool. S.S. 4970).—It was not I, but Latham,
who assigned this name to the bird we know as Huspiza melanocephala.
Had I not followed his example (which has an usage of ninety-three
years in its favour), and that set by all English authorities on European
Ornithology known to me (including a “ List of Birds observed in Europe,
being an addition to the ‘ Zoologist’ List of Birds observed in Great Britain
and Ireland,” prepared in 1856 by Mr. Salmon, and sanctioned by the
Iiditor of the ‘ Zoologist’ himself), I should have had to invent a new name for
it—a thing which I abhor. If in availing myself of a long-established name—
nay, the only English name that was available—I have ‘“‘ committed a grave
error” I, at least err in good company ; but should a better one be suggested
I certainly shall raise no objection thereto. Meanwhile I trust I may be
allowed to ask any of your contributors to provide me with a list of those
English counties in which the reed-bunting or reed-sparrow (Emberiza
scheniclus) is “ universally known” as the ‘“ blackheaded bunting,” since, so
far as my own imperfect experience goes, the use of this name for that
species is restricted to an extremely select circle of readers, or, perhaps
I might say, to a still smaller number of writers.— Alfred Newton ;
Magdalene College, Cambridge, June 1, 1876.

[This note was not seen by the late Editor.]

Lesser Redpoll Nesting in Suffolkk—On Wednesday, May 10th, I took
a lesser redpoll’s nest, with four eggs, from the fork of a young Scotch fir,

5004 THE ZooLoGist—JULY, 1876.

about eight feet high, close by the garden of Mr. W. Page T. Phillips, at
Melton Grange. The female bird allowed me to pull down the tree-top, on
a level with my face, and look at her on the nest, though the eggs were not
at all incubated. I used to take these nests yearly near Bungay, but had
not found one for twenty years, and then generally so late as June or July.
The Rey. E. J. Moor, of Great Bealings, tells me that a pair of lesser red-
polls built in an apple tree in his garden, close by the house, last year, but
they did not find the nest till the 5th of September, when the young birds
were “full floppers” (Suffolk for ready to fly). On Saturday, May 20th,
T again found a nest of the above birds on a larch by the carriage drive at
the Grange, and near the house; I felt five eggs and looked at one, which
was dark coloured from advanced incubation.—F'rederick Spalding ; Wood-
bridge.

Starlings pecking with Open Beak.—Since Mr. Gurney again drew my
attention to this subject, in the February number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. 8.
4796), I have let no opportunity escape, by carefully concealing myself in
the window-curtains, of watching the starlings feeding on the lawn. I have
succeeded on four or five occasions in getting them within three yards of
me, thus enabling me to see clearly the way the beak is used, and on no
occasion have I seen it thrust into the grass closed, but invariably wide
apart, and frequently with the upper mandible held perpendicularly, the
lower then being considerably sloped back towards the breast; so that
Mr. Newman’s statement, that “in their digging operations the upper
mandible penetrates the ground, but not the lower,” is correct sometimes,
so far as the bill is directed towards the ground, but I have yet to learn
that the mandibles “ penetrate the ground” at all, and in a former note (see
S. 8. 4836) I asked for information on this point. From all I have seen,
I am persuaded that the beak is never thrust into the ground; in small
thick tufts of very short grass the upper mandible is commonly used only,
but where the grass is longer both mandibles are used, and invariably wide
apart, often four or five times in quick succession, in or very near the same
place; and it is used in the same way (open) amongst the small leaves of the
daisy and other plants that are mostly lying flat on the ground. The object
in using the mandibles apart appears to me to be to press the grass- or plant-
leaves down, and thus disturb the insects that are hidden in the tufts of
grass or beneath the leaves. I noticed that when they got a grub about a
quarter of an inch long they always kept hold of the middle part, and by
using their bill as if in the act of cleaning it on the grass, thus broke the
grub into three parts; the part remaining in the bill was then swallowed,
and then the other parts that had been wiped off were picked up. Be it
understood that I have not said they do not pierce the ground, but that
T have never seen them do so; and I do not see the use of the operation,
as it appears to me the insects they want are not so much im the ground

Tue ZooLocist—JuLy, 1876. 5005

as upon it. I can quite understand that there are many crevices in the
ground where insects are hidden, and in these the starling, being a very
ingenious little fellow, will just use his beak, as he can his tongue, in a
multitude of ways; in fact, he no doubt takes the insects out of such places
much in the same manner as the interesting little fellow mentioned by
Mr, Clogg takes the favourite morsel from between the lips of the lady—
without making a number of holes in her lips before finding out that there
is a way between them; and surely the starling is not such a fool, when he
is potato hungry, as to commence by making a lot of holes in the potato
in searching for what he clearly sees he can feast from on the outside as
well as if he was in the middle of it. I hope the writers of the very
interesting and pleasing nctes that have appeared in the ‘ Zoologist’ will
not be offended when I say that, inasmuch as they are chiefly observations
made from tame birds,—and although they no doubt establish the fact that
the starling can and does use his bill according to circumstances,—they are
nevertheless foreign to the original question.—John Sclater ; May 24, 1876.

White Starling.—I have just seen seven starlings,—viz., two old birds
and five young ones,—one of whom was of a pale dusky white. Readers
will no doubt remember that I recorded a similar instance in the ‘ Zoologist’
for April.—C. Matthew Prior.

Starlings and Elder-berries.—I can fully confirm Mr. Boyes’ observation
(Zool. S. 8. 4877) with regard to starlings banquetting upon elder-berries,
and it has often struck me that the birds seem uncommonly careless of their
own safety when feeding upon them, as I have seen specimens shot by
persons who had a weakness for elder-berry wine, and yet the surviving
birds would soon return to the feast, and continued to do so until the trees
were cleared of their fruit. The starling has also a peculiar taste for ivy-
berries, at least while they have young ones. I know a place where the
species annually build, in the thatch of a cottage, and the rejected seeds of
the ivy have produced an abundant crop in the ground beneath. Whether
the young starlings disgorge the ivy-berries, similar to young blackbirds and
thrushes, I am not in a position to say. Whilst on the subject of birds
and berries, I may remark that the holly-bushes in this neighbourhood are
now (beginning of June) as heavily laden with their scarlet fruit as I ever
saw them at Christmas; indeed last winter the “ hips and haws” and holly-
berries alike seemed to have been almost neglected by the feathered tribes,
caused no doubt by the open weather and consequent supply of food of a
different nature. I know not if the same observation was made in other
localities. —G. B. Corbin ; Ringwood, Hants.

Crow laying twice in the same Nest.—A friend of mine, who is a very
close observer on matters connected with Natural History, informs me that
last month he abstracted four eggs from the nest of a crow (Corvus Corone),
because the young ducks were just appearing, and he feared that a few of

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. ; 2N

5006 Tue ZooLocist—Juty, 1876.

them might find their way to the nest, as this bird is well known to be so
very partial to young aquatic poultry; but twelve days afterwards he was
surprised to see the old crow go off her nest, and on looking into it he
found it contained four more eggs. Nor is this the most curious part of the
business, for he assures me he is confident that there were three old birds
belonging to the nest, as three always went out of the tree, and were
always seen in company.—C. Matthew Prior ; Old Wolverton, Bucks.

Partial Migration of Rooks.— In the May number (8.8. 4907) your
correspondent W. A. Durnford remarks on a partial migration of rooks.
As I do not recollect having previously seen any record of this habit in
rooks, I send you a similar case. In the neighbourhood of Huddersfield
(where I lived until last October) there are several rookeries, the inhabitants
of which only remain there from February to July or August (I cannot
give dates, as my note-book is not at hand); during the rest of the year
they frequent the neighbourhood in the daytime, and retire before night to
some place to the eastward, I believe Nostell Priory, where there is a very
large rookery, which is fourteen or fifteen miles from Huddersfield. —
J. FE. Palmer ; Lucan, Co. Dublin, May 19, 1876.

Flight of the Hoopoe.— In one respect the interesting note on the
hoopoe, quoted in your review of the late Dr. Saxby’s ‘ Birds of Shetland’
(Zool. 4209), does not agree by any means with my observations. He says
its flight is rapid, but it always struck me in Africa, where I have seen
hundreds, as being slow; and certainly the only time on which I have seen
a hoopoe in England I should say the samé of it—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Swift flying against Telegraph-Wires.—A few days ago a swift was killed
by flying against the telegraph-wires with such force as to nearly cut its
wing off. I should not wonder so much at this circumstance if the wires
had just been put up, but this is not the case. Although there are so
many swifts about—I should think quite fourteen pairs—I have never been
able to detect one with any material for building in its mouth.—C. M. Prior.

Thirteen Eggs in a Moorhen’s Nest.—A person residing in this vicinity
found a moorhen’s nest containing thirteen eggs, and I know of one with
ten in it. This is an enormous number, because the weight of a moorhen
itself is from thirteen to sixteen ounces. I find in Waterton’s ‘ Home,
Habits and Handiwork’ a similar instance, except that in this case nine
eggs and four young ones were discovered. I believe the average number
of eggs is nine.—Id.

Lesser Whitefronted Goose,—I find that our party was not the first to
discover the lesser whitefronted goose in Egypt, as I see from a translation
of Heuglin’s ‘ Ornithologie Nord-ost Africas’ (‘ Field,’ Nov. 22, 1873), that
it has been obtained before.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Duck nesting in a Pollard Willow.—At Oakley, Bedfordshire, the seat
of his Grace the Duke of Bedford, a common wild duck made its nest in a

Tue ZooLocist—JULY, 1876. 5007

willow, some distance from the ground, and reared in safety fourteen young
ones.—C. Matthew Prior.

Scarcity of the Razorbill.—I am not in a position to answer Mr. Gurney’s
question as to whether the razorbill is getting scarcer on our coasts; but
you will perhaps permit me to point out that there are two principal causes
why it should be so, and as Mr. Gurney’s note (Zool. 8. S. 4959) supplies
one of them, I will here give it the precedence. It would have been more
interesting and clearer if Mr. Gurney had given us the exact date of his
visit to Flamborough, as it would have nearly fixed the date of Mr. Bailey’s
great slaughter amongst these poor birds; but from the way I read the
latter part of the note, it appears to me that Mr. Gurney was at Flam-
borough just before the razorbills had arrived to breed, and that as soon as
they did arrive Mr. Bailey shot twenty. Now it would be very interesting—
to more than myself, I think—to know what use these twenty dead razor-
bills were to Mr. Bailey after he had shot them. Bearing in mind that the
razorbill lays only one egg,—and I need scarcely, I think, remind readers
of the ‘ Zoologist’ that they too are ruthlessly destroyed,—the query appears
to me to be, not so much as to the species becoming scarcer, but how it
happens that there are twenty left to visit Flamborough or any other place
to be shot. I need not be considered out of the way if I assume that every
breeding station of the razorbill on the British coasts produces a Mr. Some-
body who you may be sure is anything but a “ crack shot,” but all birds are
tame in the breeding season. The second cause—not quite so easy of
explanation—is the strange mortality so often noted in the ‘ Zoologist’ as
taking place amongst them, almost periodically, on different parts of the
coast. In the ‘ Zoologist’ for March, 1872, there appears an editorial
remark, which I beg the author will allow me to repeat here. Mr. Newman
says, “This morning (February 21st) I met a man going over London
Bridge with a clothes-basket full of razorbills; he could not, or would not,
tell me how he came by them, but, by the blood on their plumage, I think
they had come by a violent death.” I should like to know whether they
are shot in such large numbers for any particular purpose. I have before
this mentioned that some of the “gunners” on this part of the coast use
the feathers of all sea-birds they may obtain, and also that some of them
eat the flesh of the gulls; but I presume that the most terrible havoc is
caused by such as shoot them for what is called “sport.”——John Scelater ;
Castle Eden, June 18, 1876.

Manx Shearwater.—In the ‘ Birds of Northumberland and Durham ’—
one of the best local catalogues that has seen the light for many a day—
there is a description of a bird resembling a Manx shearwater, except in
being rather larger, and in “the back being two shades paler,” and the
whole of the under parts of the body “ having the feathers tipped with ash-
colour” (7. ¢., p.133). As among some ornithologists there has been a little

5008 Tuer ZooLocist—Juty, 1876.

interest about this nondescript bird, I wish to say that it has been lately
lent to me, and that, after comparing it with a young Manx shearwater
killed near Plymouth in the summer of 1868, and sent to me by Mr. Gat-
combe, I am quite satisfied that that is what it is—viz., a Manx shearwater
in the immature plumage, in which state it is certainly very rarely seen in
collections,—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Proceedings of Scientitic Societies,

ZooLocicaL Society or Lonpon.

May 16, 1876.—Dr. A. Ginruer, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair.

Dr. P. Comrie exhibited and made remarks on the zoological specimens
collected by him during the Survey of the South-eastern coast of New Guinea
by H.M.S. ‘ Basilisk.’

Dr. Giinther exhibited and made remarks on a collection of Mammals
from the coast of Borneo, opposite to Labuan. Among these were especially
noticed a young example of a monkey (Macacus melanotis) of which the
exact habitat was previously unknown, and a new species of Tupaia,
proposed to be called T. minor.

Dr. Ginther also read an extract from a letter recently received from
Commander Cookson, R.N., stating that he was bringing home from the
Galapagos Islands a living pair of the large land-tortoise of Albemarle
Island. Commander Cookson stated that the male of this pair weighed
270 lbs., the female 117 lbs.

Mr. Sclater exhibited the skin of a rare Pacific parrot (Coriphilus Kuhli),

- which had been obtained by Dr. T. Hale Streets, U.S. Navy, at Washington
Island, of the Palmyra group, and had been sent to him for examination by
Dr. E. Coues.

Prof. Martin Duncan read the second portion of a memoir on the
Madreporaria dredged up during the expedition of H.M.S. ‘ Porcupine.’

Prof. Duncan also read descriptions of new littoral and deep-sea corals,
from the Atlantic Ocean, the Antilles, the New Zealand and Japanese Seas,
and the Persian Gulf.

Prof. W. H. Flower read a paper on some cranial and dental characters
of the existing species of rhiuoceroses. This paper contained the result of
the examination of fifty-three skulls of rhinoceroses, contained in the
Museum of the College of Surgeons and the British Museum, and described
the principal characteristics of the five forms under which they could all be
arranged, viz. :—

1. Rhinoceros unicornis, Linn. (including R. stenocephalus, Gray);

2. Ithinoceros sondaicus, Cuv. (including R. Floweri and R. nasalis, Gray);

THE ZooLocist—JULY, 1876. 5009

3. Ceratorhinus sumatrensis, Cuv. (including C niger, Gray);

4. Atelodus bicornis, Linn. (including A. keitlon, A. Smith);

5. Atelodus simus, Burchell.
It was also shown that the skull of a rhinoceros, lately received at the
British Museum from Borneo, was that of a two-horned species not
distinguishable from C. sumatrensis.

A communication was read from Dr. Julius Von Haast, containing some
further notes on Oulodon Grayi, a new genus of ziphioid whales, from the
New Zealand Seas.

Mr. P. L. Sclater read a paper on the birds collected by Dr. Comrie
under the circumstances just stated, amongst which was a new Manucodia,
proposed to be called Manucodia Comrii, after its discoverer.

A communication was read from Dr. Hermann Burmeister, which con-
tained some additions to the description already given of his. Dolichotis
salinicola.

June 6, 1876.—Dr. A. GintuER, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the chair.

The Secretary read a report on the additions that had been made to the
Society’s Menagerie during the month of May, 1876, and called particular
attention to (1) a fine specimen of the tooth-billed pigeon (Didunculus
strigirostris), purchased May 9th; (2) an example of the whitebacked
trumpeter (Psophia leucoptera), presented May 20th, by Mr. H. Stacy
Marks; (3) a pair of greenbilled curassows (Craw viridirostris), from Carta-
gena, purchased May 31st; (4) a mother and three young of the Indian
fawn-coloured field mouse (Mus cervicolor, Hodgson; Jerdon, Mamm. of
India, p. 206), presented by Lieut-Col. C. 8. Sturt, and received May 31st;
and (5) a blue or softbilled duck (Hymenolemus malacorhynchus), from
New Zealand, presented by the Acclimatization Society of Otago, and
received May 31st.

The Secretary exhibited some specimens of a land crab (Geocarcinus
lagostoma), from Ascension Island, which had been presented to the Society
by Dr. J. B. Drew, and read a note by Dr. Drew on their habits.

Mr. Sclater exhibited skins of a male and female of the new pheasant
from Borneo, lately described by Mr. Sharpe as Lobiophasis Bulweri.
These birds had been obtained alive for the Zoological Society of
Amsterdam, but the female only had lived to reach Amsterdam.

A letter was read from Mr. J. H. Gurney, containing some notes on the
breeding of a pair of the Polish swan (Cygnus immutabilis of Yarrell), and a
description of the young birds.

A communication was read from Dr. Julius Von Haast, containing some
notes on the skeleton of Ziphius Nove-Zealandie.

A second communication from Dr. Julius Von Haast contained some
notes on Mesoplodon Floweri.

5010 THE ZooLocist—JULY, 1876.

A communication was read from Dr. G. EK. Dobson, containing a descrip-
tion of certain peculiarities in the structure of Mystacina tuberculata, which
induced him to believe that this bat used its feet for purposes of locomotion
on branches and leaves of trees.

Mr. A. H. Garrod read the first part of a memoir on certain anatomical
characters which bear upon the major divisions of the Passerine birds.

A communication was read from Mr. E. L. Layard, containing notes on
the birds of the Navigators and Friendly Islands, with some additions to
the Ornithology of Fiji.

Mr. H. Adams and Mr. G. French Angas communicated descriptions of
five new species of land shells from Madagascar, New Guinea, Central
Australia, and the Solomon Islands.—P. L. Sclater.

ENTOMOLOGICAL Society oF Lonpon.

June 7, 876.—Prof. J. O. Westwoop, M.A., F.L.S., &., President, in
the chair.

Additions to the Library.

The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the
donors :—‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society,’ nos. 168 and 169; by the
Society. ‘Journal of the Linnean Society (Zoology),’ no. 63; by the
Society. ‘The Naturalist: Journal of the West Riding Consolidated
Naturalists’ Society,’ no. xi.; by the Society. ‘The Zoologist’ for June;
by the Editor. ‘Newman's Entomologist’ for June; by the Editor. ‘The
Entomologists’ Monthly Magazine’ for June; by the Editors. ‘ Nature,’
nos. 340 to 8344; by the Editor. ‘Conspectus of the Species of Paratel-
phusa, an Indo-Malayan Genus of Fresh-water Crabs;’ by the Author,
J. Wood-Mason, Esq. ‘ The Geographical Distribution of Animals,’ 2 vols. ;
by the Author, A. R. Wallace, Esq. ‘The Canadian Entomologist,’ vol.
yiii., nos. 2, 3 and 4; by the Editor. ‘The American Naturalist,’ vol. x.,
no. 5; by the Editor. ‘ New and Interesting Insects from the Carboniferous
of Cape Breton ;’ by the Author, Samuel H. Scudder, Esq., of Cambridge,
Mass. ‘L’Abeille,’ nos. 172 and 173; by the Editor, M. de Marseul.
‘Von der Challenger-Expedition,’ Briefe von R. v. Willemoes-Suhm an
C. Th. v. Siebold (vii.); by Prof. v. Siebold. ‘Bulletino della Societa
Entomologica Italiana,’ 1876, trimestre 1; by the Society. ‘ Bulletin de
la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou,’ 1875, no. 4; by the
Society. ‘Note sur une Sécrétion propre aux Coléoptéres Dytiscides,’ par
Felix Plateau; by the Author. ‘Notes pour servir a l‘histoire des Insectes
du Genre Phylloxera, par J. Lichtenstein (de Montpellier), Extrait des -
Annales Agronomiques, tom. ii., no.1; presented by the Author. Mémoires
de l'Academie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux-Arts de

THE ZooLocist—JuLy, 1876. 5011

Belgique, 4to, tome xli., le and 2e parties; ‘Mémoires Couronnés et
Memoires des Savants Etrangers, 4to, tome xxviii. and tome xxxix., le
partie ; ditto (collection in 8yo), tomes xxiy., xxv. and xxvi.; ‘ Bulletino de
l’Academie Royale de Belgique,’ 2nd Série, tomes xxxvii. to xl.; ‘ Annuaire
de l’Academie Royale de Belgique,’ 1875 and 1876. ‘Notices Biographiques
et Bibliographiques,’ concernant les Membres et les Correspondants, ainsi
que les Associés residents 1874; by the Academie Royale de Belgique.
‘ Reise der Osterreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren,’
1857, 1858, 1859— Zoologischer Theil, Zweiter Band, Zweite Abtheilung—
Lepidoptera Rhopalocera, von Dr. Cajetan Felder und Rudolf Felder, heft
1—8; presented by Nathaniel C. Tuely, Esq.
By purchase :—‘ The Zoological Record’ for 1874.

Election of Members.

Messrs. Alexander Augustus Berens, A. H. Swinton, and Charles
Marcus Wakefield, were balloted for and elected Ordinary Members.

Ehibitions, &c.

Mr. Douglas made some further remarks on the “ Corozo nuts,” known
as vegetable ivory, exhibited by him at the last meeting, which were
attacked by a beetle belonging to the genus Caryoborus. The attention of
the officials of the Dock Company had been drawn to the serious loss of
weight that would be found when the nuts were to be delivered, and they
were anxious to ascertain if there was any mode of arrestiug their depreda-
tions, and whether the beetles lived and bred among dried nuts, or entered
the kernel in an earlier stage. It was suggested that the mischief originated
in the parent beetles laying their eggs in the nuts when still in a green or
soft state, and as there were several larve in each nut the interior was
completely destroyed. The metamorphosis took place inside the nut.

Mr. M‘Lachlan, in connexion with the above, exhibited another species
of palm (Copernicia conifera), from Rio Janeiro, forwarded to him by
Professor Dyer, which were also infested with a species of Caryoborus
(C. bactris, Linn.). In this case each nut served as food for a single larva
ouly, which bored in it a cylindrical hole of considerable size and depth.

Mr. E. A. Fitch exhibited the seeds of a leguminous plant (an article of
commerce) imported from Egypt, infested by a Bruchus, which was esti-
mated to cause a loss of 50 per cent. to the owners.

The President exhibited the larva of an Australian species of Hepialus
(he believed from Queensland), bearing a fungus with four or five different
branches, issuing from the back of the neck and the tail. Also, a fungus
growing from the back of a Noctua pupa.

Mr. Fryer exhibited a curious variety of one of the Geometride, believed
to be Melanippe rivata.

5012 Tue ZooLoGist—JUuLy, 1876.

Mr. M‘Lachlan, on behalf of Dr. Atherston, of South Africa, exhibited a
pair of a very singular Orthopterous insect (belonging to the Acrydiide),
which, in colour and in the granulated texture, so exactly mimicked the
sand of the district as to render it almost impossible to detect it when in a
quiescent state. The name of the insect was uncertain, but it was supposed
to approach the Trachyptera scutellaris, Walker. Also some singular oval,
flattened cases, open at each end, and from six to eight lines in length,
formed of silk, to which was externally fixed a quantity of fine light brown
sand. The cases were found under stones in sandy districts, and were
stated by Mr. Charles O. Waterhouse to belong to a beetle of the genus
Paralichas (one of the Dascillide). Also the cases of a species of Oiketicus,
of peculiar structure; the inner lining of the tube was, as usual, composed
of toughened silk, but to this was attached, externally, a quantity of fine
sand, and outside this a number of small angular pebbles, only the tail-end
bearing a few rather long twigs and species of grass stems: thus the cases
differed from those of most species in which substances exclusively vegetable
were attached externally, the addition of the pebbles making the cases
(which were nearly two inches in length) unusually heavy.

The President read descriptions and exhibited drawings of two very
singular forms of Coleopterous insects from Mr. A. R. Wallace’s private
collection. For the first, which belonged to the family Telephoride, he
proposed the generic term Astychina, remarkable for the form of the two
terminal joints of the antenne, which were modified in one sex into what
appeared to be a prehensile apparatus, different from anything in the insect
world, but of which some analogous forms were found to occur in certain
Entomostracous Crustacea. The other belonged to the family Cleride, and
was named Anisophyllus, differing from all known beetles by the extremely
elongated branch of the ninth joint of the antenne.

Mr. Smith read descriptions of new species of Hymenopterous insects
from New Zealand, collected by Mr. Charles M. Wakefield. ‘The number
of known Hymenoptera from New Zealand appeared to be about 48.

Papers read.
Mr. J. 8. Baly communicated descriptions of new genera and species of
Halticine.
Dr. Sharp communicated descriptions of a new genus and some new

species of Staphylinide, from Mexico and Central America, collected by
Mr. Salvin, Mr. Flohr, and Mr. Belt.

New Part of ‘ Transactions.’
Part 1 of the ‘ Transactions’ for 1876 was on the table.—F’. G.

THE ZooLocist—Avcust, 1876. 5013

Slotices of Set Books,

———

The Birds of the North-West: a Handbook of the Ornithology
of the Region drained by the Missouri River and its Tribu-
taries. By Exutor Covers, Captain and Assistant-Surgeon
United States Army. Demy 8yo, 791 pp. 1874.

SINCE the time when the indefatigable John James Audubon
was scouring America for subjects for his pencil the study of
American Ornithology has been keenly pursued. So great is the
number of species in the rich Avifauna of the Western Hemisphere
that even to-day the ground is very far from exhausted, and the
‘ labours of ornithologists who may chance to be posted at some
outlying station are still rewarded by the discovery of new species
or of interesting hitherto-unknown habits of species already
recorded. Wilson and Audubon knew only of two humming-
birds visiting North-America; to-day eleven at least have been
recognised, and observation will probably extend the list. Two
years ago Dr. Elliot Coues, of the U.S. army, contributed a very
important addition to the published works on American birds.
His book was brought out at Washington at the Government
Printing Press by the Geological Survey of the U.S. Territories,
under the title of ‘The Birds of the North-West,’ and comprises
a notice of all the birds detected as resident in or visiting the
immense tract of country drained by the Missouri River and its
tributaries, as well as monographs of the North-American Laride,
Colymbidz and Podicipide. It contains 790 closely-printed pages,
and is full of observations of great interest on the habits and
distribution of numerous American birds. Dr. Coues is fortunate
not only in being a good observer himself, and one able to set down
his observations in a lucid style, but also in having the advantage
of several correspondents who, to judge from the extracts from
their letters given in the Doctor’s book, must be keen and able
students of bird-life. The book is thus an ample treasury of
information to the lover of birds, and we shall make no scruple to
quote rather largely from its pleasant pages.

Like many recent writers on Ornithology, Dr. Coues is something
of a systematist, and prefers to place the Passerine birds in the
front of all the others, beginning with the Oscines, or singing

SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. 20

5014 Tue ZooLtogist—Aveust, 1876.

birds. He claims the first rank for these on account of the delicate
structure of their vocal organs. It is like Art going before Power.
The old arrangement which commences with the Raptorial birds
springs from the instinct which deifies force. There is something
higher than mere brute strength ; therefore, place for the songsters !
Although there are a number of these which enliven the woods and
glades of America with their notes, yet it does not appear that there
is any one which is, facile princeps, like our English nightingale.
Wilson’s thrush (Turdus fuscescens) is praised for its song :—

“When its clear bell-like notes, resonant, distinct, yet soft and of in-
describable sadness, fall-upon the ear as we press through the tangled
undergrowth beneath the shade of stately trees, we pause involuntarily to
listen to music that for the moment makes us forget the terrible torture of
body and vexation of spirit that we endure continually from the innumerable
hosts of the scourge—mosquitoes.”

Another songster is the blue-gray gnat-catcher (Polioptila
cerulea). Mr. Maynard, one of the Doctor’s correspondents, thus
writes of it :—

«T was walking in a narrow path through a hummock, which lies back
of the old fort at Miami, Florida, and had paused to observe a female of this
species, when I heard a low warbling which sounded like the distant song
of some bird I had never heard before. I listened attentively, but could
make nothing of it, and advanced a few paces, when I heard it more plainly.
This time it appeared to come from above me, and looking upward I saw a
male gnat-catcher hopping nimbly from limb to limb on some small trees
which skirted the woods. Although he was but a short distance away,
I was obliged to watch the motions of his little throat before I became con-
vinced that this music came from him. It was even so, and nothing could
be more appropriate to the delicate marking and size of the tiny, fairy-like
bird, than the silvery warble which filled the air with sweet continuous
melody. I was completely surprised, for I never imagined that any bird
was capable of producing notes so soft and low, yet each one given with
such distinctness that the ear could catch every part of the wondrous and
complicated song. I watched him for some time, but he never ceased
singing, save when he sprang into the air to catch some passing insect.
The female seemed to enjoy the musical efforts that were accomplished for
her benefit, for she drew gradually nearer, until she alighted upon the same
tree with her mate. At this moment she took alarm, and flew a short
distance, followed by her mate. As I walked away I could hear the murmur
of the love-song till it became indistinguishable from the gentle rustling of
the leaves around,”

a

Tue ZooLocist—Avucust, 1876. 5015

Of the winter wren (dnorthura Troglodyles, var. hiemalis), the
Doctor quotes as follows :—

“The song of the winter wren excels that of any other bird of its size
with which I am acquainted. It is truly musical, full of cadence, energetic
and melodious; its very continuance is surprising, and dull indeed must be
the ear that thrills not on hearing it. When emitted, as it often is, from
the dark depths of the unwholesome swamps, it operates so powerfully on
the mind, that it by contrast inspires a feeling of wonder and delight, and
on such occasions has impressed me with a sense of the guoduess of the
Almighty Creator, who has rendered every spot of earth in some way
subservient to the welfare of His creatures.”

The Missouri sky lark (Neocorys Spraguez) appears to have the
same habits as our English favourite :—

“Rising from the nest, or from its grassy bed, this plain-looking little
bird, clad in the simplest colours, and making but a speck in the boundless
expanse, mounts straight up on tremulous wings till lost to view in the blue
ether, and then sends back to earth a song of gladness that seems to come
from the sky itself to cheer the weary, give hope to the disheartened, and
turn the most indifferent, for the moment at least, from sordid thoughts.”

The mourning warbler (Geothlypis Philadelphia), Townsend’s
fly-catching thrush (Myiadestes Townsendii), the purple finch
(Carpodacus purpureus), the bay-winged bunting (Pooecetus gra-
mineus), and the fox-sparrow (Passerella iliaca), are some of the
other favourites of the American wilds. We must quote a de-
scription of the song of one of these, the bay-winged bunting :—

“ The charming song of the ‘ vesper-bird’ has been fittingly described by
one of the most enthusiastic and agreeable of writers upon birds,—I mean
John Burroughs,—in his welcome little volume entitled “ Wake Robin.’
‘Have you heard the song of the field sparrow?’ he asks. ‘If you have
lived in a pastoral country, with broad upland pastures, you could hardly
have missed him. Wilson, I believe, calls him the grass-finch, and was
evidently unacquainted with his powers of song. The two white lateral
quills of his tail, and his habit of running and skulking a few yards in
advance of you as you walk through the fields, are sufficient to identify him.
Not in meadows or orchards, but in high, breezy pasture-grounds, will you
look for him. His song is most noticeable after sundown, when other birds
are silent, for which reason he has been aptly called the vesper sparrow.
The farmer following his team from the field at dusk catches his sweetest
strain. His song is not so brisk and varied as that of the song sparrow,

5016 THE ZooLocist—A ucustT, 1876.

. being softer and wilder, sweeter and more plaintive. Add the best parts of

the lay of the latter to the sweet vibrating chaunt of the wood sparrow
(Spizella pusilla), and you have the evening hymn of the vesper-bird—the
poet of the plain, unadorned pastures. Go to those broad, smooth, up-lying
fields, where the cattle and sheep are grazing, and sit down on one of the
warm, clean stones, and listen té this song. On every side, near and
remote, from out the short grass which the herds are cropping, the strain
rises. Two or three long, silver notes of rest and peace, ending in some
subdued trills or quavers, constitute each separate song. Often you will
catch only one or two of the bars, the breeze having blown the minor part
away. Such unambitious, unconscious melody! It is one of the most
characteristic sounds in Nature. The grass, the stones, the stubble, the
quiet herds, and the warm twilight among the hills, are all subtilely
expressed in this song: this is what they are at least capable of.’”

We find in the ‘ Birds of the North-West’ that much care has
been given to a description of the nests and eggs of the various
species where they have been observed. It is well known that
among American birds are some of the most skilful architects to be
met with in the world. The beautiful Baltimore oriole (Iclerus
Baltimore), which has its name from its colours of black and
orange being the livery of Lord Baltimore, once proprietor of
Maryland, weaves its pensile nest close to houses almost every-
where in the States; while throughout the middle States the
chimney swallow (Chelura pelagica) builds its home with so much
cleverness that it is worth while to quote the account of it
furnished by the pen of Dr. Brewer :—

“The nest of the chimney swallow is one of the most remarkable struc-
tures of the kind to be found among the handiwork of even this interesting
family, nearly all of whom are far from being undistinguished for their
architectural accomplishments. It is composed of small twigs of nearly
uniform size, which are interwoven in a neat semicircular basket. In
selecting the twigs with which to construct the nest, the swift seems to
prefer to break from the tree such as are best adapted to its wants, rather
than to gather those already scattered upon the ground. This is done with
great skill and adroitness, while on the wing. Sweeping on the coveted
twig, somewhat as a hawk rushes on its prey, it parts it at the desired place,
and bears it off to its nest. This fact is familiar to all who have attentively
observed its habits. Each of these twigs is firmly fastened to its fellows by
an adhesive saliva, secreted by the bird, and the whole structure is strongly
cemented to the side of the chimney in which it is built by means of the
same secretion. When dry this saliva hardens into a glue-like substance,

Tue ZooLocist—Aucust, 1876. 5017

apparently firmer even than the twigs themselves. In separating a nest
from the side of a chimney, I have known portions of the brick to which it
was fastened to give way sooner than the cement with which it had been
secured. When moistened, however, by long or heavy rains, the weight of
their contents will sometimes cause them to part, and precipitate the whole
to the bottom. The young birds cling’very tenaciously to the sides of the
chimney, with their strong claws and muscular feet, and often save them-
selves from falling in such accidents by this means, even at a very early
age, and before they have attained their sight. As the nest, even when
undisturbed, soon becomes too small for them, the* young leave it long
before they are able to fly, and climb to the top of the chimney, where they
are fed by their parents.”

Birds are not given to adopt new fashions in building their nests
hastily ; we believe that the ring dove has made its slovenly nest
just in the same way time out of mind; while the longtailed tit
has always been equally skilful and painstaking over the beautiful
structure it devises for its numerous brood. Dr. Coues, however,
is able to instance some cases where the nest-building instinct has
been modified, and where birds have been induced, through certain
reasons of advantage to themselves, to deviate from their usual
plan. The cliff swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) has abandoned
the cliffs in many places, and now prefers to attach its nest beneath
the eaves of cottages. ‘The blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius),
a small flycatcher, according to Audubon, used to hang its nest
between two twigs of a low bush, and construct it externally of
gray lichens, internally chiefly of hair from the deer and racoon.
In all nests of this species which have come under the notice of
Dr. Coues the materials used have been almost exclusively—

«Clusters of male flowers of Quercus palustris, which, having performed
their allotted function, don their brownish hue at the very period when
they can be utilized. Here is evidently a change within a moderately short
period, rendered necessary by external causes. This necessity may have
grown out of inability to procure the favourite materials, or a desire for self-
preservation. In the case of the species under consideration, it cannot be
denied that the utter inability, without unnecessary physical effort, to
procure the hair of the afore-mentioned animals, particularly in sections
where they have been compelled to retreat before the advance of man, may
have been one of the causes which have induced the change. Iam satisfied,
however, that it has not been the leading one, but that self-preservation has
operated in this case for individual and family good. The adaptation of the

5018 THE ZooLocist—Aveust, 1876.

colours of the female bird to the tints of surrounding objects, during the
trying period of incubation, and the establishment of certain resemblances
to familiar external objects, are two of the ways in which it manifests
itself.”

In old times, before the forests had been thinned by the wood-
man’s axe, the Baltimore oriole found in the dense foliage of the
trees in which it placed its nest sufficient protection from the
burning sun. But now that this shelter has been generally
encroached upon, the bird has learned to weave an outer covering
and roof for its nest: “They interweave and fabricate a sort of
coarse cloth into the form intended, towards the bottom of which
they place the real nest, made chiefly of lint, wiry grass, horse- and
cow-hair.” The peewit flycatcher (Sayornis fuscus) has supplied
instances of deviation from the ordinary and characteristic form of
nest built by this species; several nests found in a barn were more
loosely constructed than others placed in exposed situations, the
birds plainly perceiving the advantage of adapting their plan to
the circumstances of the site. A correspondent of Dr. Coues,
Mr. Gentry, actually succeeded in inducing a pair of cedar-birds
(Ampelis Cedrorum) to modify their nests by supplying them with
unaccustomed building materials :—

“While watching a pair of Ampelis Cedrorum, engaged in the building
of a nest on a branch of an apple-tree, it occurred to me that, by supplying
them with materials, I might secure a nest neater and more compact than
those usually made. The birds entered into the project with readiness, and
carried away every piece of coloured string and cotton fabric with which
I supplied them. After I had ceased to furnish the materials they would
fly repeatedly to the branch where the articles were deposited, as if im-
ploring my services. The result was a nest firmer, more symmetrical, and
more elegant in proportions than any I had ever observed. If instinct had
been the controlling principle in this case, the birds would not have given
my labours so much attention; but admitting that they had been actuated
by reasoning faculties in their selection, the whole thing is perfectly
plausible. Instinct is always the same thing; it never advances, never
retrogrades; but reason tends to improvement, when it can serve a good
purpose.”

We may add, in confirmation of these last words of Mr. Gentry,
the case of a wood-lark’s nest which once came under our observa-
tion. ‘This nest was discovered upon the ground in a rough field
full of ferns, thistles and other weeds, and had eggs init. Passing

TuE ZooLtocist—Aueust, 1876. 5019

the spot some few days later, we wished to see if the young birds
had yet appeared, but nowhere could the nest be found, although
we imagined an accurate mental note of the site had been made.
At last, when we were wellnigh abandoning the search, the nest
was seen close at hand, but so cunningly domed over by the birds
with fern-fronds and grass that it might easily have escaped
detection. Here was an instance where the birds, understanding
that they were exposed to danger, had done the best they could to
provide against it by altering the form of their nest in a manner
which plainly revealed something of a reasoning power.

The following is a list of the birds which are best able to
contend with the severity of a North-American winter :—

‘“The cold in winter becomes intense at Fort Randall, the thermometer
sometimes marking thirty or forty degrees below zero. The surrounding
country is ‘flat, windy, and uncomfortable,’ furnishing as bleak and dreary a
prospect as can well be imagined. yen the shelter afforded by the thick
undergrowth and low position of the river-bottom, defended as it is ina
measure by bluffs and hills, is insufficient to allure any but a few of the
hardiest birds to pass the inclement season. The river freezes solid, and
the water-birds betake themselves elsewhere ; some hawks and owls remain,
indeed, but the other land-birds of the immediate vicinity, as far as I have
made them out, may also be counted on the fingers. There are sharp-tailed
grouse in plenty, and quails too, though these smaller birds sometimes
freeze to death. There isa stray pinnated grouse now and then. Sorry-
looking crows wing about and croak dismally, and gangs of magpies screech
noisily through the trees. Snow-birds fleck the open, with shore larks,
during a part of the season, and probably longspurs (Plectrophanes Lap-
ponicus and ornatus); troops of tree sparrows* cower under the bushes.
Cheery companies of titmice stand the cold, and hairy woodpeckers hammer
at the old cotton woods as industriously as ever. A shrike is seen now
and then on his perch; but hereabouts the short list ends.”

The two familiar species of American cuckoo (the yellow-billed
and the black-billed) differ from our common English cuckoo in
not being parasitic, and in building their own nests, untidy, loosely-
arranged structures, in which there is rather an owlish style of
bringing up the family. It is not unusual to find in the same nest
an egg freshly laid, an egg or two more or less incubated, a young
cuckoo just hatched, and a couple of others almost fledged.

* Not our European Passer montanus, but Spizella monticola, the Canadian or
tree sparrow of American ornithologists.

5020 _ Tue Zootocist—Avevust, 1876.

Eleven young cuckoos have been known to proceed one after the
other from a single nest, and there is some interest in this fact, as
it probably furnishes a clew to the number of eggs deposited in
one season by parasitic cuckoos in the nests of other birds. It
seems to be the rule that most birds bring off two families in the
year; and if our common cuckoo, for instance, built its own nest
it would lay from four to five eggs each time, so that we may
consider that each female cuckoo entrusts eight or nine eggs to
other birds to attend to. From being extra noisy before wet
weather, the American cuckoos are commonly called “rain-birds.”
“Although not parasites, like the European species, devoid of
parental instinct, they have their bad traits, being even worse
enemies of various small, gentle birds, for they are abandoned
thieves, as wicked as jays in this respect, continually robbing
birds of their eggs, and even, it is said, devouring the helpless
nestlings.”

One of the most eccentric birds in the North-American list is a
species of starling, the cowbird (Molothrus pecoris), which, like
our cuckoo, is parasitic, laying its eggs in the nests of other birds,
chiefly flycatchers and thrushes. Some mystery still clings to the
progress of the foster-child thrust in this manner upon many
victimised birds; for it has been found that in whatever nest it
may be placed the egg of the cowbird is hatched before any of
the eggs which are the lawful occupants, and that directly the
young cowbird appears all these are wont to vanish, in whatever
stage of incubation they may have been. It is supposed that all
the time and care of the parent birds being taken up in providing
for their suppositious offspring they themselves carry away their
eggs, as now only encumbering the nest. Dr. Coues looks upon
the cowbird as “an advanced thinker,” so entirely does it dispense
with all family ties. But how was this strange instinct first
originated in the cowbird and various cuckoos? The Doctor
accounts for it on a Darwinian hypothesis :—

« Ages ago, it might be surmised, a female cowbird, in imminent danger
of delivery without a nest prepared, was loth to loose her offspring, and
deposited her burden in an alien nest, perhaps of her own species, rather
than on the ground. The convenience of this process may have struck her,
and induced her to repeat the easy experiment. The foundlings duly
hatched, throve, and came to maturity, stamped with their mother’s indi-
vidual traits—an impress deep and lasting enough to similarly affect them

OO _

THE ZooLocist—Aveust, 1876, _ 5021

in turn. The adventitious birds increased by natural multiplication, till
they outnumbered the true-born ones: what was engendered of necessity
was perpetuated by unconscious volition, and finally became a fixed habit—
the law of reproduction for the species. Much current reasoning on similar
subjects is no better nor worse than this, and it all goes for what it is
worth.”

The Doctor also suggests that as the parasitic habits of the
various species of Molothrus operate injuriously upon the in-
crease of many birds, “the special check thus provided may be
intended to preserve the delicate balance of some of Nature’s
forces.” His remarks upon this subject are very interesting, as
they naturally bear upon the economy of the cuckoo, concerning
which there is much yet to be learned. We therefore do not
hesitate to quote further from what he has to relate of the cow-
bird :—

“Tt does not appear that the cowbird ever attempts to take forcible
possession of a nest. She watches her chance while the owners are away,
slips in by stealth, and leaves the evidence of her unfriendly visit to be
discovered on their return, in the shape of the ominous egg. The parents
hold anxious consultation in this emergency, as their sorrowful cries and
disturbed actions plainly indicate. If their nest was empty before, they
generally desert it, and their courage in giving up a cosy home results in
one cowbird the less. Sometimes, even after there is an egg of their own
in the nest, they have nerve enough to let it go, rather than assume the
hateful task of incubating the strange one. But if the female has already
laid an egg or two, the pair generally settle into the reluctant conviction
that there is no help for it; they quiet down after awhile, and things go on
as if nothing had happened. Not always, however, will they desert even
an empty nest; some birds have discovered a way out of the difficulty—it
is the most ingenious device imaginable, and the more we think about it the
more astonishing it seems. They build a two-story nest, leaving the ob-
noxious egg in the basement. I want no better proof that birds possess a
faculty indistinguishable, so far as it goes, from human reason; and such a
case as this bears impressively upon the general question of the difference
between reason and that faculty we designate by the vague and misleading
term ‘instinct.’ The evidence has accumulated till it has become con-
clusive, that the difference is one of degree, not of kind—that instinct is a
lower order of reason—the arrest, in brutes, at a certain stage, of a faculty
reaching higher development in man. Instinct, in the ill-considered, current
sense of the term, could never lead a summer yellowbird up to building a
two-story nest to let a cowbird’s eggs addle below. Such ‘instinct’ is

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 2P

5022 _ Tue ZooLtocist—Auvcust, 1876.

merely force of habit, inherited or acquired—a sum of tendencies operating
unknowingly and uniformly upon the same recurring circumstances, devoid
of conscious design, lacking recognized prevision ; totally inadequate to the
requirements of the first special emergency. What bird, possessed of only
such a faculty as this, could build a two-story nest to get rid of an
objectionable deposit in the original single-story fabric? It argues as
intelligent a design as was ever indicated in the creation of a building by a
human being. No question of inherited tendency enters here; and if it
did, the issue would only be set back a step, no nearer determination, for
there must have been an original double nest, the result of an original idea.
Nor is this wonderful forethought very rarely exhibited; considering what
proportion the double nests discovered bear to the ordinary ones brought to
our notice, among the millions annually constructed, we can easily believe
that the ingenious device is in fact a frequent resort of the birds plagued by
the cow-bunting. Aud how can we sufficiently admire the perseverance
and energy of a bird which, having once safely shut up the terrible egg in
her cellar, and then having found another one violating her premises,
forthwith built a third story? She deserved better of fate than that her
house should at last be despoiled by a naturalist. This was a summer
yellowbird, to whom the price of passing thus into history must have
seemed hard.”

Cowbirds are occasionally to be found in our aviaries, and even
here they comport themselves strangely. It is most amusing to
watch one when he is about to attempt any singing; he ruffles up
his feathers and swells himself out as large as possible, and appears
to be in labour of something very important, until at last one dismal
croak is emitted, and the bird subsides until another effort of the
same kind is felt to be required.

Some of our readers will doubtless recollect a controversy which
raged a few years ago in the ‘ Field’ respecting the habits of the
water ouzel. It was then asserted by some who had never observed
the bird very closely that its common feat of walking under the
water was clearly impossible; that the structure of the bird, the
laws of specific gravity, &c., &e., all forbade such a thing, and
that it was all either a fable or an optical illusion. It is therefore
interesting to find that the American dipper (Cinclus Mewicanus)
is also guilty of the same impossible conduct. The description
given of its habits by Dr. Coues would apply ¢otidem verbis to any
water ouzel frequenting our English moorland streams :—

“Tt is an odd little bird, both in its notes and manners, and attracts the
attention of the tourist and miner, as well as the naturalist, from the

Tue ZooLocisr—Aveust, 1876, 5023

singularity of its movements. On being startled from the side of a brook,
it flies off, flitting down the stream, close to the surface, uttering a rapid,
chattering note; and having flown a certain distance, alights on a stone or
drift-log, in or close to the water’s edge. Upon alighting it begins bobbing
up and down, bending the knees as though curtseying, and eyes the intruder
suspiciously. Having satisfied itself of safety, it walks into the water,
picking here and there, and, getting beyond its depth, spreads its wings
and disappears beneath the surface. Apparently as much at home under
the water as above, it flies some distance beneath the surface, and stays
under for a minute or more. At times it alights on the surface of the water
and floats down the rapid stream like a cork, till it has found footing. In
winter it frequently goes beneath the ice, walking with the utmost com-
posure, and re-appearing at some air-hole a few ards off, * x
Although its ordinary note is the rapid chatter referred to before, it has a
very beautiful song, which it utters, however, very rarely, and then only in
August, after the young birds are able to shift for themselves. Like the
hermit thrush, it seeks the wildest, darkest ravines, and is very timid while
singing. Its song is clear, sweet and varied, more wren-like than anything
else, yet peculiarly its own, and, only to be heard amid the most romantic
scenery mingled with the music of mountain torrents, has a charm that is
wanting to other and finer songs.”

We have only space for one more extract from the Doctor’s
work, and this shall be given to his most interesting observations
on the wings of humming birds, those feathered gems of the New
World :—

“The wings are remarkable in several respects. In general they are
thin, sharp and pointed, with long, stiff, curved primaries, rapidly graduated,
and short secondaries, resulting in the shape especially to be called falcate.
They have but six remiges, in addition to the ten primaries. The upper
arm-bone is extraordinarily short; perhaps representing the extreme of this
condition among birds. The breast-bone is very large, and has an enormous
keel; this is in relation to the immensely developed pectoral muscles that
move the wing. The whole conformation illustrates perfectly a well-known
law, yet one not often mentioned, respecting the movements of the wing of
a bird, viz., that the nearer to the body the longest quill-feather is, the more
rapidly is the body moved. We will assume, for example, what is very near
the truth, that a humming-bird and an albatross have about the same
relative length of wing in the ‘hand’ or pinion portion that bears the ten
primaries, and the same relative length of these quills. In the albatross
this portion of the wing is widely separated from the body by the length of
the humerus and fore-arm; in the former, the reverse extreme exists; and

5024 TuE Zoo_octst—Auvecust, 1876.

we see the result in the long, measured sweep of the ocean-bird’s wing
and the rapid strokes of the others. This is in strict accordance with a
mechanical law respecting the ratio between time of motion and distance
traversed. Given, say, a hummer’s wing two inches from flexure to tip of
first primary, and one inch from flexure to shoulder-joint; this would make
the point of the wing describe an arc of a circle with a radius of three inches ;
and a certain amount of muscular contraction effects this in a certain time.
Now, lengthen fore-arm and upper-arm till they are each about two inches
long, which would be something like the relative lengths in an albatross’
wing; this would make the point of the wing move in an are of a circle
with a radius of ten inches. Now, the muscular force remaining the same,
it is evident that the point of the wing could not move through this much
larger arc in the same time; i.e., the wing-strokes would be necessarily
slower. It is interesting to observe how, in some other birds, a similar
result is brought about by different means. In a partridge, for instance,
without special shortening of upper-arm or fore-arm, the longest quill-feather
is brought nearer the body by the roundness of the wing, that is, the
successive shortening of several outer primaries; and this bird, as is well
known, makes correspondingly more rapid wing-beats, and vigorous, whirring
flight. In the humming-bird, the quickness of the wing-vibration reaches
the maximum; so rapid is it that the eye cannot follow the strokes, but
merely perceives a film on each side of the body. The flight of the bird is
also the most rapid; frequently the eye cannot follow the bird itself. It is
almost needless to add that the peculiar sound, from which the family takes
its English name, is not vocal, but produced by the wings, just as it is in
the case of so many insects.”

We shall probably return again to the ‘ Birds of the North-
West. There are some amusing life-pictures of various Totanida,
a group of birds largely represented in America, which we should
be glad to make extracts from. Tor the present we bid Dr. Coues
farewell; our difficulty has been in so much that is interesting to
select passages for quotation.

Morray A. MATHEW.

A few Ornithological Notes from Guernsey and some of the other
Channel Islands, from the 3rd to the 19th of June, 1876.
By Ceciz Suiru, Esq., F.L.S.

First amongst the birds to be mentioned is the Iceland falcon,
recorded by Mr. Couch in the June number of the ‘ Zoologist’ for

THE ZooLocist—Aueust, 1876. 5025

this year (S. S. 4953). Though killed some time before my visit
to the islands, I mention it here, as Mr. Couch’s note leaves it
rather doubtful whether the bird was an Iceland or a Greenland
falcon, and until I saw it I had some doubts about it myself; it is,
however, an Iceland falcon, an adult bird, and Mr. Couch informed
me proved on dissection to be a male. It was killed on the little
island of Herm on the 11th of April. Another bird of the same
kind was said to have been seen with it: the pair were occasionally
seen about for some time before this one was shot, The island
of Herm is about three miles from Guernsey, and is rented
by a gentleman who preserves the game. This game proved a
great attraction to the two falcons, and the keeper saw either this
one or its companion kill several pheasants before he shot it.
Although the Channel Islands are an extreme southern latitude
for the Iceland falcon—or, indeed, for either of the three white
northern falcons—-to be found in, even as an occasional straggler,
would it be too great a stretch of imagination to suppose that
these birds, having wandered so far from their home,—and finding
pheasant a good substitute for plarmigan, and the season getting
on,—might, if unmolested, have remained to breed?

T also saw at Mr. Couch’s a female hen harrier, which had been
killed at Herm about the same time as the Iceland falcon. There
were also in Mr. Couch’s shop three bartailed godwits, which he
had stuffed for the keeper at Herm: these had all been shot in
that island in May, out of a considerable flock which seems to
have passed over the islands about that time: one of these birds
was in the most perfect breeding plumage, the other two were
hardly so far advanced.

As we went outside the Caskets on the passage to Guernsey,
there was very little to be seen in the bird way—only a few puffins
near those rocks: either of the other passages between the Caskets
and Alderney would have been more interesting.

On the rocks at the south end of Guernsey there was a large
colony of herring gulls who had taken possession, for breeding pur-
poses, of all the available portions of the rocks not previously
occupied by the shags, who were also very numerous. The herring
gull appeared to be the only gull breeding here: I did not see
even a single lesser blackback amongst this colony of herring gulls.
By far the greater part, if not all, the shags had hatched, and some
of the young were nearly as large as their mothers, who stood

5026 Tue ZooLocist—A uGust, 1876.

beside them as if to guard them from slipping off the rocks; a few
were more advanced and had taken to the water. None of the
herring gulls had hatched, but most of them appeared to be
sitting.

There seems to me very little doubt that a few pairs of turnstones
breed every year, either on Guernsey itself or on the outlying rocks.
On the 8th I saw a pair in full breeding plumage in Lancresse Bay.
I saw them again about the same place on the 16th. Besides this
a friend showed me two eggs which he had taken on the rocks to
the north of Herm: these seem to me to be certainly turnstone’s
eggs—at least they closely resemble, both in measurements and
colour, all the other turnstones’ eggs I have seen. On other
occasions I have seen the old birds about with their young in July,
and shot one of the birds out of such a flock. In spite of this
I have hitherto been rather sceptical as to the turnstone breeding
in the Channel Islands; but the eggs from the rocks to the north
of Herm,* and the two birds which I saw about in Lancresse Bay,
which I think had their nest on an outlying rock, have pretty well
convinced me that the turnstone does breed in places on or near
Guernsey; and indeed I do not quite see why it should not, as it
appears to breed in the same sort of places still further south in
the Azores and Canaries.

I saw several pairs of Kentish lovers about in some of the bays
in the low part of Guernsey, and watched a pair for a long time
near Cobo Bay: they certainly had eggs or young about some-
where, as they showed great anxiety, and exercised all the usual
plover dodges, to draw one from the nest. A few days after I went
with a friend to look up the same pair of birds, and there they were —
about the same place: deluded by them, my friend set his dog
after one, thinking it was a wounded bird, and, having drawn the
dog a good way off,.of course away went the bird: after that there
was very little chance of finding the nest, as though the birds flew
round, they took care not to go near their nest while we and the
dog were about.

1 did not see a single ring dotterel all the time I was in the
islands, and only one small flock of purres near the Vale Church ;
these were in a flock, and not in pairs as if they were breeding,
like the turnstone and Kentish plover. There were a good many

* T could not manage during my stay to get to these rocks, or I might have mga 7
the thing certain.—C. S.

Tue Zootocist—Aveust, 1876. 5027

choughs and a few oystercatchers breeding in the rocky part of the
island.

On the 10th I went over to Sark, but did not see much there—
a few puffins on the passage, and a large number of herring gulls
and shags breeding in every available place on the rocks; there
were a few lesser blackbacks about, but very few in comparison
to the herring gulls. There were innumerable swifts about the
Coupée, and a few choughs; these were not so numerous as in
Guernsey, but jackdaws were more so.

On the 13th I went to Alderney. Herring gulls and shags were
breeding in considerable numbers about the rocks, but very few
lesser blackbacks amongst them, and I could not be sure that
these few had nests. The jackdaws seem quite to have taken the
place of the choughs here: I did not see a single chough: the
jackdaws, however, were numerous.

On the 14th I paid a visit to the little island of Barhoe, on the
other side of the Swinge passage. I went here with the idea of
hunting up the stormy petrels and their‘nests; but in this I was
very unsuccessful, only finding one broken egg and part of a dead
bird. I did find out, however, what had become of the lesser
blackbacks: these gulls were now very conspicuous by their
absence, both in Guernsey and Sark, and even in Alderney itself,
though at other times of the year there were generally a fair
proportion mixed with the herring gulls; but at Barhoe, a small
rather flat rocky island, they had congregated in large numbers,
almost to the total exclusion of the herring gulls, of which there
were only two or three scattered pairs to be seen. The nests of
the lesser blackbacks were scattered all over the island, some being
placed on the bare rock and some among the bracken and thrift,
the only vegetation. Scanty, however, as was this vegetation, it
afforded a precarious subsistence to a good many rabbits, who
bred partly in the crevices of the rocks and partly in burrows
made in the shallow soil out of which the bracken and thrift grew.
So thickly strewn were the gulls’ nests about the island that it was
difficult to walk amongst the fern without treading on the eggs,
and the white heads and yellow bills appeared every where craning
up to look at the intruder. The eggs varied very much both as to
ground colour and markings; some were a pale blue, some olive-
green and some brown: the pale blue and a few of the greenish
ones were freckled all over with small dark marks, almost or quite

5028 Tue ZooLocist—A ucust, 1876.

black; the rest generally had larger markings, not quite so dark ;
in most cases these markings were gathered round the larger end.
Besides the gulls there were a few oystercatchers and a large
colony of puffins breeding. The puffins must have led the rabbits
rather a life of it, as they had taken possession both of the burrows
and of the crevices of the rock. The puffins seem to have been
rather irregular in their proceedings, for some had hatched, and the
young were nearly ready to quit their holes, and some of the eggs
were quite fresh. None of the gulls or oystercatchers had hatched,
though the eggs of some were all but ready to hatch. I did not see
any razorbills or guillemots breeding at Barhoe, or indeed at any
of the islands: I only saw a few scattered birds on the passage to
Alderney, and was told they bred on a small steep rock called
Ortack, between Alderney and the Caskets. I also saw one great
blackback on the passage to Alderney: he looked a tremendous
size through the thick fog. There were no great blackbacks
breeding at Barhoe, but this one might have had a nest either at ~
Ortack or on the rocks to the north of Herm.

Before concluding, I may remark that I believe the Iceland
falcon.to be quite a fresh addition to the list of Channel Island birds.
Professor Ansted, I know, mentions a gyr falcon, but gives no date
or particulars, so there may be some mistake about it, or it may
have been a Greenland falcon, in which case the islands would
be able to claim two of the northern falcons as occasional

stragglers.
CeciL SMITH.
Bishop’s Lydeard, July 10, 1876.

Ornithological Notes from Devon and Cornwall.
By J. GaTcomBE, Esq.
(Continued from Zool. 8. S. 4993.)

JuNE, 1876.

Herring Gulls and Peregrine Falcon at Wembury.—On the
12th of June I was at length able to visit the breeding-place of
the herring gulls at Wembury, near Plymouth, and found them
nesting as usual, but not in such large numbers: notwithstanding
which I think there were as many, if not more, young birds to be
seen than I had observed on any previous occasion during the last

THe Zootocistr—Aveust, 1876, 5029

few years. The day was exceedingly bright and hot, and the poor
little things were in some instances standing bolt upright on the
ledges of the rocks, in the face of a blazing sun, with their necks
stretched and mouths wide open, as if gasping for breath, whilst
others were lying huddled two or three together in niches or fissures
of the cliff; and a few, on finding they were watched, would imme-
diately try to conceal themselves behind stones or plants: they
generally, however, stand or lie perfectly motionless as long as
the intruder remains. Judging from the number of egg-shells
lying about on the grassy summit of the cliff, I should say the nests
had been robbed to some extent, prebably by jackdaws, which
abound, breeding close by and among the gulls. Directly I arrived
on the cliffs three peregrine falcons made their appearance, flying
forward and back, but not very near, and these I at once knew,
by their comparatively small size, to be young ones of the present
season. Soon afterwards the old female came up with a rather
large bird in her talons, upon which the young ones, with loud
cries, immediately began swooping and dashing at her so furiously,
in their endeavours to snatch the prey from her grasp, that she
was compelled to fly across the water to the opposite cliffs, closely
pursued by her hungry and eager progeny, where no doubt the
spoil was divided. I also saw the old male peregrine, which flew
round continually, making a great noise until I left the place.
I think the alarm-note or cry of the peregrine on being disturbed
during the breeding season is the most angry and menacing of any
bird 1 know. On the 20th I again visited Wembury, and found
the young gulls much grown, but saw only one peregrine, which
was adult, the three young ones having apparently left the neigh-
bourhood. I noticed the remains of several young jackdaws on
the cliffs, which had evidently been torn in pieces by some bird of
prey, no doubt the peregrine. I also picked up many large pellets
or castings, which I examined, and found them to consist chiefly
of rabbits’ fur. A friend informs me that there is another colony of
herring gulls nesting a few miles further up the coast, which locality
is also frequented by peregrines, and that he has often seen them
swoop towards the nests, which the parent gull would immediately
cover with her wings, in the manner of a domestic fowl.

Water Ouzel and Kingfisher.— June 21. Observed several
young water ouzels on the rocks and stones in the Rivers Lydd
and Tamar: they were as large as the old ones, but with the whole

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 2Q

5030 TuHE ZooLocist—Avueust, 1876.

under parts light in colour. Two pairs of kingfishers were con-
stantly passing up and down: they had evidently nests and young
in the neighbourhood. :

JOHN GATCOMBE,
8, Lower Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth,
July 7, 1876.

Ornithological Notes. By H. M. Wa tis, Esq.

Scarcity of the Razorbill.—On the 2nd of June, 1875, I visited
Handa, Sutherland, and it may interest Mr. Gurney to know that
there were countless thousands of razorbills breeding there then,
and unless something very destructive to the species has occurred
during the past year, they are probably breeding there now. So
keen appeared to be the competition for eligible sites that this
unfortunate bird was driven to lay in the most unwise places.
I saw two eggs kicked off by the bird in leaving the ledge, and
many deposited in places where incubation seemed impossible,
and from whence the first movement of the chicks would preci-
pitate them. Whilst climbing it was constantly necessary to move
eggs occupying the only available foothold. So much for numbers.
The guillemots monopolised all the best ledges, the puffins had all
the holes, and as the kittiwakes had filled up the next best places
with their nests, only the upper thirty or forty feet of the cliff was
left for the razorbills, and there they bred with little competition
from other species. From the number of shells on the grass at the
summit it seemed the gray crows were fonder of their eggs than of
those of the other birds—another reason for their scarcity, if they
had been scarce there. Having only observed the birds from the top,
and a few yards down, | cannot say what proportion of razorbills
bred on the lower half of the cliff: if 1 might hazard a guess,
I think the proportions of razorbills, guillemots and kittiwakes
breeding on the upper half were as four, five and two, or there-
abouts, but these proportions varied at different points where
shags and herring gulls appeared as disturbing elements. The
Sea Birds Protection Act is a dead letter in Sutherland, and
I heard of t2eo boat-loads of dead birds being taken back to Lewis
(for food or fuel?), the result of a day’s steady shooting by the
fishermen.

TuE ZooLocist—AvuG UST, 1876. 50381

Puffin.—I observed the running power of the puffin, mentioned
by Mr. Tuck in the June number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. 8. 4958),
and that the bird took the air without changing the upright position
of its body, only gaining a horizontal attitude after a rapid descent
of some feet and hard flapping. This bird waddles much in
running, and gives one the impression of being bow-legged. At
the date above named (June 2, 1875) I saw no young birds, and
all the eggs taken were fresh or nearly so.

Black Guillemot.—I saw no black guillemots at Handa, though
a friend tells me he found them further north.

Habit of the Common Sandpiper.—The following incident
struck me as unusual at the time I witnessed it, and I should be
glad of any confirmatory observations from your readers :—On the
11th of May, this year, I flushed a pair of the common sandpiper
from one side of a tiny bay of a Scotch loch. The birds crossed
to a low rocky point on the other side of the bay with apparently
the intention of settling, and had almost reached their destination
when a merlin dashed at them from the last stone on which it had
been sitting so motionless as to escape both their attention and my
own. For some seconds the doubling and turning was incessant,
the falcon keeping them together, and preventing either from
escaping, and all three being within a few inches of the surface of
the loch. Suddenly the bird which he seemed in the very act of
grasping dived from the wing most curiously, without any apparent
splash. The merlin instantly turned upon the second, which was
perhaps three yards distant, and which immediately acted in a
similar manner: after hovering for a moment over the spot where
his quarry had vanished, the falcon flew off, and first one and then
the other sandpiper rose, sat on the surface for a little, whistled to
one another, and taking wing came straight towards me and
alighted just where they started from. The distance traversed
under water was about six yards. If this is a common habit, as
I imagine it is, of this bird, it explains the apparent immunity it
seems to enjoy from destruction by hawks; for whilst one is sure
to come across remains of curlew, grouse, lapwing, or golden
plover in an how’s ramble in Sutherland,—so killed and picked
that a hawk’s work is recognised,—I never saw remains of this,
the commonest bird of all. Can any of your readers say if this bird
breeds along the Thames? One is almost sure to flush them
whilst boating any day between May and August; I heard one

5032 Tue ZooLtocist—Aveust, 1876.

whistling on the 4th instant—it was too dark to see—whilst coming
home from Henley Regatta.

H. M. WatzLIs.
Reading, July, 1876.

Aquarium Notes. By Joun 'T. CARRINGTON.

I HAVE thought from time to time that a series of jotltings upon
current news relating to Aquaria would be useful to those interested
in Marine and Fresh-water Zoology and Botany, and the main-
tenance of animals and plants in aquaria. I therefore venture to
contribute the first attempt to systematically chronicle the passing
events of the “ Aquarian World.”

I am pleased to inform your readers that aquarian studies are
rapidly advancing, and the general popularity of the subject is
greatly on the increase ; even one or two somewhat disappointing
temporary failures, which in every new science are sure to occur,
will I doubt not only prove incentives to greater exertions, and
will make public aquaria not only permanent institutions for the
education of the people, but convenient schools for scientific men,
in which to study creatures and plants which cannot be observed
with sufficient closeness in a state of nature. As an example of
what I mean, I may say that Dr. Carpenter and other eminent
scientific men have been studying at the Naples Aquarium, which
has been so efficiently established by Dr. Anton Dohrn: of this
I shall write on another occasion when referring to a very able
lecture recently given by Dr.Carpenter, at the Zoological Society’s
-lecture-room, Regent’s Park.

To return to this increasing popularity, it will interest your
readers to know that there are now thirty-three large public aquaria,
either actually building or about to be built; three of these are in
Australia, where the feeling in their favour is so strong that they
are receiving Government aid; this is also the case in America in
one instance at least. The New York public have long desired an
institution of this character: they are now to have one in their
Central Park. In Europe there are already several, but many
more will soon be added; even in cities which now possess them
they are being constructed on the improved circulating system of

that father of aquaria, Mr. Lloyd: he is consulting naturalist for
these foreign aquaria.

THE ZooLocist—Aucust, 1876. 5033

In Great Britain almost every town or watering-place of any
note is to have its aquarium, the North of England, with its usual
energy, eminently taking the lead.

Scotland, so far from being behindhand, has, within the last
few days already opened its first, at that charming little place,
Rothesay, so much frequented by the people of Glasgow. There,
through the influence of its patron, the Marquis of Bute, has been
established an aquarium, which, when quite complete and in
working order, will not only be an ornament and attraction to the
town, but I have every reason to believe will be of great scientific
value, for on this rock-bound rock-bound north-west coast of Scot-
land is a grand marine fauna. This, without some aid and central
base for operations, such as this aquarium will afford, could hardly
ever be worked out satisfactorily. Rothesay will I hope prove to be
a famous place in future aqarium reports, especially in its record of
rarities and new species discovered in Britain. It is fortunate in
having a curator, Mr. Barker, who has his “heart and soul in the
cause,” and from whom we hope much. Already he reports to
me that the northern stone crab (Lithodes arctica), which, up
to the present time, has only been reported as British from one or
two isolated captures by the trawlers of Yorkshire and Lincoln-
shire, has been discovered in some numbers by the collectors sent
out on behalf of this aquarium. Large Nephrops Norvegicus also
have been found abundantly by them: this species, although known
by the name of the “ Norway lobster,” has hitherto been found in
Britain most commonly on the eastern Ivish coast, from whence
the English, and even some of the continental, aquaria have been
supplied. In Dublin I have often seen this species sold in the
streets, after being boiled, as “‘ prawns,” at a few pence per dozen ;
they are a very great delicacy, and quite equal to the common
lobster (Homarus vulgaris) as an article of food. As an aquarian
animal they are very attractive; their bright colour, their dignity
of bearing, their habit of throwing up great earthworks for the
protection of their hiding-places—make them great objects of
attraction to visitors.

At the Rothesay Aquarium marble has been greatly used, for the
first time, in the construction of the tanks. This I believe is a
yery important application, one which will be largely adopted in
place of slate, as at present used for smaller tanks. Slate, from its
laminated structure, is liable to split when any lateral pressure is

5034 Tur ZooLocist—Aveust, 1876.

put upon it, while marble remains intact. Again, though slate is
somewhat unsightly unless enamelled, it unfortunately happens that
this so-called “enamel” chips or peels off under the action of any
sea-water with which it may come in contact; and the tanks then
become unsightly and untidy in appearance. My readers will
naturally say that the enamel being outside the tanks, it should
not come in contact with the sea-water; but all who know the
great difficulty of making large show-tanks absolutely water-tight
will see the inadvisability of using a material which, in the present
immature stage of aquarium construction, adds greatly to the first
cost, and then afterwards only adds to the many complications of
management.

Unfortunately the aquarium at Rothesay suffers from the same
failing as every other aquarium yet constructed—namely, the
miserable leakage of water from reservoirs and tanks. It seems
such a pity that, for the sake of a comparatively small fee,
Aquarium Companies have hitherto persistently refused to engage
a really competent engineer to superintend the earlier stages of
construction. Had this been done there is little doubt that much
anxiety in the management would have been saved, besides the
disastrous consequences of the wear from leakage, which, from its
very insidiousness, is a dreadful enemy to cope with. Aquariam
construction has so far been treated entirely from an architectural
stand-point, whereas it is eminently engineering, and large sums of
money have been spent upon external decorations, which earn
nothing, while tanks, pipes, and especially reservoirs, being out of
sight, are neglected, to the infinite damage of future dividends.
In fact, it amounts to this, that a well-constructed aquarium is a
most valuable property, which, with little outlay after first cost,
will earn large results, both biologically and financially; while a
badly constructed one is a veritable “ white elephant.”

The most valuable addition recently received to the animals
now exhibited in Britain is several very fine Italian eels (Murena
Helena), which, with other animals, came from Naples to the
Crystal Palace Aquarium, all of them being successfully transported
on this long voyage by Captain Badcock, of the S.S. ‘ Aurora,
who has before, with great care and generosity, in this manner
lent a helping hand to Science. This handsome fish has rarely
been recorded as British: it is described by Yarrell as the
“Murry,” while Mr, Couch calls it the “ Murena.” The figures

Tue ZooLtocist—Aveust, 1876. 5035

of this species in both works are very poor, Yarrell having
copied the original drawing, as he avows, through the kindness
of Mr. Couch. This drawing was taken from a dead specimen,
as indeed seems to be the case throughout Couch’s work:
certainly many of the figures represent the colours of dead fish,
and give no idea of living examples of the species represented.
The Murry is a much handsomer fish than the figure suggests, both
in symmetry and colour. At present these are the only live speci-
mens exhibited in Britain. I ought to add that one other—brought
in the same manner by the same gentleman eighteen months ago—
is in good condition, having grown much, in a tank in the same
aquarium. In this consignment is also a fine Callappa crab
and a most lovely specimen of Anthea cereus: if the latter is a
type of the Mediterranean sea-anemones, they must indeed be
beautiful.

Recently the literature of Aquaria has been greatly added to. In
the ‘ Field’ there has been a somewhat lively correspondence upon
the rival systems,—that of Brighton, which consists of changing
the water at frequent intervals, and the system of the Crystal
Palace Aquarium, where the water is never changed, but simply
circulated through the tanks from a large cool and dark reservoir
containing several times more water than that exhibited. By this
system the water is thoroughly aérated and the temperature is kept
even. In this correspondence in the ‘Field’ the arguments in
favour of the Brighton Aquarium system have been answered and
exploded.

But by far the most valuable contribution is that of Mr. W.
Alford Lloyd, which appeared in the July number of the ‘ Popular
Science Review,’ entitled “Aquaria; their Present, Past and
Future.” In this exhaustive article Mr. Lloyd, in his usual happy
style,—commencing with a story of how, eighty-six years ago, the
late Sir John Graham Dalyell used to supply his aquarium (then
without a name) with water,—goes carefully through the somewhat
complicated history of the rise and progress of aquaria. Then, so
differently to some others, who seem only to look upon aquaria as
a means of raising money, he shows why his system is such a great
success, by a careful and masterly explanation of the bearing of
physics, chemistry and engineering upon the question. I make no
apology to my readers for quoting the following extracts from his

paper: —

5036 THE ZooLocist—Auveust, 1876.

“Tf it be urged that small reservoirs may be made to do as makeshifts,
because money and space for them cannot be afforded, there is some kind
of reason in that. But if it be averred to the contrary as a principle, then
that indicates a singular amount of no knowledge which, if possible, is
something more than wonderful. My arguments are founded on the clear
and simple obviousness of the fact that a given quantity of dead organic
matter diffused through a large quantity of water sullies it less than if it
were small, and on the necessity of maintaining an evenly moderate tempera-
ture for the reasons already given, avoiding the high and low ranges of the
atmosphere; and I show that the easiest manner of attaining this is by
having a large reservoir sunk in the earth at a distance giving a known
temperature. ‘Thus, referring to the sunk thermometers at the Greenwich
Observatory, with a thermometer having its bulb on a level with the scales
of the sunk instraments, the lowest (January) mean monthly reading in a
named year was 364° F’., with a mean daily range of 6°9° F.; and under
the same circumstances the highest (July) mean monthly reading was
669° F., with a mean daily range of 19°9°F. But from the showing of
other thermometers whose bulbs are sunk in the ground to the respective
depths of one inch, three feet, twelve feet, and twenty-five feet, the tem-
peratures become strikingly even for the whole year through—so much so,
that at twenty-five feet deep the mean monthly reading of January was
52° F., with a mean daily range of only 0°025° F.; and the mean monthly
reading of July was 49:0° I’., with a mean daily range of but 0-06° F., the
highest mean daily range at that depth in any month of the year being
007° F. in August.”

“ Tndeed if a reservoir were one hundred times as large as the show
tanks, and was kept at 50° F., then the tanks might be in an atmosphere
at 212° F. (the heat of boiling water), and yet the water would be only

52°12° F., and the most delicate English animals would live in it.

In a note to a preceding passage Mr. Lloyd supplies the following
further particulars as to the temperature of the water in the
Crystal Palace Aquarium :—

«The water in the Crystal Palace Aquarium has a very small range of
from 52° F. in very cold, to 61° F. in very hot, weather. In April last
(1876) we had, at Sydenham, blue skies, a bright sun, and an oppressive
warmth, with 74° F. in the shade, on the 8th of the month. On the 12th,
four days after, we had a leaden firmament, and clouds of blinding snow
and sleet driven by a bitter north-east wind, with the thermometer at 29° F.,
giving so great a range as 45° I’. within a week. Yet the water in the
aquarium had a range of only 1° F, = 54°F, to 53°F,”

Tue Zoo.tocist—Auecust, 1876. 5037

He then proceeds to give some interesting details :—

“ Yet in this comparatively small quantity (120,000 gallons) of unchanged
fluid we have, from September, 1871, to March 31, 1876 (four and a half
years), given to the animals in it the following enormous quantity of food
without the water being otherwise than always sparklingly clear :—

1. Sandhoppers (Talitrus), in pounds weight - : : 12
2. Shrimps (Crangon) in quarts - - - - 4735
3. Crabs (Carcinus) in gallons - - a beers
» (Cancer), large », numbers : - - 1450
4. Scallops (Pecten), large, in numbers - - - 32
5. Oysters (Ostrea) r . - - - 2195
6. Cockles (Cardium), in gallons : - : - 18
7. Mussels (Mytilus) = - : - - 3544
._, ¢ in gallons - : : : t
8. Whelks (Buceinum) { Pe ubest : : og
9. Fish, chiefly whiting (Gadus), in pounds weight - - 3159
10. Smelts’ roe (Osmerus) " hi : : 14
11. Green seaweed (Ulva), purchased x - - 400
ee » (Conferva), grown in tanks, quantity unknown.

And, in addition, we obtain occasional and unrecorded supplies from neigh-
bouring fishmongers when the regular supply runs short. Of this animal
food, all but the denominations 9 and 10 are kept alive in a series of reserve
tanks till the moment of being eaten. Scarcely any uneaten food, and
never any excrement, is manually removed; but all which is not consumed
by the animals is chemically dissipated, without filtering, by the enormous
volumes of air constantly being injected into every tank by machinery, the
speed of which is accelerated (i. e., the oxygenation is quickened) when the
water is slightly turbid from an excess of organic matter. All this I have
explained more at length in the ‘ Official Handbook to the Crystal Palace
Aquarium,’ and in ‘ Observations on Public Aquaria,’ both published at the
Crystal Palace. It is this power of oxygenating, or consuming, or burning,
at a low temperature, termed by Baron Liebig ‘eremacausis,’* which
expresses the real work done in an aquarium, and the force necessary to do
that work.”
oo 32 He * * %

“Of the general influence of aquaria on Zoology we have curious
evidence in Mr. Gosse’s most excellent ‘Manual of Marine Zoology for the
British Isles,’ published in two volumes, in 1855—1856, in which the
author cnumerates 1785 species, from sponges to fishes, and of which he

* From the Greek “to remove by burning, or by fire.” The words “ caustic” and
“ cautery” haye the same derivation.
SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 2K

5038 ‘THe ZooLocist—Aucust, 1876.

figures 779 genera, always preferring to draw from living animals when-
ever possible. Now, as at that period a larger number of aquarium animals
had passed through his hands than through those of any other person, he
may be presumed to have, up to then, seen more of them alive than anyone
else. Yet he enumerates only 201 as having been drawn from life, as he
avowedly preferred doing, and of these but a dozen were fishes, others
being, for the most part, small creatures, or those which are easily main-
tained, and do not need large tanks and elaborate machinery. But, during
the twenty years which have elapsed since 1856, I have seen and handled,
and had under my care, in England, France, and Germany; about 433
species of British marine animals, of which 112 were fishes.

“There are few things more trying to that great virtue—patience—than
a large public aquarium, especially in its preparation, before it is ready for
the reception of animals. It is to this lack of patience on the part of the
directors of the Royal Westminster Aquarium, and to their absolute refusal
to allow me to have proper engineering assistance during its construction,
and to general mismanagement, that its present confused state, and its

unsatisfactory condition in every way, is due. On this account I resigned _

my post of adviser to the Society, as I found it useless to advise when
advice was recklessly disregarded. Aquarium work, being hydraulic engi-
neering ona small scale, is essentially the work of an engineer, and not
that of an architect, unless he is also an engineer and a mathematician.
There is for aquaria a great and important future, both as regards their
influence on science, and as pecuniary speculations, if indeed, as I much
doubt, there can be any real severing of these two interests. Success, how-
ever, must always be the result of a careful study and representation of
what nature does, and of a strict avoidance of the recent heresies to which
J have in this communication adverted.”

My foregoing reference to Sir John Graham Dalyell reminds me
that some little time ago there were published in the ‘ Zoologist’
some letters from Sir John’s sister to Mr. Lloyd. These letters are
now being reproduced in facsimile.

Joun 'T, CaRRINGTON,

Crystal Palace Aquarium,

July 20, 1876.

Wild Cats: period of Gestation.—My old pair of wild cats have bred
again this year, two healthy kittens being bern on Sunday morning, the
21st of May. I mentioned in the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. 8. 4868) that the gestation
was nearly—i. e., perhaps as much as ten hours less than—sixty-eight days ;
and as this year the gestation was—to within an hour or two, at most—the

same length, is it jumping at conclusions in too great a hurry to suppose —

e

THE ZooLocist—Avcust, 1876. 5039

this to be the regular time? Iam happy to say that up to the present time
the twins continue to flourish, and on the morning of the 18th of June—
they being on that day four weeks old—I for the first time found them out,
in the outer part of the cage. A point I forgot to mention in my last letter is
the great difference in size at birth of the wild and domestic breeds, which
exceeds, or is at least more noticeable, than that between the adult animals.
Will Mr. Harvie-Brown tell us whether the wild cat he mentions (S. S.
4825) has presented her owner with the promised litter of “real ringtailed
squealers,” aud if so whether he knows the length of the gestation? I wrote
to Mr. Stuart, who has charge of Lord Seafield’s wild cats at Balmacaan,
but he has never noticed the length of the gestation, and I know of no other
place where they have been bred in captivity.—Alfred Heneage Cocks ;
42, Great Cumberland Place, Hyde Park, June 27, 1876.

Pied Rats.—There is at present at this place a brood of pied rats (Mus
decumanus)—how many I do not know, but I have shot two to stuff, and
there are at least three others left. They are all marked in a similar
manner, having a patch of white on each side covering the ribs,—John
Selater ; Castle Eden, July 20, 1876.

Our Summer Migrants in Cornwall.—In the course of upwards of thirty
years’ observation of our spring songsters, I never remember such a scarcity
in numbers; nor such a paucity and poverty of song in the few that have
visited us. The abrupt shortened song of the blackcap scarcely amounted
to a song, and rarely exceeded five notes, and there was a continued feeble-
ness in the expression of the passages which seemed to belong to every
individual. The whitethroat was very late; the song was heard on the 3rd
of May for the first time, and, singular enough, I heard the blackcap’s first
attempt at song on the same day. The chiffchaff’s immigration was the
latest I ever remember, but I speak entirely from its song: it is quite
possible that it might have been with us all the winter, which is not
unfrequently the case—but my notes apply to the first appearance of the
songs of birds: I remarked the song first on the 83rd of April, and only
once, but on the following day they were generally distributed all about in
every thicket. I do not think that there are more than half-a-dozen willow
wrens in the district; they were very late in their arrivals here and very
chary in their song. “The sedge warbler was also very late, and I heard its
song for the first time on the 27th of May. We have no redstarts, garden
warblers, lesser whitethroats, or reed warblers in the West of Cornwall,
and I never but once detected the wood wren, and it was evidently in statu
migratu, as it was not observed afterwards. I have never observed the tree
pipit’s song in the Land’s End district, although it is a common bird in the

eastern part of the county: I remarked the song of this species when I was
; ©

5040 THe Zoo.ocist—Avucust, 1876.

in the eastern district several days, but it was a miserably mutilated per-
formance, quite destitute of the vigour it usually displays when the song is
accompanied by flight. I have only heard of one golden oriole at Scilly
this year.—Edward Hearle Rodd; Penzance, July 5, 1876.

Notes from Flamborough, &e.—June 1. At Bempton to-day I procured
three herring gulls’ eggs from a climber, which had been taken there about
a week previously. The herring gull has not bred here for many years.
T also saw two young carrion crows which had been brought from the cliff.

June 26. As I was on Filey Brigg to-day a single old cormorant flew
past me. This bird had been seen about the cliffs at Bempton all the
spring. I called on Mr. Brown, who showed me a mature black tern
which had been brought to him, having been killed in mistake for a swift.
Speaking to me on the subject of the young peregrines mentioned by Mr.
Cope (Zool. 8. S. 5000), Mr. Brown told me he had four peregrine’s eggs
brought him in the spring of 1875, taken on the Filey cliffs. There are
still a quantity of herring gulls on the cliffs: a great many eggs have been
taken this year. If Mr. Sclater would walk along the cliff from Flam-
borough to Speeton, I think he would agree with me that there are still
plenty of razorbills. All that Mr. Bailey kills he makes into plumes.

July 7. I found two young stock doves in our church-tower to-night, in
a jackdaw’s nest, from which the young had been taken. The pigeons had
made no alteration whatever in the nest. The stock dove is breeding this
year in the Flamborough cliffs in large numbers: this Mr.J. H.Gurney, jun.,
can corroborate.—Julian G. Tuck ; Old Vicarage, Ebberston, York.

Notes on Nesting.—In the ‘Zoologist’ for January (S. S. 4765) Mr.
Gurney, jun., mentions a tame duck laying in the nest of a French
partridge. I was at Goitstock last May, and the gamekeeper told me that
his hens lay very frequently in the nests of the pheasants which breed in his
neighbourhood. I went with his son to a pheasant’s nest which contained
twenty-four eggs: this is an unusual number, but he said two had been
laying in the same nest: how he had ascertained this I forgot to enquire.
Last Whit Monday, as I was coming through Bolton Wood (a magnificent
wood belonging to the Duke of Devonshire), 1 found the nest of a garden
warbler within four feet of one of the principal roads along which persons
were continually passing and repassing: it contained four eggs, and the old
bird sat so close as to almost allow me to catch her. Within a hundred
yards of this nest, and very little further from the road, I found a black-
cap’s nest, with two eggs, which had been set about a week, but, alas! I was
afraid the old bird had become the booty of some prying boy, as a profusion
of feathers in and around the nest fully testified. As I was coming from
Bingley the other day I found a garden warbler’s nest in a rather curious
place ; it was built in the midst of the common male fern (Aspidium Filia-
mas). The blackcap has not been so common in this district for above ten

Tre Zootocist—Aueust, 1876. 5041

years as it has been this summer.—F. P. P. Butterfield ; Wilsden, Brad-
ford, July 8, 1876.

The Axillary Feathers.—In the fourth edition of “ Yarrell,” I read, in
the description of the brambling, *‘ axillary plumes, and the smaller lower
wing-coverts, bright yellow” (part 9, p. 80). I rather doubt if it is right to
speak of any of the feathers under the wing of small birds like a finch
(Insessores) as axillary plumes. They have not any, I take it, in the true
sense of the word. It would be a good thing to have the word defined again
in the ‘ Zoologist,’ so as to know what its proper meaning really is, and
whether Mr. Yarrell and Prof. Newton could rightly use it in speaking of
such a bird as a brambling.—J. H. Gurney, jun.; Northrepps, Norwich.

Erratum.—Zool. 8. 8. 4977, six lines from the bottom, for eoots read
ducks.—J. H. G., jun.

Bird imitating a Duck.— A correspondent (Zool. 9679) mentions a
remarkable case of mimicry of the quacking of a duck, in which the
author of the sound was a bird about the size of a blackbird or a starling,
and he believes it to have been the former, for reasons which he gives.
I should, on the contrary, believe it was the latter, because I have more
than once heard of starlings imitating ducks.—Jd.

Errata in Mr. Harting’s ‘Handbook of British Birds’—In Harting’s
‘Handbook of British Birds’ I observe it stated that a Bonaparte’s sand-
piper shot at Eastbourne in November, 1870, and a redbreasted snipe shot
at Yarmouth in the autumn of 1836, are in our collection (pp. 142, 144).
This is a mistake, and it may be desirable to correct it, that it may not go
any further. I may also add that a male parrot crossbill, shot at Southgate
in November, 1864, which he mentions as being in Mr. Bond's collection
(p. 115) is in mine, that gentleman having presented it to me.—TJd.

Falco peregrinus in Egypt.—It was probably owing to my not clearly
expressing myself that Mr. Dresser has inadvertently misquoted me in his
article on Falco peregrinus in part xlvii. of the ‘ Birds of Europe,’ where
he Gites my authority for this bird being “commoner than the lanner in
Egypt” (l.c. p. 7). It is true I found it much commoner than the lanner
falcon in the winter, when we were in the Delta, but this was quite reversed
in the summer, when we saw many lanners, but no peregrines that I was
sure of. At that time we were in Upper Egypt, and whether there were
any left behind the retiring tide of migrants below Cairo I cannot say.
Certainly none came under my notice in the Faioum in June, and that
province is reckoned in the Delta. It isa fine sight to see either of these
noble falcons; it carries one back to the palmy days of falconry, when to
kill one of these birds was a deed severely punishable.—ZId.

On the Snowy Owl Nesting in Confinement.—In the ‘Zoologist’ for
1875 (S. S. 4573 and 4663) I recorded the interesting fact of a pair of
snowy owls, belonging to Mr. Edward Fountaine, having nested and

5042 Tue ZooLocist—AucGust, 1876.

hatched in confinement; this year the same pair laid five eggs, but unfor-
tunately did not hatch them, probably owing to the female bird having been
apparently less healthy than she was last year. This year’s eggs were laid
on the 23rd, 25th, 27th, 2¥th and 3lst May. Iam glad to be able to add
that Mr. Fountaine informs me that the two surviving young birds of last
year’s brood continue to be well and flourishing —J. H. Gurney;
Northrepps, Norwich, July 18, 1876.

Castings of the Spotted Flycatcher.—I know of a great many spotted
flyeatchers’ nests, yet I never can find Mr. Bartlett's “ blue pills,” which I
believe only exist in grimy Loudon, where the hot and indigestible house-flies
abound. Your readers will remember that they were castings found under a
nest of the spotted flycatcher in Regent’s Park.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Blackbird’s Nest on the Ground,—While walking a few days since with
a friend I was much surprised by finding a blackbird’s nest built on the
ground in a field which was put up for hay; it was composed principally
of grass, roots, twigs and mud, lined with grass; there were three fine
young birds in it just fledged. What could have induced the bird to have
built there, instead of its usual nesting place, a hedge, seems impossible to
say.—H. C. Warry; Chalbury Rectory, Wimborne, Dorset, July 6, 1876.

Redstart’s Nest built in a Human Skull,—A great number of human
skeletons were recently discovered in Mr. G. Stacey Gibson’s meadow, close
to that gentleman’s garden, no Jess than one hundred and seventy having
been found: the place is supposed to have been the site of a Saxon cemetery.
During the time the skeletons have been exposed a redstart has made a
nest in oue of the skulls and brought out its four young ones. So singular
an incident may be of some interest to the readers of the ‘ Zoologist.’—
J. Travis ; Saffron Walden, June 25, 1876.

The Bunting (Emberiza miliaria)—We are told, in Saxby’s ‘ Birds of
Shetland’ (1874) that the bunting (Zmberiza miliaria) is common in winter
and rare in summer. On the other hand, we are told in Robert Dunn’s
‘ Ornithologist’s Guide’ (1837) that in Orkney it is common in sunimer
and rare in winter, or words to that effect. Can time have changed the
habits of this species, or can its habits differ so materially in the two groups
of islands? Iam very sure that the observations of such a naturalist as
Saxby are not likely to be wrong, and I hope the discrepancy between his
account and Mr. Dunn’s (who was also a very good observer) will be cleared
up by Captain Kennedy in his work, when that is published. Mr. R. Dunn
may have been quite right, and he is rather corroborated by the Rey. George
Low, who, in his ‘ Fauna Orcadensis’ (p. 60), says, “ The bunting continues
with us the whole year, builds in the fields of corn, often in a tuft."—J. H.
Gurney, jun.

Black-headed Bunting” (Zool. S. 8. 5003).—T think it cannot be
questioned that “black-headed bunting” is the right name to use for

‘THe ZooLocist—Aucust, 1876. 5043

Euspiza melanocephala. Its having been employed to designate Emberiza
scheeniclus is an unfortunate circumstauce, but in future the latter species
must go by the name of the “reed bunting."—J. H. Gurney, jun.

House Sparrows and Drought.—It is well known that during the time
of rearing their young, house sparrows are very active in the pursuit of
caterpillars, such a pabulum, no doubt, agreeing best with the juvenile
beaks and weak digestive organs of the callow brood; and amongst the chief
attractions to the old birds at such a time are the larve of Depressarie and
other 'Tinex which live in moss upon the tiles of the houses ; and frequently
the ground beneath is strewn with the moss which has been detached during
the search. During the continued drought which we experienced in this
neighbourhood through the latter half of April and nearly the whole of
May the sparrows became almost a nuisance from the litter they made with
the moss, &c., and one old thatched cottage was nearly unroofed by flocks
of them settling upon and tearing the thatch to pieces. . I attributed this
somewhat unusual performance to the drought, or possibly to the cold nights
and backward spring, and consequent lack of caterpillars in other quarters.—
G. B. Corbin.

Crossbill on Fair Island——Perhaps I may, without impropriety, copy
for you the following extract from a letter to the late Mr. J. H. Dunn, and
given to me by him, recording, though unfortunately without any date, the
eapture alive of a crossbill on the little-known island called Fair Island,
which lies midway between the groups of Shetland and Orkney :—*I got
the enclosed [crossbill] at Fair Island on our late trip—I forgot it on board
the steamer until to-day—it was alive when I got it; please skin it.” The
above may be interesting to some, if you can find a corner for it, and may
be strictly relied on. Some time ago, I cannot now turn to the passage, a
erossbill with dull white tips to the wing-coverts, shot in Norfolk, was
named in the ‘ Zoologist.’ There was no solid reason for supposing either
that it was a variety of the whitewinged crossbill or a hybrid between that
species and the common one, but when I saw it at the house of Mr. Gunn in
October, 1871, it struck me that it quite tallied with the description of
those singular varieties of Mr. H. Doubleday’s mentioned in Yarrell
(‘British Birds,’ ii., 25, article ‘Common Crossbill”), and I pointed out
the coincidence to some of my friends, but I am not aware that it was
ever alluded to.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Curious Nesting-places of the Starling.—The partiality of starlings for
building their nests in or very near the dwellings of man is well known;
but it seems to me that many of them delight in noise and bustle at such a
time, if I may judge from the number of nests annually constructed in the
roof of a large school in this neighbourhood. During a half-hour’s delay at
the railway station at Westbury, Wilts, a few seasons ago, I was much
interested in watching the movements of some starlings who had built their

5044 Tue ZooLocist—Avcust, 1876.

nests close to the platform, where they were rearing their young in apparent
safety, notwithstanding the frequently-passing trains and the din and bustle
of the adjacent iron-smelting establishment.—G. B. Corbin.

Starlings Pecking with Open Beak.—I cannot concur with Mr. John
Sclater. that “ observations made from tame birds are foreign to the original
question.” I think the fact of his and my observations briuging us to the
conclusion “that the beak is never thrust into the ground” shows that
such observations are not so foreign to the original question as he would
have us suppose, but his (I suppose facetious) remarks as to the starling
making holes in the potato and ladies’ lips are so intensely ‘ foreign to the
original question ” that I only notice them that he may see how apt persons
are to impute to others the very thing they are themselves doing. In spite
of being thought “ foreign to the original question,” I would remark that I
have seen the starling insert his beak closed into his food in the food cup,
and then press back the under mandible three or four times, rapidly, so
much so as to scatter his food over the bottom of the cage, as well as on to
the floor, a very different action to the pressing down as noticed by Mr.
Sclater, and | am decidedly of opinion that the action of opening the
beak in the manner I have described would be more efficacious in dis-
turbing “the insects hidden in the tufts of grass or beneath the leaves ”
than if the grass or leaves were merely pressed down as described by
Mr. Selater, and that a vastly greater number of the death-shamming
insects would be discovered by the starling through the first-described
operation than by the latter. One more remark and I have done with the
matter, as I do not intend entering into controversy on the subject: my
observation on the capacity of “ swallow ” in the tame bird would not have
led me to suppose that the wild one would find it necessary to make so
minute a division of a quarter-inch grub, as described by Mr. Sclater, in |
order to swallow it, and to me the idea of a starling making three bites of
such a grub far outdoes the proverbial “ making two bites of a cherry.”"—
Stephen Clogg ; Looe, July 22, 1876.

Three Crows to a Nest.—In the last number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. 8.
5006), Mr. C. M. Prior alludes to three old birds which belonged to the
same crow’'s nest. A similar circumstance was notified in the ‘ Field,’ and
the following is an extract from the paragraph, the date of which I have
unfortunately not kept:—‘ A fortnight ago I shot one of a pair of crows
which had hatched and were feeding young ones. A few days afterwards
I found three old birds busy about the nest, and, watching them, there was
no doubt they were engaged in feeding the young.” No locality is given.
The communication is signed “D.” As an interesting corroboration
Mr. Prior may like to receive this extract.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Note on Rooks (Zool. S. S. 4926).—From my own observation I should
think the copulation of rooks upon trees is much more the exception than

THE ZooLocist—Aveust, 1876. 5045

the rule. For my own part I fully believe what Gilbert White has said on
the subject, since I never observed anything to the contrary, but much to
confirm his statement, and especially during the past spring. This, how-
ever, is but another proof of how cautious we should be of pronouncing as
unalterable any of the laws which regulate the economy and habits of our
fayourites.—G. B. Corbin.

Notes on the Cuckoo and Redbacked Shrike.— For several days at the
beginning of the present month a young cuckoo, which had been hatched
in an adjacent hedge, frequented my kitchen garden, where it was
assiduously tended by its foster parent, a hedgesparrow. It was also
constantly visited by an old cuckoo, which I disturbed each time I visited
the garden, generally finding it either among the raspberry canes or the
gooseberry bushes ; twice I saw the old bird squatting on the ground under
a gooseberry bush. The appearance of the old cuckoo so frequently in the
garden greatly interested me, and I began to wonder whether it was an
instance of parental regard towards the young bird which had been brought
up by the hedgesparrow, or whether there was some other attraction in the
garden which induced the old cuckoo to ‘visit it. The gooseberry trees
were infested by the common gooseberry grub, and the cuckoo might have
come solely for the purpose of feeding upon them. A friend told me that
he actually shot a cuckoo the other day while it was devouring his rasp-
berries, but this seems so strange that he probably had made some mistake.
The other morning my gardener saw a male redbacked shrike kill and
earry off a sparrow; the bird is nearly always on the lawn, making one of
the standard roses his perch, from which he sallies to capture any passing
fly or beetle— Murray A. Mathew ; Bishop's Lydeard, July 13, 1876.

Roller in Suffolk.—A fine male specimen of the roller (C. garrula) was
shot at Raydon, near Ipswich, on the 14th of June, by a gamekeeper named
Mortimer. A report having been circulated to the effect that the hen bird had
also been seen, and the nest discovered, I went to Raydon on Saturday last,
and saw Mr. Mortimer, who informed me that he had seen the bird for
several days before he shot it, and it was always alone. He had kept a
sharp look out for the hen bird ever since, but without success. A woodman
in the locality stated that he had seen a second bird. The supposed nest
proved to be nothing more than a blackbird’s, with an abnormal egg in it.
The roller being a very rare bird in this country, I am pleased to send you
the above authentic account of its occurrence. I may add, the bird has been
preserved by Mr. Podd, taxidermist, of this town, for Mr. Mortimer, who
intends to retain possession of it.—H. Miller, jun. ; Ipswich. (From the
‘ Field’ of July 15th, 1876.)

Migrations of the Swift.—On the 30th of June, 1873, a great migratory
movement of swifts took place in Sussex from east to west, as is stated in
the ‘ Zoologist.’ A continuous flight of them was seen passing over Brighton

SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. 2s

5046 THE ZooLtocist—Aveust, 1876.

for hours (S. S. 8690). I saw something similar on the Ist of this July at
Overstrand, near Cromer. The number was much less, there being not
more than one hundred and fifty, I should say, but the direction was the
same, and the date only one day different. A hundred and fifty swifts upon
a journey take a long time in passing, for besides going in a straggling flock
they are slow flyers, in spite of their long wings. I should like to know if,
on or about this date, a similar migration was observed anywhere else.—
J. H. Gurney, jun.

The Alpine Swift——The alpine swift mentioned by Mr. Stevenson (Zool.
§. 8. $319) has now passed into my possession, and I am able to tell you
that, like the other Norfolk one, it is in immature plumage; s0, at least, I
judge from their dark colour, and from the fine white edging to some of the
feathers, more particularly the secondaries. It is a male, and was shot by
Mr. Alfred Andrews, of York. While writing on this species, I may as
well mention a specimen which has not been recorded, which was seen by
Mr. Bartlett in Kent, in June, 1871, and also that the example referred to
in the ‘ Birds of Middlesex’ (p. 129) as shot near Reading in August, 1841,
is the same which Yarrell records as being killed at Oakingham on the 8th
of October, of that year (Preface to ‘ British Birds,’ 1st ed., ix.)—Zd.

Nidification of Pheasants.—In mentioning the eggs which the keeper's
boy found at Trimmingham (Zool. 8. 8. 4799), I might also add that he
found a pheasant’s nest in the fork of a large ivied oak, about twenty feet
from the ground, and that we have this summer had a nest nearly as high on
the wall of a house overrun with ivy at Northrepps.—Id.

Little Bittern at Plymouth.—Towards the end of April a Tauntonian
had occasion to visit Plymouth, and, taking a walk just outside the town,
noticed a curious bird in a field, which permitted him to approach it. This
was an adult little bittern, which was standing on the ground with its head
and bill pointed upwards (a favourite bittern attitude), and so exhausted by
hunger that it allowed itself to be taken up by the hand. It was brought to
Taunton alive, but died the next day, being reduced almost to a skeleton
from starvation. ‘The occurrence of the little bittern in adult plumage in
this country is very rare.—Murray A. Mathew ; Bishop's Lydeard, July 4,
1876.

Herons at Bishop’s Lydeard.—For seyeral days I have noticed herons
flying over this village, and attribute their presence here—we are at a con-
siderable distance from the uearest heronry—to the continued drought,
which has so reduced the water in all our brooks that the trout in them
must be an easy prey to these feathered poachers.—Id.

Bartailed Godwit.—I beg to say that the British godwits which a saw in
Leadenhall Market, to which Mr. Gatcombe alludes, were in beautiful
summer plumage. I saw several more, quite as good, in a shop in
Brompton.—J. H. Gurney, jun,

THe ZooLocist—Aueust, 1876. 5047

The Polish Swan.—At page 145 of his ‘Birds of Northumberland and
Durham,’ Mr. Hancock has a note about a Polish swan mentioned in
Mr. Harting’s ‘ Handbook’ as having occurred at Hartlepool, and he rightly
refuses to give it admission as it rested on newspaper authority. I have
just lighted on the passage in the newspaper in question, which is a cutting
from the ‘ Hartlepool Free Press,’ reproduced in the ‘ Field.’ It states that
the plumage was pure white, legs and feet slate-gray, weight twenty pounds,
and that it was shot in March, and presented to the Museum of the Hartle-
pool Natural-History Society. I went to the Museum some time after, and
saw a bird which [ was told was the one, and as far as I could judge,
without plates or specimens to compare it by, it was nothing more than an
escaped mute swan. For my own part I have never thought that the
Polish swan was a good species; but the question is attracting a good deal
of attention in Norfolk now, and it is hoped that we shall elicit some new
facts. It will be entered into fully in the third volume of the ‘ Birds of
Norfolk,’ and I will not anticipate Mr. Stevenson further than to say that
he considers the gray feet are no good specific character, an opinion in
which I entirely coincide, from having observed mute swans in the Ser-
pentine and at Gatton Park, in Surrey, whose feet were of this colour. In
a pair which we at present have alive, which were sent down by the
Zoological Society, and have now four cygnets, they are a dark gray: and
I believe these are the same pair which I saw at Mr. Castang’s in Leadenhall
on the 3rd of May, 1871, when the legs and feet were nearly white. That
pair went to the Zoological Gardens, and I remember noticing soon after
that the feet had got darker. Of course, if the colour is not permanent it
cannot be a specific character. Again, the fact that in the same brood
have been more than once found cygnets white and cygnets brownish gray,
militates much against it. On this head, see the ‘ Field’ of July 8th, 1871;
Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sc. Nat., x., No. 61, 1869; and ‘The Mute Swan on
the Rivers and Broads of Norfolk,’ p. 60.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Varieties of the Teal.—Mr. Sclater mentions a young female teal which
had the breast so red as to have the appearance of being stained with blood
(Zool. S. 8. 4816). I bought one some time ago in Leadenhall which this
description would pretty well apply to, and out of the great number which
I have examined in this market I never saw another which was so strongly
suffused with rufous.—Id.

Summer Plumage of the Little Grebe.—I have no doubt, from Mr.
Corbin’s accurate description, of his bird being the little grebe in summer
plumage. It just resembles some I have had, except in being slightly
larger. At this period of the year—March and April—the little grebe is
much darker than in winter time. By far the darkest I ever saw, and it
amounts to a real melanism, with only a little bay in the throat, is in the
collection of Mr. Bond. It was caught at Dartford, and kept, I do not

5048 THE Zootocist—Avucust, 1876.

know how long, in confinement. I should like to see it compared with
Mr. Corbin’s.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Scarcity of the Razorbill.—In reply to Mr. Sclater I was at Flam-
borough on the 23rd of March. I did not enquire what the razorbills were
wanted for.—Id.

The Materials of Gannets’ Nests.—When I was at the Bass Rock this
summer I observed that all the gannets’ nests which [ examined were com-
posed of sea-weed, mixed with grass, and I wish to ask if any one has found
plenty of sticks in their nests on this or any other rock. H. Boece (1526)
says, ‘‘ They gather such great plentie of sticks and boughs togither for the
building of their nests, that the same doo satisfie the keeper of the castell,
for the yeerlie maintenance of his fewell, without any other prouision.” This
is quite at variance with my observation, and the following is what some
other writers have said on the subject :—Willughby (1661) says, “ These
kind of Birds do not make their Nests of straws, sticks, or such like com-
bustible matter, good for fewel; but either lay their Eggs on the naked
rocks, or spread under them very few straws, bents, or such like incon-
siderable stuff.” (‘ Ornithology,’ p. 19). Upon this Dr. Walker, as quoted
by Fleming, remarks :—* If Mr. Willughby had ever been on the Bass *
he would in some measure have altered his opinion concerning the nests of
sea-fowl. The nests of the Solan geese, which cover a considerable part of
the island, are of a great size, are built for the most part of sticks and
branches of trees, some of them pretty large; and * * * * the
demolition of these nests still supplies the keepers of the Bass with a con-
siderable quantity of fuel.” (‘ Essays on Nat. Hist.,’ Edin., 1808, p. 287).
If the explanation be that the gannet will only take its materials off the
water, and that off the water it will lift anything from a red coat to a large
basket, and that some years there are branches brought down by the floods
and plenty of wreckage timber, we might expect sometimes to find these
things in their nests now.—ZJd.

Kittiwake in Winter.—Mr. Alston (Zool. 9470) alludes to the occur-
rence of a kittiwake on the Ayrshire coast in the month of January, and
says that this is a rare bird in Scotland in winter. In February, 1869, I
received two from the adjoining county of Dumfriesshire. I was not aware
that they were rare, or I might have recorded them before.—Id.

Tropic Bird.—In reply to Dr. Bree (Zool. S. S. 4808), I did not mean to
write that he had said the tropic bird (Phaéton ethereus) was a doubtful
species, in the usual acceptation of that word, but only a doubtful European
species. The word “ European” must have been omitted by a slip of my
pen.—Id.

* Which he had been.—J. H. G., jun.

Tue ZooLocist—Aucust, 1876. 5049

Fox-Shark on the Irish Coast.—I have much pleasure in recording the
capture of a small specimen of the fox-shark (Alopecias vulpes, Gmelin),
which was taken in a salmon net at Portrush, County Antrim, on June
16th. The total length of this example was fifty-seven inches, of which
the tail measured twenty-nine. Iam told, by the gentleman who skinned
it, that the stomach was filled with a thick dark-coloured fluid. I believe
that this is the first well-authenticated instance of the capture of this
species on the Irish coast, although there are at least three records of its
having been seen on diffnrent occasions. Since it has been long included
in our Fauna on mere circumstantial evidence, it is satisfactory to be able
to place it now on a firm footing. The specimen is in the Royal Dublin
Society’s museum.—J. Douglas Ogilby ; Portrush, County Antrim.

Lesser Forkbeard at Kirkwall—A specimen of the lesser forkbeard
(Raniceps trifurcatus), a comparatively rare fish in British waters, was
caught here on June 24, in a dying condition, by some boys off the head of
the pier. Its length was eight inches, breadth immediately behind the
head ove inch and a half, and it was entirely destitute of tubercles above
the pectoral fins. —John Bruce; Kirkwall, Orkney. (‘ Field,’ July 6).

Proceedings of Scientific Societies,

ZooLocicaL Society oF Lonpon.

June 20, 1876.—Professor Frowrr, F.R.S., Vice-President, in the
chair.

The Secretary exhibited a drawing of a fine species of fruit pigeon of the
genus Carpophaga, living in the Society's Gardens, which apparently
belonged to C. paulina, Bp., of Celebes and the Sulu Islauds.

Mr. Sclater read extracts from letters received from Signor L. M.
D’Albertis and Dr. George Bennett, respecting Mr. D’Albertis’ proposed
new expedition up the Fly River, New Guinea, and exhibited a small
collection of bird-skins made at Yule Island, and on the adjoining coast of
New Guinea, by the last-named naturalist.

Dr. A. Giinther read a letter from Commander W. E. Cookson, R.N.,
respecting the large tortoises obtained in the Galapagos Islands, which had
been recently deposited in the Society’s Gardens by Commander Cookson.
The living specimens had been obtained in Albemarle Island, those
obtained in Abingdon Island having died before reaching this country.
Dr. Giinther added some remarks on the specimens of tortoises and other
animals collected by Commander Cookson, and promised a more detailed
account on a future occasion.

5050 Tur ZooLocist—Aucust, 1876.

Mr. G. E. Dobson read a paper on peculiar structures in the feet of
certain species of mammals, by which they are enabled to walk on smooth
perpendicular surfaces, especially alluding to Hyrax and the bats of the
genus Thyroptera.

A communication was read from Dr. J. S. Bowerbank, being the sixth
part of his monograph of the Silicio-Fibrous Sponges.

A communication was read from the Rey. O. P. Cambridge, containing a
catalogue of a collection of spiders made in Egypt, with descriptions of new
species and characters of a new genus.

A communication was read from Mr. W. T. Blanford, containing remarks
on the views of A. von Pelzeln as to the connection of the Faunas of India
and Africa, and on the Mammalian Fauna of Tibet.

A second communication from Mr, W. T. Blanford contained remarks on
some of the specific identifications in Dr. Giinther’s second report on
collections of Indian reptiles obtained by the British Museum.

Mr. Howard Saunders read a paper on the Sternine, or terns, with
descriptions of three new species, which he proposed to call Sterna Tibetana,
Sterna eurygnatha, and Gygis microrhyncha.

Dr. Cunningham, of the University of Edinburgh, described a young
specimen of a dolphin, caught off Great Grimsby, in September, 1875.
After pointing out the great difficulty experienced in referring it to its
proper place amongst the dolphins—this difficulty arising chiefly from the
unsatisfactory and even unreliable descriptions which have heen given in
this country by former observers—he came to the conclusion that he was
justified in referring it to Delphinus albirostris, the differences being in his
opinion merely those of age.

Mr. J. W. Clark read some notes on a dolphin lately taken off the coast
of Norfolk, which he was likewise induced to refer to the same species.

A communication was read from Mr. R. B. Sharpe, containing the
description of an apparently new species of owl from the Solomon Islands,
which he proposed to call Ninox Solomonis.

Mr. A. H. Garrod read some notes on the anatomy of certain parrots.

Mr. H. E. Dresser read the description of a new species of broadbilled
sandpiper, from North-Eastern Asia, to which he gave the name Limicola
Sibirica.

A second communication from Mr. Dresser contained the description of a
new species of Tetraogallus, discovered by Mr. Danford in the Cilician
Taurus, which he proposed to call T. Tauricus.

Dr. A. Giinther read some notes on a small collection of animals brought
by Lieutenant L. Cameron from Angola.

A communication was read from Lieutenant R. Wardlaw Ramsay, giving
the description of a fine species of nuthatch, from Karen-nee, which he —
proposed to call Sitta magna.

Tue ZooLtocist—Auveust, 1876. 5051

This Meeting closes the present Session. There will be no more
Scientific Meetings until the commencement of the next Session in
November.—P. L. Sclater.

Enromonocican Society oF Lonpon.

July 5, 1876.—Professor Westwoop, M.A., President, in the chair.

Additions to the Library.

The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the
donors :—‘ Proceedings of the Scientific Meetings of the Zoological Society
of London for the year 1876,’ part 1; by the Society. ‘The Zoologist’ for
July; ‘Newman's Entomologist’ for July; by the Representatives of the
late Edward Newman. ‘The Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine’ for July ;
by the Editors. ‘The Naturalist: Journal of the West Riding Consolidated
Naturalists’ Society,’ no. xii., for July; by the Editors. ‘Journal of the
Quekett Microscopical Club,’ no. 381 (May); by the Club. ‘ Nature,’
nos. 845 to 848; by the Publishers. ‘Kxotic Butterflies,’ part 99; by the
Author, W. C. Hewitson, Esq. ‘Proceedings of the Linnean Society of
New South Wales,’ vol. i., part i.; by the Society. ‘Annual Report of the
Entomological Society of Ontario for the year 1875;’ by the Society.
‘The Canadian Entomologist,’ vol. vili., no. 5; by the Editor. ‘ L’Abeille,’
nos. 174 to 176; by the Editor, M. de Marseul. ‘Tijdschrift voor Ento-
mologie,’ 1875-76, le & 2e Aflevering; by the Editors. ‘ Verhandlungen
des Vereins fiir Naturwissenschaftliche Unterhaltung zu Hamburg, 1875,’
band ii.; by the Editor. ‘Highth Annual Report on the Noxious, Bene-
ficial and other Insects of the State of Missouri; by the Author, Charles
V. Riley. ‘The American Naturalist,’ vol. vili., parts 2 to 12, and vol. ix. ;
by the Editor. ‘The Sixth Annual Report of the Trustees of the Peabody
Academy of Science for the year 1873;’ by the Academy. ‘The Inyerte-
brate Cave Fauna of Kentucky and adjoining States;’ ‘On the Develop-
ment of the Nervous System in Limulus ;’ ‘ Descriptions of new North-
American Phalenide and Phyllopoda;’ ‘On the Transformations of the
Common House-fly ;’ ‘ Explorations of the Gulf of Maine with the Dredge ;’
‘On the Distribution and Primitive Number of Spiracles in Insects ;’ ‘ New
Phyllopod Crustaceans ;’ ‘On Gynandromorphism in the Lepidoptera ;’ by
the Author, A. 8. Packard, jun. ‘ Reports on the Zoological Collection of
Lieut. W. L. Carpenter, made in Colorado during the Summer of 1873;’
by the Author.

By purchase:—‘ Fauna del Regno di Napoli.’ By Achille Costa.
Coleotteri, 2 parts; Lepidotteri, 2 parts; Ortotteri, Newrotteri & Emitteri,
1 part; Imenotteri, 2 parts.

5052 THE ZooLocist—Aveust, 1876,

Evhibitions, dc.

Mr. Douglas exhibited the following Psyllidw, taken by himself near
Lee, Kent, viz. :—

Psylla ? On birch trees. . Possibly P. Betule, Linn., Flor.

», spartifoliella, Férst. On broom bushes.

Aphalara renosa, First. New to the British Fauna; now first identified
as living on Achillea millefolium.

Rhinocola aceris, Linn, On maple trees (Acer campestris).

a erice, Curtis. On heather.

The President showed some microscopic slides containing specimens of ~
Diptera, &c., prepared with extraordinary care by Mr. Enock. He also
brought for exhibition twigs of horse-chestnut from Oxford, that had been
attacked by some kind of larva, which had eaten away the inside of portions
of the stem, causing the buds to drop off. He was in doubt whether the
insect was Zeuzera Alsculi, or some other, but he would be glad to know if
the destruction to the trees had been noticed elsewhere. He also exhibited
two species of Coccus, one of them on Camellia leaves in his greenhouse,
which he had previously described in the ‘ Gardener's Chronicle,’ under the
name of C. Camellie, and which had afterwards been observed by Dr. Ver-
loren in his greenhouse in Holland. The female, which is one line in
length, discharges a white waxy matter, having the appearance of the
excrement of a young bird. The other species had been sent to him by the
Rev. T. A. Preston, of Marlborough, on a species of Euphorbia, obtained
from Dr. Hooker, of Kew. The leaves were covered with small scales,
which, on close examination, were observed to have two small spines
attached, and these proved to be the caudal extremities of the males.
These insects emerge from the pupa backwards, and in consequence they
make their appearance with the wings drawn forwards over the head.

Mr. Stevens exhibited varieties of some British Geometre, and what
appeared to be a small variety of Lyceena Adonis, taken near Croydon.

Papers read.
Mr. Baly communicated “ Descriptions of a new Genus and of new
Species of Halticine.”
Mr. Peter Cameron communicated “ Descriptions of new Genera and
Species of Tenthredinide and Siricide, chiefly from the East Indies, in the
Collection of the British Museum.”

New Part of ‘ Transactions.’
Part ii. of the ‘ Transactions’ for 1876 was on the table.—F. G,

THE ZOOLOGIST—SEPTEMBER, 1876, 5033

Murena helena, Linneus (the Murry of Yarrell, the Murena
of Couch). By Joun T. Carrineroy,

Fig. 1. MurxNa HELENA.

Tuis classical fish has hitherto been so incorrectly figured in
every English Manual of Ichthyology where an illustration is given,
that it seems desirable, now an opportunity is afforded, to refigure
at least the most important part of it from life. Had the pages
of the ‘ Zoologist’ been sufficiently large, I should have preferred
giving a figure, drawn to scale, of the entire fish.

The first published figure with which I am acquainted is that
given in the second edition of Mr. Yarrell’s ‘ British Fishes.’ He
says, “ Of this singular and beautifully-marked fish Mr.Couch very
kindly sent for my use a coloured drawing made from a fresh
specimen, from which the figure, carefully reduced in size, was
drawn and engraved.”

I find on reference to Mr. Couch’s ‘ Fishes of the British Isles,’
that the fish which was made the subject of that drawing was caught
with a line on the 8th of October, 1854, by a fisherman of Polperro,
in Cornwall, who gave it to Mr. Couch shortly after he came to
land. I cannot help thinking that Mr. Couch was to some extent
deceived as to the fresh state of this animal when he figured it,
I believe also the fore part of its body had become abnormally
swollen through either hard usage or other cause, otherwise the
extraordinary shape of the head could never have been given to us

SECOND SERIZS—VOL, XI. 2T

5054 THE ZooLoGist—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

in the figures in Yarrell’s and Couch’s books: of this I have drawn
an outline at fig. 2: on reference this will be found a correct copy
of their figures.

In fig. 2 of this paper my readers will observe the total absence
of any indication of a dorsal fin. When describing the fresh
specimen, Mr. Couch says, “ the dorsal
fin begins four inches and a half from
the snout” and afterwards goes on to
say that this and the anal fin are “ thick
and fleshy, so as not to be readily dis-
tinguished from the general surface of
the body.” In four fine healthy living

Fig. 2. specimens now before me, in the Crys-

tal Palace Aquarium, which were sent

to that institution, with some other Italian fishes, by Dr. Anton

Dohrn, from the Naples Aquarium, each measuring about the

same length, two feet from snout to end of tail; the dorsal fin is

rather more than one inch in height, while the ventral fin is half

an inch deep. When swimming these fins are most conspicuous

features, occasionally drooping in folds which almost touch
the body.

By referring to my drawing of the head of a healthy live
specimen (fig. 1) it will be seen that it is much more symmetrical
than that depicted by Yarrell and Couch (fig. 2). Itis quite devoid
of the large heavy under jaw and chin shown in the outline. Again,
in Mr. Couch’s coloured figure he makes the head appear as of the
same colour as the rest of the body, while, in fact, it is of a rich
dark purplish chocolate-brown, with darker patches and very
indistinct small cloudy yellow markings, the darker colour only
shading off to lighter where the head joins the thorax.

I would particularly point out the existence of four short but
very conspicuous barbs, each about a quarter of an inch in length.
In drawing fig. 1, 1 was careful to show these characters somewhat
prominently, but not more so than they appear upon a living
specimen. ‘They are not shown in either of Yarrell’s or Couch’s
figures or in any English book where Murena is figured, excepting
in one instance, that describing the fishes seen on the Voyage of
the ‘Erebus’ and ‘Terror,’ wherein an Australian example is
well figured. I can scarcely understand how an acute observer
like Mr.Couch could have missed figuring these important features,

THE ZooLocGist—SEPTEMBER, 1876. 5055

unless, as I have suggested, his specimen had been long dead.
He casually refers to them in his description of the fish, but does
not lay sufficient stress upon the posterior pair.

In every English book, with the one exception named, where it
has been necessary to figure Murena Helena, chiefly as an illustra-
tion of the genus, Yarrell’s figure has been carefully copied, and
special remark has been made on the peculiar shape of the head
and shoulders. Even ina chart of fishes illustrating orders and
families, this erroneous figure is carefully given in all its incor-
rectness. This is evidently one of those cases where a scientific
error has been perpetuated for a long period without correction by
one writer after another: on this occasion possibly there is some
excuse because of the previous difficulty of observing the animal in
a living state. This is one of the instances of the coming
scientific use of public aquaria, wherein may be so readily studied,
in comfort, creatures which otherwise could never have their habits
observed.

Murena Helena seems to have been an object of attention in
several ways from very remote times. Who does not remember
the story told by Pliny of that “ Roman gentleman” and favourite
of the Emperor Augustus, Vedius Pollio, who used to punish his
offending slaves by throwing them into ponds wherein were kept
numbers of Murena eels, that they might be nibbled or worried to
death by these animals? Dr. Holland, in his quaint translation,
says, “ That there were not wilde beastes ynow upon lande for this
fate, but because he tooke pleasure to behold a man torn and
plucket in pieces all at once, which pleasant sight he could uot
see upon any other beastes upon lande.” That there was some
foundation for this legend there can be little doubt, for a story has
been told by more than one author of one particular occasion when
Augustus was paying a visit of state to the house of Vedius Pollio.
During a large entertainment which was being given in honour of
this event one of the attendant slaves was waiting at table. Possibly
he was confused by the greatness of the occasion or the “ quality”
of the guests; at any rate he was not attending to the warning
motto placed over the door of the servants’ hall, which might be
very liberally translated as

‘* Whoever breaks the glass or dishes,
That man becomes the food for fishes,”

5056 THE ZooLoGiIst—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

for in an unpropitious moment he let fall and broke a wine decanter
(fregit crystallinum)! This poor wretch, knowing what was in
store for him, and thinking there was a slight chance in appealing
for mercy to the powerful Augustus, summoned courage to throw
himself at the feet of the Emperor and ask intercession with his
master, or at least to beg for some less terrible death than the
nibbling process so delightful to Vedius Pollio. To the great
eredit.of Augustus, it is related how he not only instantly pardoned
this poor wretch, but applying the rule so golden in ethics, removed
the cause of this cruelty by ordering the immediate smashing of all
Vedius Pollio’s glass and china and the filling up of the fish-ponds.
So is written and handed down a pretty—as we in modern times
would say, a slightly sensational—legend. Whatever may have
been the foundation for this story, I strongly suspect it never
happened. Although I have often heard of the ferocious and
cruel habits of Murena, this, too, is in my opinion quite as untrne ;
for during the considerable time 1 have had opportunities of closely
observing this creature I have uniformly found it just the reverse.
It has certainly an unpleasant appearance when lying with its head
and shoulders only visible from some hole in a rock, and with its
mouth, so liberally furnished with teeth, wide and threateningly open.
It is a common habit of this animal to rest for short periods in this
way, with its mouth wide open, just as is represented in Fig. 1.
Another character given to this much ill-used fish is that of taking—
or, more correctly, maiming—its food by “reiterated snaps” of its
jaws. This, again, is an error, for one of the most remarkable and
first-noticed features in this animal is its very gentle and peculiar
mode of feeding. This is done by a curiously quiet movement of
the head, so as to bring the check down upon the object about to
be eaten, seizing it with the side of his mouth, and never by the
front.

The specimens to which I have referred are usually fed with
mussel-flesh or live shrimps. At first it was thought that, from their
slow and deliberate habits, the shrimps would get away, and so the
Murena starve; but no, the Murena quietly sits in his hole, as
shown in fig. 1, not showing the least movement until it marks
down a shrimp ; then, in its graceful manner, it glides up to it, gently
lays one cheek upon it, and so holds it until it has secured the
shrimp with the side of his mouth, when with one quick bolt it
swallows its food.

THE ZooLocist—SEPTEeMBER, 1876. 5057

So far from being the vicious creatures we are led to believe,
these specimens have become great pets; they readily take food
from the hand of any one in the habit of feeding them, even
coming a third of their length ont of the water to take the food.
There seems little doubt that this famous fish was kept for more
than mere culinary purposes in ancient times, for we read of their
being carefully tended, and decked with rings of silver and gold;
and Porphyrius says that the loss of one of these pets was a
greater grief to him than the death of his three children. Antonia,
too, exhibited hers at Bauli, near Naples, in the grounds of
Drusus, decorated with these rings; while Hortensius the orator
never quite got over the death of his favourite Murena. There
seems to have been a time when these animals were as extrava-
gantly fashionable as some of our modern hobbies. Even sedate
Cicero says these people “deemed no moment of their lives more
happy than when these creatures first came to eat out of their
hands.” This fashion was carried so far that the aristrocratic
Roman family of Licinii, to express their admiration for this fish,
took the name of Murena in addition to their own.

I have already said how gentle and timid, until familiar with |
those who attend them, are these fish. I have seen no indication
of their wilfully biting any one, although in one clearly accidental
case one did bite its feeder, making a slight puncture with the back
teeth, which caused little or no pain. Amongst other bad habits
attributed to this handsome animal, is one which I think is doubt-
lessly as untrue as the others I have stated. I am glad to say it is
given on the authority of one writer only, Columella, who says it
has, for a fish, the remarkable phenomenon of a strong tendency
to hydrophobia and canine madness! Surely these old authors
must have invented some of the terrible attributes of this fish, to
act as a check upon the expensive custom of keeping them as
pets ; no other idea can be suggested as an explanation for such
extraordinary statements. Even Appian comes forward with a
wonderful description of a frequent battle which is waged between
the Murena and the cuttle, in which the former is always
successful ; but he afterwards more graphically describes a san-
guinary sea-fight between the victorious Murena and a heavily
mailed Cancer, in which, this time, the crab gets the better of the
two, and Murena at last falls ignominiously to his powerful jaws.
Lastly (though certainly not least), Cesar distributed six thousand

5058 Tue ZooLoGist—SeEPTEMBER, 1876.

specimens of this Murena amongst his friends, to celebrate one of
his triumphs.

So much for some of the ancient history of this animal. I will
now return to its present mode of life and description.

In the northern hemisphere Murena Helena is probably com-
monest on the coasts of Italy and Sicily, although it frequently
occurs throughout the Mediteiranean, and more sparingly in the
Atlantic. I cannot find it recorded as occurring in North American
waters; it is not mentioned in Part I. (the only one published)
of the ‘Report of the United States Commission on Fish and
Fisheries, 1872.’ Mr. Lowe reports it as not rare at Madeira; it
is likewise said to be common in the Chinese and Australian
seas. I distinctly remember seeing what I now believe to have
been a specimen of Murena, though possibly an allied species, in
a fisherman’s canoe at Coquimbo, on the west coast of South
America, about three years ago. I am told it has been seen in
the Straits of Magellan, and commonly at Ascension.

The Murena is said to live as well in fresh water as in the sea,
but of this I know nothing personally. Again, it has the repu-
tation of great vitality, existing a long period out of its natural
element: this is a well-known habit of most of the family to
which this species gives the name Murenide.

There seems to be a common idea that the Murena manifests a
decided early tendency to obesity. 1 do not think this is so, for

one specimen with which I am familiar has heen kept and well
fed, even to daily satiety, with shrimps, mussel, and an occasional

small wrasse of his own poaching, for the last eighteen months,
and, although much grown, it has lost none of its symmetrical
appearance, and is now of as finely graceful shape as when
younger. It is stated by one author, when writing of this species,
that its corpulency frequently becomes so great that it cannot
dive under water, but floats, from which habit it has obtained its
name, though I think it more probable the name is derived from
the Greek pup, to flow, from its flowing or graceful undu-
lations when swimming.

This animal was early held to be an exceptionally good article
of food; the flesh is delicately white, and very agreeable eating.
Large quantities are offered for sale in some of the Mediterranean
sea-ports.

The description given below was taken generally from a dead

THE ZOOLOGIST—SEPTEMBER, 1876. 5059

specimen, which had been some time in spirits of wine; the
colouring, however, is described from the living specimens before
alluded to.

MuURa&£NA HELENA.

Mépauva, Aristot.; Zlian.

Murena, Plin.; Bellon de Aquat.; Rondel ; Salvian ; Willoughby, Hist.
Pisce. ; Aldroy.

Murena (sp. noy.), Artedi, Synon. Genera; Gronov. Zoophyl.

Murena helena, Linn. Syst. i. p. 425; Briinn. Pisc. Mass. p. 11; Bloch,
Ausland Fisch. ii. p. 31, tab. 153; Risso, Ichth. Nice, p- 336, and
Eur. Merid. iii. p. 189; Costa, Faun. Nap. Pisc., with fig. of skull;
Jenyns, Man. p. 479; Yarrell, Brit. Fish. 2nd edit. ii. p. 406, and
38rd edit. i. p.73; Couch, Fish. Brit. Isl. iv, p. 335, pl. 237; Guichen,
Explor. Algér. Poiss. p- 114; Gronov. Syst., ed. Gray, p. 18; Rich.
Voy. Ereb. & Terr., Ichthyol. p. 80, pl. 49, figs. 1—6 ; Kaup. Apod.
p- 55; Giuther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. viii. p. 96.

Murenophis helena, Lacép. v. p. 631.

Gymnothorax Murena, Bl. Schn. p. 525.

Murena Romana, Shaw, Gen. Zool. iy. 1; p. 26.

Murena guttata, Risso, Eur. Mérid. iii., 1826, p. 191.

Skeleton, Rosenthal, Ichthyotom. Taf. tab. 28. Owen, Osteol. Cat. i.’
p. 14.

Teeth very acute, subulate, more or less compressed, cutting
edges towards the tip. The teeth of the upper jaw are arranged
in three rows, one row on each side and one short one on the palate.
The posterior nasal and adjoining palatine tooth are longest of the
series ; these with some neighbouring ones, also a few on the lower
jaw, have an acute notch on the posterior edge, with a slight nasal
lobe beneath it. Nasal teeth, and anterior mandibular teeth, con-
siderably rounded towards the base. The teeth arranged along
the sides of the upper jaw are in two rows of thirteen each, the
first six on each side are equidistant and of equal size; then
follow three pairs, and lastly a single one. The pairs and the
single one are slightly more delicate in structure than those in
front; all about an eighth of an inch in length. Nasal teeth about
twelve, exclusive of about twelve very short ones alternating with
them, but rather exterior to their bases, so that the mingled nasal
teeth may be considered as making an approach to the biserial
arrangement. Three teeth on the mesial line of the nasal disk
long, slender, and very acute, the posterior pair being the longest in

5060 Tue ZooLoGIst—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

the mouth. The lower jaw has about twenty-nine teeth, equi-
distant, one-eighth of an inch in length; all teeth much curved
and inclined backwards.

Head slender and pointed, one-twelfth the length of the whole
animal ; jaws elongate, two-thirds the length of the head, equal in
length. Gape very large. Tongue adherent. Posterior nostrils
shortly tubular; eye moderately large ; upper and lower jaw are
bordered by a row of large pores, and there are also six on top of
snout. Dorsal fin commences before the gill-opening, gradually
increasing in height until it attains its greatest altitude beyond the
vent. Both dorsal and anal fins are conspicuous towards the tip
of the tail, which is considerably compressed.

The ground colour of the fish is very dark chocolate-brown,
varied by oval, roundish, or irregular marks of various sizes, and
tints of pale yellow to deep golden yellow. These spots are very
swall, and so crowded on the head as to produce merely brown
with yellowish white markings; towards the snout and over the
eyes is quite brown. Immediately over and behind the eyes is a
curious roughing up of the skin, giving the appearance of very
coarse velvet pile, followed by a darker patch of skin on the top
of the head. The spots of yellow are again small posteriorly, and
arranged near the tail so as to have a distinct banded appearance ;
they are large along the back and middle of the fish, extending on to
the dorsal fin, but the spots of each fin are complete in themselves,
and not flowing on to the body. In the larger spots are included
oval and roundish smaller blackish spots, generally darker than
the ground colour. The belly is much paler and the spots more
minute. The corners of the mouth, gill-openings, and folds of the
throat are black, the latter looking like a series of black lines
under the mouth and throat. The edges of the dorsal and anal fins
are marked by a series of light yellow or whitish dots, most
numerous on the anal; the bases of these fins are also spotted by
a less dense series. Along the side of each fin is a row of larger
spots, same in character as on the body, but less bright in colour.
Individual specimens are very liable to variation both in markings
and intensity of colour.

The rays of the two fins are 552 in all, the anal having 220
and the dorsal 332; rays simple, without joints. Vertebre 141,
71 of which are abdominal and 70 caudal, Air-bladder about
1} inch long, oval in shape.

THE ZOOLOGIST—SEPTEMBER, 1876, 5061

In taking the following measurements from a living specimen
I was assisted by my friend Mr. E. Howard Birchall :—

Total length - - : - 25 inches.
Length of head - - x - 24 5

” jaws = oy > % 13 »
Position of vent (from snout) . - Saas
Dorsal fin, length of - - - Q2Q2i ,

3 height of 3 - - LS
Anal fin, length of - - - Nee te,

» height of . - - 2 inch.
Girth at one inch before vent - - 121 inches.
Gill orifice, from end of snout - - 33 Cy,
Eyes, from snout - - - - = inch.

Habitat :—Mediterranean, English Channel, North African coast,
Indian Ocean (Bloch), Australian Seas, Mauritius, Mid-Atlantic
Islands, &c., frequenting rocky shores.

Joun T. Carrineron.

Crystal Palace Aquarium, ;

August 18, 1876.

Ornithological Notes from North Lincolnshire.
By Joun Corpzavux, Esq.

(Continued from S. S. 4985).

JUNE AND JULY, 1876.

Green Plover.—June 22. Have already congregated in flocks of
from sixty to seventy in the turnip-fields.

Golden Plover.—June 23, I heard the note of the golden plover
in the marshes this morning, but did not see the bird.

Reed Warbler.—For several years I have searched during the
summer for this species in North Lincolnshire without success in
many very likely localities, and have never either heard its note or
been able to detect the presence of the bird. I am also in the
habit, when shooting in the winter, of keeping a look out in ditches
and reed-beds for the old nests, so that I do not think it could
occur, even occasionally, in this district without its presence
having been detected.* J am therefore to-day (June 28th) much

* I have only once met with it here during the autumn, evidently a migratory
bird moving south.—J. C.
- SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI, 2U

5062 THe ZooLoGisT—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

pleased to hear one singing from some reeds in a dry ditch
separating two fields in these marshes. A few minutes of careful
crawling through the long grass of a meadow brought me close to
the spot and within a few feet of the songster. I watched it for
some time, and almost came to the conclusion—judging from the
conspicuous light streak over the eye and light-coloured legs—that
I had stumbled upon an example of the rare marsh warbler (the
A. palustris of Bechstein) ; the note, however, was that of the reed
warbler, so there was no use entertaining the idea. The next day,
hearing the bird near the same spot, I entered the reeds, and had
scarcely done so before I came upon the nest, containing four
eggs, suspended in the usual manner to the reeds. This ditch was
four feet wide at the bottom, and filled with reeds, six to seven
feet in height. The nest was placed eighteen inches from the
bottom, near its centre, and had six stems of the reed woven into
and supporting the sides; it was a much slighter and more loosely-
woven structure than is usually the case, and the walls so thin as
to be easily seen through, shallower, too, than the average nest of
this species. The materials were coarse stems of a grass (without
the florets, so it was difficult to say what grass it was), mixed with
some wool and moss, the inside lined with the same coarse
materials. On again inspecting the nest, on the 13th of July,
I found the young just hatched; by the end of the month they
had left the nest, and I saw the old bird feeding them with
insects.

Stock Dove.—The stock dove is becoming quite a common
species with us: this year a pair have built, for the first time,
amongst the ivy on the chancel of the church, and I have also
met with several pairs nesting amongst the thick upper branches
of the Scotch fir.

JOHN CORDEAUX.
Great Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire,
August 9, 1876.

Errata.— Zoologist,’ July, 1876, p. 4983, line 10, for Loch Hess read Loch Ness;
same page, line 15, for Wragley read Wragby; p. 4985, line 1, for fisheries read
foreshores.—J. C.

Tur ZooLocist—SepremsBeEr, 1876. 5063

lotices of New Books,

The Birds of the North-West: a Handbook of the Ornithology
of the Region drained by the Missouri River and its Tribu-
taries. By Extior Cougs, Captain and Assistant-Surgeon
United States Army. Demy 8vo, 791 pp. 1874.

(Srconp Nortcz.)

To students of English Ornithology the American Ornis
possesses an additional interest from the fact that the greater
number of the accidental visitants in our bird-list are to be traced
to the American Continent. It has been even asserted that when’
there are European and American types of the same bird, it is the
latter which are generally met with in England. Thus it is the
American and not the European form of the hawk-owl which has
been obtained in this country. As a rule American birds are
darker in plumage than the corresponding European types. There
are few of the numerous sandpipers, tattlers, and stints of the
American list, representatives of which have not crossed over
to our shores; and to the English collector these birds are a
specially interesting group. They are suggestive of wild and
desolate shores; of moor and marsh; of those secluded scenes
where birds are to be met with in greatest variety, and where the
shyest of them can alone be studied. The route by which these
Americans probably reach our coast is by British America,
Northern Russia, and Greenland. But against this is to be set
the fact that our visitants from America have never been observed
in Greenland, while very many of them have never been procured
in any part of Europe except the British Isles. From this it
would appear that, after all, the direct ocean route may be the one
by which most of these strangers come to us.* Not all who wander
to such a distance meet with the fate of finding their way to a
collector’s cabinet. Some few, certainly, must escape the gunner’s
notice, and it is an interesting subject for speculation whether
these lost ones ever return to their familiar homes, or whether they
go on in their wanderings until they reach some climate so uncon-
genial to them that they must finally perish? There is hardly

* Vide Harting’s ‘ Handbook,’ Introduction, p. xi,

5064 THE ZooLOGIsT—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

any part of the vast American continent which is without the
presence of some members of the numerous family of sandpipers.
Around the coast the sands and oozes swarm with the redbreasted
snipe, the tiny peep, and many other Limicole; the sides of
inland rivers and lakes are haunted by various tattlers; waders,
fat and in good condition, are met with around the alkaline pools
of the Upper Missouri; and the level expanse of the prairie
affords a home to the beautiful Bartram’s sandpiper, vulgarly
known as the “prairie pigeon,” to the pectoral sandpiper, and
to the buffbreasted sandpiper—one of the most prized of all the
Tringe which occasionally wander to our country. In the
month of May the prairie presents a sight which would delight
any student of birds. Tt is then alive with thousands of
Esquimaux curlews, on their way to their favourite haunts,
where they can feast on the berries of Empetrum nigrum,
the “curlew’s berry”; with flocks of golden plover, and with
numerous Bartram’s sandpipers, the latter tame and confiding, and
preparing to nest. Here is the Doctor’s account of a young brood
of the latter beautiful species :—

“Young birds are abroad late in June,—curious little creatures, timid
and weak,—led about by their anxious parents, solicitous for their welfare,
and ready to engage in the most unequal contests in their behalf. When
half-grown, but still in the down, the little creatures have a curiously
clumsy, top-heavy look; their legs look disproportionately large, like those
of a young colt or calf; and they may be caught with little difficulty, as
they do not run very well. I once happened upon a brood, perhaps two
weeks old, rambling with their mother over the prairie. She sounded the
alarm to scatter her brood, but not before I had secured one of them in my
hand. I never saw a braver defence attempted than was made by this
strong-hearted though powerless bird, who, after exhausting her artifices to
draw me in pursuit of herself, by tumbling about as if desperately wounded,
and lying panting with outstretched wings on the grass, gave up hope of
saving her young in this way, and then almost attacked me, dashing close
up and retreating again to renew her useless onslaught. She was evidently
incited to unusual courage by the sight of her little one struggling in my
hand. At this downy stage the young birds are white below, finely mottled
with black, white, and rich brown above; the feet and under mandibles are
light coloured; the upper mandible is blackish.”

Some of the Totanide are amongst the most wary and difficult
birds to approach. At the breeding-season, however, their habits

THE ZoOLOGIST-—-SEPTEMBER, 1876. 5065

are entirely changed ; and it then becomes possible to get near
the most timid and suspicious of the family :—

“Under ordinary circumstances willets are notoriously restless, wary,
and noisy birds; but their nature is changed, or, at any rate, held in
abeyance, during and for a short time after incubation. They cease their
cries, grow less uneasy, become gentle, if still suspicious, and may generally
be seen stalking quietly about the nest. When willets are found in that
humour—absent-minded, as it were, absorbed in reflection upon their
engrossing duties, and unlikely to observe anything not directly in front of
their bill—it is pretty good evidence that they have a nest hard by. It is
the same with avocets, and probably many other waders. During incubation
the bird that is ‘off duty’ (both parents are said to take turns at this)
almost always indulges in reverie, doubtless rose-tinted, and becomes in a
corresponding degree oblivious to outward things. If then they are not set
upon in a manner entirely too rude and boisterous, the inquiring ornithologist
could desire no better opportunity than he will have to observe their every
motion and attitude. But once let them become thoroughly alarmed by too
open approach, particularly if the sitting bird be driven from her nest, and
the scene quickly shifts; there is a great outcry, violent protest and tumult,
where was quietude. Other pairs, nesting near by, join their cries till the
confusion becomes general. But now, again, their actions are not those
they would show at other times; for, instead of flying off with the instinct
of self-preservation, to put distance between them and danger, they are
held by some fascination to the spot, and hover around, wheeling about,
flying in circles a little way to return again, with unremitting clamour.
They may be only too easily destroyed under such circumstances, pro-
vided the ornithologist can lay aside his scruples and steel himself against
sympathy.”

The correctness of the following amusing life-picture may be
tested by any one who lives in a part of the country where the
summer snipe, the common redshank, or the green sandpiper are
to be met with. All these birds have the same fondness for
bowing to themselves as the solitary tattler, whose “nods and
becks” the Doctor has recorded. This, by the way, is an
American species, of probably not infrequent occurrence in
England, but easily to be confounded with the wood sandpiper,
and hence overlooked. The chief distinction lies in the colour of
the feathers above the rump, which are green in the solitary
tattler, and white in the wood sandpiper. Writing of the former
bird, the Doctor remarks :—

5066 THE ZOOLOGIST—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

“These tattlers indulge on all occasions a propensity for nodding, like
Lord Burleigh or the Chinese mandarins in front of tea-shops; and when
they see something they cannot quite make out, seem to reason with them-
selves, and finally come to a conclusion in this way ; impressing themselves
heavily with a sense of their own logic. They go through the bowing exer-
cise with a gravity that may quite upset that of a disinterested spectator,
and yet all through the performance, so ludicrous in itself, contrive to
preserve something of the passive sedateness that marks all their movements.
This bobbing of the head and fore parts is the correspondent and counter-
part of the still more curious actions of the spotted tattlers, or ‘ tip-ups,’ as
they are aptly called, from this circumstance ; a queer balancing of the body
upon the legs, constituting an amusement of which these last-named birds
are extremely fond. As often as the tip-up, or ‘teeter-tail,’ as it is also
called, stops in its pursuit of insects, the fore-part of the body is lowered
a little, the head drawn in, the legs slightly bent, whilst the hinder parts
and tail are alternately hoisted with a peculiar jerk, and drawn down again,
with the regularity of clockwork. The movement is more conspicuous
in the upward than in the downward part of the performance; as if the
tail were spring-hinged, in constant danger of flying-up, and needing con-
stant presence of mind to keep it down. It is amusing to see an old male
in the breeding-season busy with this operation. Upon some rock jutting
out of the water he stands, swelling with amorous pride and self-sufficiency,
puffing out his plumage till he looks twice as big as natural, facing about
on his narrow pedestal, and bowing with his hinder parts to all points of
the compass. A sensitive and fastidious person might see something deri-
sive, if not actually insulting in this, and feel as Crusoe may be presumed
to have felt when the savages who attacked his ship in canoes showed the
signs of contumacious scorn that De Foe records. But it would not be
worth while to feel offended, since this is only the entirely original and
peculiar way the tip-up has of conducting his courtships. Ornithologists
are not agreed upon the useful purpose subserved in this way, and have as
yet failed to account for the extraordinary performance. The solitary
tattlers, that we have lost sight of for a moment, are fond of standing
motionless in the water when they have satisfied their hunger, or of wading
about up to their bellies with slow, measured steps. If startled at such
times, they rise lazily and lightly on wing, fly rather slowly a little distance,
with dangling legs and outstretched neck, to soon re-alight and look about
with a dazed expression. Just as their feet touch the ground, the long,
pointed wings are lifted, till their tips nearly meet above, and are then
deliberately folded. ‘The Esquimaux curlews and some other birds have
the same habit. The tattlers are unusually silent birds; but when sud-
denly alarmed they utter a low and rather pleasing whistle as they fly off,
or even without moving.”

THe ZooLocist—SerteMBER, 1876. 5067

We cannot leave the Tringz, a very favourite group of birds
with us, without quoting Dr. Coues’ very pathetic description of
the nest of the peep, that tiniest of all sandpipers, which, in spite
of its pigmy size, has yet dared the long journey from America to
our shores. A short time since we had the pleasure of seeing
a very beautiful specimen in the rich collection of Mr. Vingoe, of
Penzance, which had been shot by him at Marazion :—

“Fogs hang low and heavy over rock-girdled Labrador. Angry waves,
paled with rage, exhaust themselves to encroach upon the stern shores,
and baffled, sink back howling into the depths. Winds shriek, as they
course from crag to crag in mad career, till the humble mosses that clothe
the rocks crouch lower still in fear. Overhead the sea gulls scream as they
winnow, and the murres, all silent, ply eager oars to escape the blast. What
is here to entice the steps of the delicate birds? Yet they have come, urged
by resistless impulse, and have made a nest on the ground in some half-
sheltered nook. The material was ready at hand, in the mossy covering of
the earth, and little care or thought was needed to fashion a little bunch into
a little home. Four eggs are laid (they are buffy yellow, thickly spotted
over with brown and drab), with the points together, that they may take up
less room and be more warmly covered; there is need of this, such large
eggs belonging to so small a bird. As we draw near the mother sees us,
and nestles closer still over her treasures, quite hiding them in the covering
of her breast, and watches us with timid eyes, all anxiety for the safety of
what is dearer to her than her own life. Her mate stands motionless, but
not unmoved, hard by, not venturing even to chirp the note of encourage-
ment and sympathy she loves to hear. Alas! hope fades and dies out,
leaving only fear; there is no further concealment—we are almost upon the
nest: almost trodden, upon, she springs up with a piteous cry and flies a
little distance, re-alighting, almost beside herself with grief; for she knows
only too well what is to be feared at such a time. If there were hope for
her that her nest were undiscovered, she might dissimulate, and try to
entice us away by those touching deceits that maternal love inspires. But
we are actually bending over her treasures, and deception would be in vain ;
her grief is too great to be witnessed unmoved, still less pourtrayed; nor
can we, deaf to her beseeching, change it into despair. We have seen and
admired the home—there is no excuse for making it desolate; we have not
so much as touched one of the precious eggs, and will leave them to her
renewed and patient care.”

In the July number of the ‘ Ibis,’ Messrs. Seebohm and Harvie
Brown, in an interesting article on the birds met by them at the
mouth of the Petchora river, relate their discovery of the nest of a

5068 THE ZooLtocist—SrerreMBeER, 1876.

near relation of the peep—the little stint—under circumstances
very similar to those mentioned above. Particulars of the nesting
of the rarer Tring are very welcome to British ornithologists, not
all of whom possess the energy or the opportunity to visit
Northern Russia in search of those secluded spots in which
hitherto the secret of the eggs and nests of many species has been
kept inviolate. Like the peep, the little stint appears to be a
fearless parent. We quote from Mr. Harvie Brown’s. account of
his first little stint’s nest :—

* As I came nearer I saw a small bird flying in circles round him
(Piottuch) and Simeon, and alighting now and again close to them. Seeing
this I ran forward, and Piottuch held out two young little stints,* not more
than a day, or at most two days, out of the shell. I sat down; and ere many
seconds elapsed the old bird alighted within a yard or two of our feet,
uttering a very small, anxious, whistling note. My gun lay on the ground
beside me, within reach of my hand; and I put down one of the young
about six inches beyond it. Almost immediately the old bird advanced
close up to it, and, uttering its low notes, endeavoured to lead it away.
Piottuch then held out the other young one in his left hand, and it uttered
a scarcely audible cheep. The old bird advanced fearlessly to within twelve
inches of his hand; and he nearly caught it. I then shouted to Seebohm
to come, being at the same time prepared to shoot the bird if it flew away
to any distance; but no, it only flew about ten or fifteen yards, and then
began to sham lameness, tumbling about among the little hummocks and
hollows, and never going further from us than about thirty paces.”

The eggs of the little stint are described as like dunlin’s eggs in
miniature. Drawings of four of those brought to England by
Mr. Harvie Brown are given in the ‘ Ibis.’

To return to Dr. Coues. Among the extraordinary birds
furnished by the American list may be mentioned the wood ibis,
called in Colorado the “ water turkey.” This ibis is nearly as
large as a crane, is white, with black tips to the wings, and
a black tail. “The head is peculiar, being entirely bald in the
adult bird, and having an enormously thick, heavy bill, tapering
and a little decurved at the end.” ‘The wood ibis avoids the
intense mid-day heats by mounting high into the heavens, circling
round and round in the cooler currents of air.

* There is a yery beautiful drawing, from the pencil of Mr. Keulemans, of the
little stint in its nestling plumage, taken from Mr. Harvie Brown's specimens, in
Mr. Dresser’s magnificent work on the ‘ Birds of Europe.’

THE ZooLocist—SEPTEMBER, 1876. 53069

“A long white line, dimly seen at first in the distance, issues out of the
gray-green woods. It is a troop of wood ibises, leaving their heated covert
for what seems the still less endurable glare of day, yet reckoning well, for
they have before enjoyed the cooler currents of the upper air, unheated by
reflection from the parched and shrinking sands. They come nearer, rising
higher as they come, till they are directly overhead in the bright blue.
Flapping heavily until they had cleared all obstacles, then mounting faster,
with strong, regular beats of their broad wings, now they sail in circles
with wide-spread, motionless pinions, supported as if by magic. A score or
more cross each other's paths in interminable spirals, their snowy bodies
tipped at the wing-points with jetty black, clear cut against the sky; they
become specks in the air, and finally pass from view.”

Audubon, quoted by the Doctor, gives a good description of the
manner in which these ibises feed :—

“The wood ibis,” he says, “ feeds entirely upon fish and aquatic reptiles,
of which it destroys an enormous quantity, in fact more than it eats; for
if they have been killing fish for half-an hour, and gorged themselves, they
suffer the rest to lie on the water untouched, to become food for alligators,
crows and vultures. To procure its food, the wood ibis walks through
shallow, muddy lakes, or bayous, in numbers. As soon as they have
discovered a place abounding in fish, they dance, as it were, all through it,
until the water becomes thick with the mud stirred from the bottom with
their feet. The fishes, on rising to the surface, are instautly struck by the
beak of the ibises, and on being deprived of life they turn over, and so
remain. In the course of ten or fifteen minutes, hundreds of fishes, frogs,
young alligators, and water-snakes, cover the surface, and the birds greedily
swallow them until they are completely gorged, after which they walk to
the nearest margins, place themselves in long rows, with their breasts all
turned towards the sun, in the manner of pelicans and vultures, and thus
remain for an hour or so.”

It is a common fallacy to discredit any variations in the habits
of animals or birds familiar to us. When such are reported we are
sometimes apt to dispute the fact. Were any one bold enough to
record in a popular journal that he had seen a snipe sitting on a
rail, a woodcock perched upon a tree, or a sky lark singing upon
the ground, the experience of many people would be so outraged
that they would at once take pen in hand to send in a con-
tradiction of these statements. Because they had never themselves
seen such things (and all that we have instanced are by no means

SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. Vx

5070 THE ZooLoGist—SEPr EMBER, 1876.

unusual) they will argue that they never could have happened.
The other day, in North Cornwall, we saw a sky lark perched
upon the topmost twig of a tall bush in a hedge, singing lustily.
But to state such an occurrence as this is like throwing down the
gauntlet for anyone who has not seen a sky lark so behaving to
take up. In foreign countries the conduct of some of our familiar
English birds is so abnormal that a great demand will seem to be
made on the credulity of some by the mere statement of them.
Audubon has recorded the fact that the herring gull,—the com-
monest of all our sea-gulls, which nests on every part of our cliffs,
and the sight of whose beautiful eggs has been the delight of
many a holiday excursionist to the sea-side, as, leaning over the
edge, he has looked down on the clutches resting on the ledges
beneath him,—that our well-known and beautiful herring gull so
far forgets itself as to be found breeding in communities in trees !
In Mr. Harvie Brown’s article in the ‘Ibis, which we have
already referred to, we are told that on the Petchora it is quite
common to see the common snipe perched high up on trees. He
states that he saw one sitting on the topmost upright twig of a
bare larch, seventy feet from the ground, from which it was
uttering “its curious, double ‘clucking’ note.” To make sure
that there was no mistake in the matter, a snipe was shot when
perched on a high tree. ‘‘Nor is the common snipe the only
bird which, not practising the habit with us, we found perching
freely in Northern Russia: the snow bunting and pipits have
already been instanced; and we may also mention the common
gull. The curlew also was seen to perch on bushes and trees at
Sujma, near Archangel, by Alston and Harvie Brown, in 1872.
There can be little doubt, we imagine, that this habit was induced’
in the first instance by the flooding of great tracts of country by
the annual overflow of the rivers in spring, just at the time of the
passage of the migratory flights, and, further, that what was
originally forced upon them has become, by use, a favourite
habit.” Dr. Coues states that Branta Canadensis, the commonest
wild goose of North America, nests, in various parts of the Upper
Missouri and Fellowstone regions, in trees; and adds, “ This fact
of arboreal nidification is probably little known, and might even
be doubted by some.” But there are others of the Anatidz, such
as the wood duck and the common goldeneye, which place their
nests in trees, and carry their young down to the water in their

THE Zool.ocist—SEPTEMBER, 1876. 5071

bills. And a well-known instance is on record of a wild duck
nesting on the top of a church-tower.

If one characteristic of the American Ornis is the number and
variety of the Totanid, another is the extreme beauty of the
game-birds which, known by the names of pheasants, partridges
or chicken, are all of them true grouse. Of these, Cupidonia
Cupido, the pinnated grouse, the well-known “ prairie hen,” may
be pronounced the most beautiful. In the wilds spring is ushered
in by the strange booming call of the sharptailed grouse. The
effect of these peculiar notes, when heard for the first time, is, the
Doctor says, indescribable. ‘No one could say whence the sound
proceeded, nor how many birds, if more than one, produced it; the
hollow reverberations filled the air, more like the lessening echoes
of some great instrument far away, than the voice of a bird at hand.”

The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), in those districts where
it is to be met with, in the spring months produces a peculiar
drumming, concerning which there has been some dispute among
ornithologists. Dr. Coues agrees in the main with the reason
assigned by Nuttall for this performance, and quotes his account
of it :—

“In the month of April the ruffed grouse begins to be recognised by his
peculiar drumming, heard soon after dawn and toward the close of evening.
At length, as the season of pairing approaches, it is heard louder and more
frequent till a later hour of the day, and commences again toward the close
of the afternoon. This sonorous crepitating sound, strongly resembling a
low peel of distant thunder, is produced by the male, who, as a preliminary
to the operation, stands upright on a prostrate log, parading with erected
tail and ruff, and with drooping wings, in the manner of the turkey. After
swelling out his feathers and strutting forth for a few moments, at a sudden
impulse, like the motions of a crowing cock, he draws down his elevated
plumes, and, stretching himself forward, loudly beats his sides with his
wings with such accelerating motion, after the first few strokes, as to cause
the tremor described, which may be heard reverberating, in a still morning,
to the distance of from a quarter to half a mile. This curious signal is
repeated at intervals of six or eight minutes. The same sound is also heard
in autumn as well as in the spring, and is given by the caged birds as well
as the free, being, at times, merely an instinctive expression of hilarity and
vigour. The drumming parade of the male is often likewise the signal for
a quarrel; and when they happen to meet each other in the vicinity of their
usual and stated walks, obstinate battles, like those of our domestic fowls
for the sovereignty of the dunghill, but too commonly succeed.”

5072 THE ZooLOGIST—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

Besides these peculiar notes and actions indulged in by the
birds at particular times, most grouse at the pairing season per-
form strange dances and antics, which have been amusingly
described by various writers. There is a laughable account of
one of these “‘ chicken-dances,” as the Americans call them, in the
first volume of the late Mr. T. Keast Lord’s ‘The Naturalist in
British Columbia.’ On this occasion it was the sharptailed grouse
(Pediocetes Phasianellus) which provided the entertainment. At
the risk of extracting a passage which may be well known to many
of our readers, we give the humorous picture of the performance
in Mr. Lord’s own words :—

“T had often longed to be present at one of these chicken-dances; and it
so happened that, riding up into the hills early one spring morning, my
most ardent wishes were fully realised. The peculiar ‘chuck-chuck’ came
clear and shrill upon the crisp frosty air, and told me a dance was afoot.
I tied up my horse and my dog, and crept quietly along, and, without
exciting observation, gained the shelter of an old pine-stump close to the
summit of a hillock; and there, sure enough, the ball was at its height.

‘Reader, can you go back to the days of your first pantomime, your first
Punch-and-Judy, or bring to your remembrance the fresh, bounding, joyous
delight that you felt in the days of your youth, when you had before your
eyes some long and deeply-wished-for novelty? If you can, you will be able
to imagine my childish pleasure when looking for the first time on a
chicken-dance. ‘There were about eighteen or twenty birds present on this
occasion, and it was almost impossible to distinguish the males from the
females, the plumage being so nearly alike; but I imagine the females
were the passive ones. The four birds nearest to me were head to head,
like game-cocks in fighting attitude—the neck-feathers ruffed up, the little
sharp tail elevated straight on end, the wings dropped close to the ground,
but keeping up by a rapid vibration a continued throbbing or drumming
sound.

“ They circled round and round each other in slow waltzing time, always
maintaining the same attitude, but never striking at or grappling with each
other; then the pace ‘increased, and one hotly pursued the other until he
faced about, and téte-a-téte went waltzing round again; then they did a sort
of ‘Cure’ performance, jumping about two feet into the air until they were
winded; and then they strutted about and ‘struck an attitude,’ like an
acrobat after a successful tumble. There were others marching about, with
their tails and heads as high as they could stick them up, evidently doing
the ‘heavy swell;’ others, again, did not appear to have any well-defined
ideas what they ought to do, and kept flying up and pitching down again,

i ee |.

4

THE ZOoLOGIst—SEPTEMBER, 1876. 5073

and were manifestly restless and excited—perhaps rejected suitors contem-
plating something desperate. The music to this eccentric dance was the
loud ‘ chuck-chuck’ continuously repeated, and the strange throbbing sound
produced by the vibrating wings. I saw several balls after this, but in
every one the same series of strange evolutions were carried out.”

As is well known, our own black-game are given to very similar
proceedings. The beauty of the scene is still fresh in our memory
when, one perfect evening in early May, we witnessed certain
gallant young black-cocks entertaining a select party of gray-hens
to an exhibition of their dancing powers on the top of Winsford
Hill, one of the most beautiful peaks of Exmoor. All sportsmen
know how wary a bird is Master Blackie and difficult to get near
when the shooting season is well on; but those mentioned above
were so engaged in their antics that they permitted us to approach
them within a few feet without taking any notice. Their attitudes
closely resembled those of the sharptailed grouse deseribed by
Mr. Lord; there was the same dancing of the birds round and
round, with their heads close together, like young cockerels com-
mencing an affuire @honneur ; the same standing near at hand of
other cock birds, engrossed in seeing that all was done in proper
style; while above the tufts of heather we could see the heads of
the belles of the pack, their bright eyes raining influence, no
doubt, and prepared to award the prize of their devotion to the
best-approved performer.

We are fond of reading of that touching tameness which takes
possession of all wild things when under the power of the parental
storgé. Dr. Coues has mentioned many instances, some of which
we have already quoted; here is yet another, relating to the
whitetailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus) :—

“While on her nest, the bird is very tame. Once, while walking near
the summit of the range, I chanced to look down, and saw a ptarmigan in
the grass, at my very feet; at the next step Ishould have trodden upon her.
Seeing that she did not appear frightened, I sat down gently, stroked her
on the back, and finally, putting both hands beneath her, raised her gently
off the nest and set her down on the grass, while she scolded and pecked
my hands like a sitting hen; and, on being released, merely flew off a few
yards and settled on a rock, from which she watched me until I had gone
away. Late in July I came across a brood of young ones, apparently not
more than ‘four or five days old. They were striped with broad bands of
white and blackish brown, and looked precisely like little game chickens.

5074 THE ZooLoGIst—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

The mother flew in my face and hit me with her wings, using all the little
artifices that the quail and partridge know so well how to employ, to draw
me away; while her brood, seven or eight in number, nimbly ran and hid
themselves in the dense grass and among the stones.”

We have always felt a weakness for owls. By the American
Indians these birds are regarded with much superstition; the rule
being, the smaller the owl the bigger the medicine. Glaucidium
Californicum of Sclater, the tiniest of all the American species, is
the “medicine” or “death owl” of the Indians. Mr. Keast Lord
had an opportunity of observing this little species nesting in
Vancouver Island, and has written an interesting account of its
habits. But, besides these pigmies, there are in the American list
such splendid owls as the Virginian great horned owl, and the
beautiful snowy owl. With but few exceptions, owls are solitary
recluses. It is not often that more than a pair are seen together. In
this country, in the winter time, sometimes as many as a score of
the shorteared owl may be flushed together from a spot of rushy
ground ; but we have no other owls in our list which congregate.
Dr. Coues relates an instance of the longeared owl once forming
a community. This bird is a variety of our English species, known
as Otus Wilsonianus. Quoting from information supplied by
Dr. Gentry, Dr. Coues tells us :—

“ Within three-quarters of a mile of Chestnut Hill (upper part of German-
town), existed an immense forest of pines, within a comparatively recent
period, which was the great place of rendezvous of the longeared owl during
the dreary winter months, and where, in the spring-time, the females
deposited their eggs in rude and unsightly nests of their own construction.
The numbers that thronged this thicket of pines was prodigious, so there
were very few of the trees, if any, that had not supported one or more nests.
The many fragments of the bones of mammals and birds, and the other
remains of the same in piles upon the ground, bore testimony to the whole-
sale destruction of life that was carried on. Within the last two years,
during which time many of the trees have yielded to the woodman’s axe,
the number that visit the wood is small in comparison. The birds have
mostly gone to more congenial localities, and but a few remain of all that
mighty host.”

There is one interesting species of ow], varieties of which are
common in both North and South America, which, as is well
known, is social; concerning whose habits a good many fables

THE ZooLocist—SErTEeMBER, 1876. 5075

have been handed down. This is the burrowing owl, at one time
believed to live in common with prairie dogs and rattlesnakes.
Whenever it can save itself the trouble of excavating its own
burrow, this bird is only too pleased, and the disused dens of
wolves, foxes, and badgers, and especially of the various species
of marmot squirrels, are taken advantage of. From this lazy custom
of the owls arose the tradition of their sharing the homes of the
prairie dogs, and the rattlesnakes were thrown in by way of making
things comfortable :—

* According to the dense bathos of such nursery tales, in this under-
ground Elysium the snakes give their rattles to the puppies to play with,
the old dogs cuddle the owlets, and farm out their own litters to the grave
and careful birds; when an owl and a dog come home, paw-in-wing, they are
often mistaken by their respective progeny, the little dogs nosing the owls
in search of the maternal font, and the old dogs left to wonder why the
baby owls will not nurse. It is a pity to spoil a good story for the sake of
a few facts, but, as the case stands, it would be well for the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to take it up. First, as to the reptiles,
it may be observed that they are like other rattlesnakes, dangerous, venomous
creatures ; they have no business in the burrows, and are after no good
when they do enter. They wriggle into the holes, partly because there is
no other place for them to crawl into on the bare, flat plain, and partly in
search of owls’ eggs, owlets, and puppies, to eat. Next, the owls themselves
are simply attracted to the villages of prairie-dogs as the most convenient
places for shelter and nidification, where they find eligible, ready-made
burrows, and are spared the trouble of digging for themselves. Community
of interest makes them gregarious to an extent unusual among rapacious
birds; while the exigencies of life on the plains cast their lot with the
rodents. That the owls live at ease in the settlements, and on familiar
terms with their four-footed neighbours, is an undoubted fact ; but that they
inhabit the same burrows, or have any intimate domestic relations, is quite
another thing. It is no proof that the quadrupeds and the birds live
together, that they are often seen to scuttle at each other's heels into the
same hole when alarmed; for in such a case the two simply seek the
nearest shelter, independently of each other. The probability is, that
young dogs often furnish a meal to the owls, and that, in return, the latter
are often robbed of their eggs; while certainly the young of both, and the
owls’ eggs, are eaten by the snakes. In the larger settlements there are
thousands upon thousands of burrows, many occupied by the dogs, but more,
perhaps, vacant. These latter are the homes of the owls. Moreover, the
ground below is honey-combed with communicating passages, leading in
every direction. If the’ underground plan could be mapped, it would

5076 THE ZOOLOGIST—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

resemble the city of Boston, with its tortuous and devicus streets. The
dogs are continually busy in fair weather in repairing and extending their
establishments; the main entrances may be compared to the stump of a
hollow tree, the interior of which communicates with many hollow branches
that moreover intersect, these passages finally ending in little pockets, the
real home of the animals. It is quite possible that the respective retreats of
an owl and a dog may have but one vestibule, but even this does not imply
that they nest together. It is strong evidence in point, that, usually,
there are the fewest owls in the towns most densely populated by the dogs,
and conversely. Scarcity of food, of water, or some obscure cause, often
makes the dogs emigrate from one locality to another; it is in such ‘deserted
villages’ that the owls are usually seen in the greatest numbers. I have
never seen them so numerous as in places where there were plenty of holes,
but where scarcely a stray dog remained.”

The nest of the burrowing owl is described as very filthy. The
birds carry into it all manner of refuse. One nest which was
examined was found to be well filled “ with dry, soft horse-dung,
bits of an old blanket, and fur of a coyote” (Canis latrans). The
whole nest swarmed with fleas. In the passage leading to it were
scraps of dead animals, such as pieces of the skin of the antelope,
half-dried and half-putrefied ; the skin of the coyoté, and part of a
snake on which the birds had been feeding. Seven young birds
were in the nest, all balls of down. In general the burrowing owl
is an insect-feeder, running over the prairie in search of grass-
hoppers and small lizards, but nothing comes very much amiss to
it. Our last quotation from Dr. Coues’ book shall be his amusing
account of the gesticulations of these owls :—

““As commonly observed, perched on one of the innumerable little
eminences that mark a dog-town, amid their curious surroundings, they
present a spectacle not easily forgotten. Their figure is peculiar, with their
long legs and short tail; the element of the grotesque is never wanting; it
is hard to say whether they look most ludicrous as they stand stiffly erect
and motionless, or when they suddenly turn tail to duck into the hole, or
when engaged in their various antics. Bolt upright, on what may be
imagined their rostrum, they gaze about with a bland and self-satisfied, but
earnest air, as if about to address an audience upon a subject of great pith
and moment. They suddenly bow low, with profound gravity, and rising as
abruptly, they begin to twitch their face and roll their eyes about in the
most mysterious manner, gesticulating wildly, every now and then bending
forward till the breast almost touches the ground, to propound the argument
with more telling effect. ‘Then they face about to address the rear, that all

THE ZooLoGiIst—SEPTEMBER, 1876. 5077

may alike feel the force of their logic; they draw themselves up to their
fullest height, outwardly calm and self-contained, pausing in the discourse
to note its effect upon the audience, and collect their wits for the next
rhetorical flourish. And no distant likeness between these frothy orators
and others is found in the celerity with which they subside and seek their
holes on the slightest intimation of danger.”

Thus have we wandered on from one pleasant extract to another,
until we fear we have more than occupied our allotted space; and
still are there many more passages we should like to present to
the reader. We have not touched on the great family of raptorial
birds, save a notice or two upon the owls, some of its humblest
members; and many of the larger American hawks are interesting
to us from the fact that individuals have strayed to the British
Islands. It would appear that there is an American condor which
as yet has not come into the hands of any naturalist for scientific
description. This is the Queleli of the Indians, a bird regarded
by them with the utmost veneration, concerning which they have
strange legends. The people of Sonora declare that it possesses
four wings. \n Mr. Boyle’s amusing tales of adventure in America,
“Camp Notes,’ we read of the mysterious Queleli having been seen
in Arizona. It swept on its great wings low above the privileged
spectator. The bird is described as of great size, and of an almost
pure white plumage. Inhabiting those dangerous tracts of country
still infested by savage Indian tribes, some time may still pass
before a specimen of it be procured. But there is no doubt that
an undescribed condor or vulture exists to-day among the mountain
districts which are the homes of the Apaches.

Murray A. MatTHew.
Bishop’s Lydeard, August 16, 1876.

Occurrence of the Whitesided Dolphin on the Irish Coast—It is with
great pleasure that I am able to record an interesting addition to our Irish
Fauna, through the occurrence of a fine specimen of this rare cetacean (the
Delphinus acutus of J. E. Gray), which was washed ashore here dead, but
in a perfectly fresh state, on the 19th of July, and measured about seven
feet six inches, of which one foot was tail, and the depth of this appendage
was twenty-three inches. As usual in such cases, I did not hear of the
incoming of this individual until too late; when I got to the scene of action
the idle part of the population had mutilated the remains, one man having

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 2Y

5078 THE ZoOLOGIST—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

taken the head, which, however, he was good enough to show me, and let
me measure, but refused ten shillings for, as he “ wanted to make a saw of
it!” another had the back fin, a third the tail; the latter part, however,
was presented to the lady below whose house the dolphin was washed
ashore, and who, hearing that it was a rare species, most kindly presented
it to me, upon which I sent it, with a characteristic piece of the skin,
showing the various colours, up to my friend Mr. A. G. More, of the Royal
Dublin Society's Museum. According to the last edition of Bell’s ‘ British
Quadrupeds’ (p. 470), this species seems to have occurred nowhere on the
British coast, except among the Orkney Islands, and it is undoubtedly the
first time that it has been obtained on the Irish coast. There was a cut
about two inches long oun its side, immediately under the back fin, probably
made by a harpoon. The arrangement of colours, the tail, and especially the
head, differ very much from the engraving in Bell’s ‘ British Quadrupeds,’
which does not show the projecting snout; but my specimen certainly had
the nose almost as marked as in the figure in “ Bell” of D. tursio, while
the tail in his figure is out of all proportion small; it is also to be noticed
that the colours are somewhat differently arranged; nor does Bell mention
a light blue stripe running along the side below the white mark, which was
very conspicuous in my specimen. I have still some hope of obtaining the
skull and perhaps some of the vertebre, and shall let you know if I should
obtain any further information. —J. Douglas-Oygilby ; Portrush, July 20,
1876.

Ornithological Notes from Blakenny.—I shot some sanderlings on the
12th of August at Blakenny, in Norfolk, and found them, to my surprise,
to be old birds. Probably the young ones, which have far to come from the
place where they were hatched, had not yet arrived, and these old ones had
most likely not been so far. To take another species, the dunlin: this bird
breeds in Scotland and in some parts of England, and in the beginning of
August there are more young dunlins than old ones at Blakenny. At that
time the turnstones are only just commencing to come. On the 12th I only
shot one, where later in the season I have sometimes shot six or seven ina
day, but that was an adult in most perfect summer plumage. I cannot help
alluding with satisfaction to the marked increase of the terns. It is
generally believed that it is illegal to take their eggs, to which circumstance
their increase is in part owing. At the furthest point of the north side of
the harbour I saw such a drove as would never have been seen eight years
ago: it consisted of about two-thirds lesser terns and one-third common
terns, with a few black terns and I believe also a few arctic terns; there
could not have been less than two hundred and fifty of them. Near them
were a few blackheaded gulls. The young of this species of gull is very
common at Blakenny at this time, much more so than any other kind of

ore

ee rt rst—“=SCS~<S‘~;~;~; DU

THE ZooLoGiIst— SEPTEMBER, 1876. 5079

gull. They quit their breeding haunts at Scoulton and Hoveton before
they have learned what danger is, and coming down to the sea-coast fly
heedlessly within range of every gunner. Last month (July 14th) I saw
one in a field at Cromer: it was quite able to fly, but apparently insensible
to danger: after several attempts to catch it with a net I left it to feed in
peace, but, unluckily for the poor gull, the field abutted on a school: as
soon as lessons were over a troop of boys poured out, espied it of course,
and speedily brought it down with a stone. I understand from a gentleman
who is a naturalist that he saw a Richardson’s skua on or about the 9th at
Blakenny, which is early—J. H. Gurney, jun.; Northrepps, Norwich,
August 13, 1876.

Erratum.—In my note on the godwits in the August number of the
‘ Zoologist’ (S. 5. 5046) for British read bartailed.—J. H. G., jun.

Sternum of the Peregrine Falcon.—I mentioned in the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. S.
8046) the occurrence of a female peregrine beginning to assume the adult
plumage at Hempstead, in Norfolk, on the 2nd of February, 1872. In my
father’s opinion it is an early bird of the preceding summer, but the adult
plumage is very considerably developed, and I should have supposed that
it had been older. I allude to it again to say that I have compared its
sternum with the sterna of several other peregrines, and to my surprise
find it the only one which has posterior emarginations in lieu of holes—a
fact which militates against the commonly received opinion that these
membranous spaces in birds fill up with age, until they become nearly or
quite ossified.—Zd.

Hen Warrier in Northumberland.—On the 27th of May last I observed
one of these birds passing over this neighbourhood; it was flying low in a
north-westerly direction, and passed me within easy gun-shot; therefore,
I could not mistake the species, with which in days gone by I was so
familiar. I used often to watch and admire this bird as it hunted and
quartered so beautifully the outskirts of those extensive mosses in the west
of Stirlingshive in search of its quarry. No pointer or setter could surpass
it in this; it left no likely part untried, and when its quarry rose almost
under its wings it immediately swooped at it; but if the quarry deftly evaded
this first swoop, the harrier seldom made a second, or even attempted pursuit
to obtain it—Samuel Yuille; Shotley Hall, Durham. (rom the ‘ Field’
of July 8th, 1876.)

Syrnium aluco.—Mr. Gatcombe (Zool. 8.8. 3398) mentions a tawny owl
which flew down a chimney. An owl of this species flew down a chimney
at Northrepps. I was not before aware that they frequented such places.
It was a most grimy creature when I saw it—a regular melanism, in fact,
and the only melanism of a tawny owl I ever heard of, except the specimen
at Constantinople, which has been recorded twice in the ‘ Ibis’ (1870, p. 77,
1876, p. 63).—J. 7. Gurney, jun.

5080 ‘Tue ZooLocist—S EPTEMBER, 1876.

Woodchat Shrike at Lyme Regis.—On the 22nd of June, being on the
Lyme Undercliff with a companion,—both of us provided with good
telescopes,—we observed a fine male woodchat shrike perched on one of
the bushes which abound over that vast tract of tumbled ground. I had
no doubt of the identity of the bird; but, not having seen one before
in this country, I made a sketch while watching it, noting carefully the
arrangement of its colours—remarking the rich red-brown of the upper
part of the head and neck, the black line running backwards from the
forehead and inclosing the eye, the large white patch on the shoulder and
the smaller white mark on the otherwise black wing, and the pale gray of
the throat and breast. These observations we were able to make at our
leisure, as the bird remained for some minutes before us, within easy range,
frequently changing its position, turning now its front and now its side to
our view. My notes having been taken down and verified on the spot,
though they are imperfect as a description of the shrike, are yet sufficient to
leave no doubt as to the identity of the species —Arthur Lister ; Highcliff,
Lyme Regis. (From the ‘ Field,’ July 8, 1876.)

Fauces of the Blackeap.— Prof. Newton, on the authority of Beltoni, says
the fauces of the nestling blackeap are pink (Zool. 8. S. 3527), and further
on Mr. Cecil Smith, from personal observation, speaks of them as pale
pink (S.S. 3627). A few weeks ago I found a blackeap’s nest, with eggs in
it on which the old bird was sitting, and her young when hatched had what
I should term mouths of a bright red-lake colour. On my last visit to the
nest they were nearly fit to fly, and I took one of them out of the nest to
examine it.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Blue Tit nesting in a Hole used by a Kingfisher.— A few days since
I went with a boy to be shown a hole where a pair of kingfishers had bred
this year. It is near the top of a small arch which is under the canal and
through which a stream runs: it is about two feet from the entrance to the
arch. On looking into this hole I saw a bird which was not inclined to
come out; however, after a little poking with a stick, out came a blue tit
into my hands: it was a little frightened and glad to fly away. It was
impossible, from the shape and size of the hole, to ascertain whether it
contained eggs or young birds. So far as my experience goes, kingfishers
prefer nesting in holes in the banks of streams to holes in masonry.—
J. E. Palmer ; Lucan, County Dublin, July 22, 1876.

‘Supposed new British Lark” (Zool. 1697).—The isabelline variety of
our common sky lark, which is not of infrequent occurrence, is described as
a species upon anatomical grounds, under the name of Alauda isabellina,
in the fifth volume of the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 1697), by Mr. S. Mummery.
The passage is alluded to in the first volume of Dresser's ‘ Birds of
Europe’ (article Skylark), under the head of varieties, and everyone will
agree with the author that under that head these birds must go. Having

‘THe ZooLocist—SEPreMBER, 1876. 5U81

just had two breast-bones of these isabelline larks for comparison with the
common-coloured sort, it may be worth while (Mr. Mummery having
founded his name on a difference of structure) to say that, as was to be
expected, I can see no difference.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Hooded Crows at Mamborough in Summer.—I mentioned (Zool. S. S.
2728) having seen a pair at Flamborough on the 22nd of June. Mr. Bailey
writes me that on the 13th of the present month (August) he was taking a
stroll over the identical place, and saw six. He thinks they had bred on
the cliff, and I have no doubt he is right.—Td.

Magpie laying twice in the same Nest.—A gentleman who saw my note
on the crows in the July number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. S. 5005), sends me
the following information :—Early in 1875 a magpie built her nest in an
ash tree in a hedgerow, which was robbed, but she soon laid seven more
eggs; and this year, in an adjoining field, precisely the same incident was
repeated.—C. Matthew Prior; The Avenue, Bedford.

A productive Wryneck.—In the volume of the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1872
(S. 8. 3227) I have given in some detail an account of a pair of wrynecks
which laid forty-two eggs in one summer. From the friend who furnished
me with the particulars I have now obtained the completion of these
wrynecks’ history. He tells me that the next year (1873) they again laid
forty-two eggs, making the extraordinary total of eighty-four eggs in two
years, if they were, as he supposes, the same pair both years. This must
be a matter of conjecture, but they nested in the same hole of the same
stump, so that it seems likely that they may have been the identical birds.
In 1874 only one egg was laid, and in 1875 none: a wryneck came to the
hole, but it was occupied by a longtailed field mouse, and the bird, Iam
informed, was disgusted and flew away. If the infatuated creature had had
brains enough to remember the past, it might have been thankful, I should
imagine, for the interposition. My friend has given me some of the eggs.
Although it has long been well known among British collectors that the
wryneck may be deluded into laying a large number of eggs, by abstracting
a few ata time, and by never suffering her to sit, the above anecdote is,
I think, unprecedented.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

History of a Young Kingfisher.—As the kingfisher is uncommon and
unknown in some parts of the British Isles, and not often kept in confine-
ment, the following account of a young one now in my possession, may be
of interest. It was one of five brought to us in a basket, on the 31st of May,
by a boy who had taken them from a nest in the bank of a small stream not
more than three feet wide; they were fully fledged, and we think about
three to four weeks old. We kept one and gave the others to Mr. Carter,
the Superintendent of the Zoological Garden, in Phenix Park, Dublin,
thinking that they would be more likely to thrive there than with us, but
unfortunately the four all died after being there four days. The one we

5082 THE ZooLoGist—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

kept was put into a cage, which was often placed out of doors in the day-
time. After two or three days we began to allow it the use of a bath-room
for the greater part of the day, so that it might learn to fly, which it did at
once: when brought to us it did not fly more than half-a-yard, and then
only in a downward direction. During the first week of its captivity we fed
the kingfisher with six to twelve minnows and sticklebacks each day; we
gave them to it head foremost, so that the fins might not stick in its throat ;
it always kept them in its bill for a short time, and then bolted them
suddenly. When it began to take the minnows off our hands it always got
them in its bill crosswise, where it held and shook them before swallowing
them; from this time onwards it ate every day about two dozen minnows
and sticklebacks, and occasionally a young gudgeon. It had been in our
possession for a fortnight when we first saw it fishing for itself, but we
believe it helped itself for two or three days before it was noticed doing so,
because it was often not at all hungry when we went to give it a meal.
While it was unable to feed itself we occasionally gave it dead fish, which it
swallowed as readily as living ones: it always swallowed the latter without
killing them, although it shook and squeezed them, and frequently made
them bleed. In the bath-room where the kingfisher lives we keep a stock
of minnows, &c., in a large earthenware basin ; until lately we several times
a-day put some of them out into a saucer, from which it took them, but now
it fishes in the large basin. It is very interesting, and has given pleasure
to many of our friends to watch the kingfisher perched on the edge of the
basin, intently looking down into the water until a minnow comes within
its reach, when it darts at and seizes it with its bill, without wetting its
feathers. The castings or pellets cast up by the kingfisher vary considerably ;
some are pure white, and remind one of very fine crystals, and others are
different shades of drab or gray; they are composed, I believe, entirely of
fish-bones, and are about half-an-inch long, and oval ; I believe they are cast
up at different times of the day, and the average number produced is about
one per day. I have not yet heard the usual note of the adult bird uttered
by this young kingfisher; it has a kind of whistling chirp much less shrill
and loud than the old bird's. Its plumage is as brilliant as that of the king-
fisher at any age, but I do not know whether it is a male or female: I suspect
it is a male from the length of its bill (one inch and three-quarters to one
inch and seven-eighths), which probably is not yet full grown. It is stated
by Montagu that the bill of the male is two inches long; he does not give
the length of the female’s, but says it is “ not so long as that of the other
sex.” I have not a copy of Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds’ to consult, and I find
Morris does not give the length of the bill—J. Lk. Palmer; July 6, 1876.
Hybrid Dovyes,—It may be of interest to some of your readers to know
that I have this year bred some doves between the turtle and Barbary,
though it may be common enough for what I know. J had a pair of turtle

Tne ZooLocist—SEPTEMBER, 1876. 5083

doves (brought up by hand in the spring of 1875) in my aviary. This spring
the female died, and I substituted a female: Barbary dove as a companion.
The result has been first a pair and then a single bird, and the old birds
are sitting again. ‘he turtle doves which I have kept always showed a
strong migratory tendency in the autumn, being very restless and beating
against the wires. The Barbary dove not so, neither does it migrate,
I believe, in its own land. What will be the feeling of the half-bred birds ?
In plumage they take most after the male, but are not so handsome as
either parent.—John IV. G. Spicer; Spye Park, Chippenham, Wiltshire,
August 18, 1876.

Redshank at Northrepps.— On the 19th of August a young redshank was
shot at a small road-side pond in Northrepps. It is the first that has ever
occurred in the parish, and I certainly think it is remarkable, as we have
neither marsh nor stream. Not many have come to our line of coast yet,
but in August, 1872, I found them so plentiful at Burnham Overy, a few
miles further west than Blakenny, that on the 29th I got fifteen in a few
hours. It is likely that these had bred there, as they were not nearly so shy
as the flocks which, a few weeks later, arrive at Blakenny (vide ‘ Birds of
Norfolk,’ ii., p. 214). They presented every variety of plumage, but strange
to say, the majority were old birds in change or in winter plumage, one
only retaining a part of its summer plumage. All, old and young, had the
same yellow legs (¢f., ‘ Birds of Norfolk,’ l. c.).—J. H. Gurney, jun.

Green Sandpiper at Northrepps.—On the 13th of August I flushed a
green sandpiper in our paddock. It uttered no cry on rising (vide Zool.
8. S. 3318). There is no doubt that August is the month in which this
species of knot occurs, though Mr. Stevenson plainly shows that there is no
month in which ‘one or more examples are not occasionally met with”
(‘ Birds of Norfolk,’ 1i., p. 228).—Jd.

Woodcock Migrating in July.—About the end of July a woodeock was
found on the shore at Beeston, in Norfolk, having been apparently washed
up by the waves: it was half-eaten when found. I did not see it until some
time afterwards, so cannot say how long it had been dead, but think it would
have been all eaten if it had been in the water long. ‘The inference is that
it was attempting to migrate in the summer time, at a date when no
migration is known to take place of this or any other British bird.—Zd.

Knot and Green Sandpiper at Aldeburgh. A knot in full breeding
plumage was shot at Aldeburgh, Suffolk, on the Ist and a green sandpiper
on the 10th of August, 1876.—I’. Kerry; Harwich Bank, Harwich.

Early Occurrence of the Gray Phalarope in Devon.—On Saturday, the
5th of the present month, a gray phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) was brought
to Mr. Luckraft, birdstuffer, which had been captured by a boy in Stone-
house Creek, close by the Naval and Military Hospitals. The lad was
fishing for small crabs from some balks of timber, with a line to which

5084 THE ZooLoGist—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

was attached a stone and a fish’s head, when, upon observing a strange
and very tame bird, which at first appeared to be in company with some
“ dishwashers” (wagtails), alight in the water almost close to him, he waited
an opportunity, threw his line, and knocked it down. This bird, which
I have examined, is a small specimen and in full moult, with many of the
chestnut or orange-brown feathers of the breeding-plumage still remaining
on the neck, breast and under tail-coverts, but with some perfectly new lead-
gray feathers appearing among the dark ones on the scapulars and back;
indeed the plumage much resembles that of a young bird of the first
autumn, with the exception of the mixture of rufous and white on the
under parts. The dark feathers seem much faded, and all are white at the
base. Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun, in his ‘Summary of the Occurrences of the
Gray Phalarope in Great Britain during the Autumn of 1866,’ mentions
the early dates of August 20th, 24th and 29th, but I have never known
them to occur in Devon before the middle or latter end of September,
October being the usual time of their appearance.—J. Gatcombe ; 8, Lower
Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Devon, August 11, 1876.

Change of Plumage in the Moorhen.—I should be much obliged if some
reader of the ‘ Zoologist’ could give me any particulars concerning the
change of plumage in the moorhen. I had always thought that the male
bird could be distinguished from the female by certain outward differences,
such as the red patch above the bill, &c., but I think so no longer. In the
‘Naturalist’s Note-Book’ for 1868 there is a very interesting article, by a
writer signing himself “A. M. B.,” on this subject, in which the author
proves—I think beyond doubt—that there is no outward difference what-
ever between the sexes: he states that the handsome birds are aged, and
the sombre-coloured ones are the younger birds. I may state that I went
to a very clever, though not perhaps very scientific, birdstuffer, and asked
him what his opinion on the subject was: he replied that he had often
taken eggs out of the more handsome bird, and he produced a stuffed
specimen which had all the reputed points of a male, yet he assured
me that it was full of eggs. He then went on to state that the richly-
coloured bird was the waterhen, or moorhen, but the other was the brown
gallinule! He showed me a list of some birds he had observed, amongst
which I noticed both the moorhen and his so-called “ brown gallinule.”
I pointed out to him that the brown gallinules were but immature birds,
but I doubt if he quite believed it. Mr. Gould considered the handsome
bird to be the female and the other the male-—C. Matthew Prior.

The Polish Swan.—Since the year 1851 I have had opportunities of
examining a good number of so-called “ Polish” swans, and cannot agree
with the opinion expressed by Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun. (Zool. 8. 8. 5047)
that it is not a good species. The breeding of the pair entrusted by the
Zoological Society to Mr. J. H. Gurney, and those formerly in the possession

THE ZOOLOGIsT—SEPTEMBER, 1876. 5085

of Lord Lilford, have removed any doubts on the subject which might
previously have remained in my mind, and I think placed it beyond doubt
that there is a swan differing (as shown by Mr. Yarrell in 1838) from
Cygnus olor, which produces white or nearly white cygnets, and these not
albinos. There are on the rivers and broads of Norfolk swanherds of great
experience, and I have never been able to learn from them of one instance
of a white cygnet appearing in the many broods of mute swans which they
have reared. The mixed brood mentioned by Dr. Westerman is the only
instance I have heard of, and that I believe may readily be accounted for,
as suggested by Mr. Yarrell, by one of the parents being a mute swan.
Mr. Gurney, jun., says these mixed broods have occurred “more than
once,” and gives references to authorities to which I have not access. From
the fact of more than one Polish swan killed in this neighbourhood having
been partially pinioned, I am led to believe that—although others have
been undoubtedly wild specimens—there are birds of this species at large
on our waters unknown to their owners, and that various degrees of infusion
of the Olor blood may account for individuals which I have observed
partaking more or less of the characters of both species. Mr. Gurney, jun.,
mentions such birds on the Serpentine and at Gatton Park; I have noticed
others, and one on the lake in Battersea Park, so far as I had an oppor-
tunity of observing it, appeared to me to be almost a pure Polander. Like
Mr. Gurney, jun., I do not wish to anticipate Mr. Stevenson, who will enter
at length into the subject in his forthcoming volume of the ‘ Birds of Nor-
folk,’ and Mr. Gurney will doubtless report upon the pair now rearing their
young at Northrepps, which I have watched with very great interest.—
Thomas Southwell; Norwich, August 14, 1876.

Varieties of the Teal (Zool. S. S. 5047)—I have more than once shot
very rufous specimens of the teal—i.e. with the under parts suffused with
rufous or rusty ochre. I have always considered that this was caused by
the oxide of iron in the water where the birds have been in the habit of
feeding, aud I have little doubt a chemical examination of the colouring
matter on the feathers of such specimens will show that the colour is due

to some staining process. Mr. Sclater (Zool. S.S. 4816) mentions having
sponged the breast of his bird with hartshorn, but I am doubtful if harts-
horn would take out a stain caused by oxide of iron, though it might remove
a superticial stain of blood. I may meution also that I have shot one or
two specimens of the common wild duck in this neighbourhood with similar
coloration on the breast, which I have also considered was caused by oxide
of iron.—J. A. Harvie Brown; Dunipace House, Larbert, August 1, 1876.

Food of the Redbreasted Merganser.— December 19, 1866. An old male
from Ireland skinned by me contained in its esophagus a crab, and a
fifteen-spined stickleback about five inches long, which may be worth
recording, as showing the food of this species. —J. H. Gurney, jun.

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 22

5086 THE ZooLoGist—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

Breast-bones of Guillemots.—I have compared the breast-bones of some
bridled guillemots with breast-bones of common ones, and I cannot find a
shadow of difference. Being from birds of my own preparing, I took the
precaution of marking the sex where I was able, but I do not see that
the bones of the females differ in the least degree from the males. While
there are still some who cling to the long-lived belief of the bridled
guillemot’s being a good species, which I for one can never assent to,
this grain of evidence against it may be worth having. I may add that
I recently prepared the breast-bone of a white guillemot (a beautiful variety,
but not an albino), and that also agreed in size and contour with the bone
of the normal bird, and in no respect differed that I could see from several
with which I compared it.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

“ Kittiwake in Winter” (Zool. S.S. 5048).—At the time my friend
Mr. Alston recorded a specimen of the kittiwake from the Ayrshire coast in
winter, it was generally considered to be a rare species in Scotland at that
season. Since then—or from about that time—they have appeared almost
every winter upon our coasts; and in the winter of 1872-73 multitudes of
this species frequented the estuary of the River Forth between Kincardine
and Alloa. For an account of the invasion of arctic gulls during that
season I would refer your readers to the lately published part of the
‘Proceedings of the Glasgow Natural-History Society’ (vol. ii., part 2,
pp- 198 and 210), where Mr. Robert Gray and myself take notice of these
and other species, notably the glaucous and Iceland gulls. I should say
that at the time Mr. Gurney received his specimens of the kittiwake from
Dumfriesshire they were decidedly 4 rare winter bird in Scotland. I think
it would be interesting to naturalists to have statistics of this arctic invasion
collected throughout Great Britain. I understand that unusual numbers
were also observed in the estuary of the Solway, and the Severn and Bristol
Channel, and elsewhere, and glaucous and Iceland gulls were seen in
numbers along the east coast of Scotland. The localities visited, however,
by the Iceland gulls appear to have been much fewer in number than those
visited by the glaucous, judging from such records as we possess from
correspondents. The Firth of Forth, indeed, seems to have been the
favoured locality, and there they were quite abundant.—John A. Harvie
Brown.

The Worcestershire Tropic-Bird.—Illness and other causes have pre-
vented my usual attention to the contents of the ‘ Zoologist’ for several
months. I have only just observed the several notes on the tropic-bird,
and in answer to Mr. Gurney’s query (S. 8S. 4766), I am glad to be able to
say that Lam the present possessor of the ‘“‘ Worcestershire Tropic-Bird,”
haying purchased it, with about two hundred other birds, at the sale alluded
to in 1867. It is certainly Phaéton ethereus, not the red-tailed species.
It has been authenticated as having been picked up, in the flesh, on the

THE ZooLoGist—SePTEMBER, 1876. 5087

farm of a Mr. Yapp, of Cradley, near Malvern. I wonder that the present
curator of Worcester Museum, who knows me, has not answered this
question — William H. Heaton; Meadow Croft, Reigate, Aug. 15, 1876.

Short Sunfish On Wednesday, the 16th instant a specimen of this rare
and strange fish was delivered at this Aquarium. It was captured on the
Trish coast, near Ardglass, by Mr. J. M‘Dougall, of St. Ninian’s, and for-
warded by Mr. James Smyth, of Ardglass, carefully packed in a crate of
straw. Mr. Smyth assures me that, “although this specimen was inspected

- by over a thousand English, Scotch and Irish fishermen, not one could tell

what it was.” This is not to be wondered at, when we consider that, on an
average, perhaps only three specimens of the same fish are reported yearly.
The short sunfish (Orthagoriscus mola) of all our British fishes is perhaps
the most remarkable in shape. Its abruptly terminating body and rigid

dorsal and anal fins, like acute triangles projecting above and below, give

the sunfish the appearance of having been deprived of its posterior portions,
making it look as though it were ouly half its former self. The specimen,
which is of a fair average size, measures from the nose to the end of the
caudal fin three feet six inches; the whole vertical height, including the
dorsal and anal fins, is four feet ten inches. The pectoral fins are very
small, and situated immediately behind the orifice of the branchial cavity,
which is also small. The eye is exceedingly large, and moveable in its
socket ; it is provided with a protective cellular membrane, behind which
the eye-ball is withdrawn when dangerously threatened. The skin is thick,
rough, tough, and wrinkled. The colour is dark gray or blackish on back
and fins, yellowish straw to dusky white on sides and belly. The fin-rays
are in number—dorsal, seventeen; anal, seventeen; pectoral, thirteen.
It may derive the name of “sunfish” from its somewhat rounded shape,
or from its colour when seen lying on its side on the surface of the water,
or from its habit of basking. Some fishermen assert that when captured
this fish utters a grunting sound, which circumstance, coupled with the
appearance of mouth and eyes, may have warranted the scientific appellation
* Orthagoriscus,” which in the Greek means “little pig.” It is now being
so preserved that it may be permanently shown in the Aquarium.—Ernest
E. Barker ; Rothesay Aquarium, August 19, 1876.

Large Conger.—It may be worth recording that there was caught here
this morning (July 21st), in one of the salmon nets, a conger which weighed
fifty-eight pounds and a half, and measured six feet three inches in total
length. Most of the fishermen of this port who saw it tell me that it is the
largest which they have ever come across; but one, a most intelligent and
trustworthy man, says that he caught one here some years ago which
measured over seven feet, and was computed to weigh over seventy pounds.

5088 THE ZooLocist—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

Though these weights are not to be compared with some mentioned by
Yarrell, still a conger of fifty-eight pounds and a half is not to be seen
every day, and I confess that I should not care to meet with one of this
size when bathing, and the net in which this example was caught is set in
the middle of one of our bathing-places.—J. Douglas-Ogilby ; Portrush.

Proceedings of Scientific Societies.

EntTomMoLocicaL Society oF Lonpon.

August 2,1876.—Sir Sipney Surrn SaunpeErs, C.M.G., Vice-President,
in the chair.

Additions to the Library.

The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the
donors :—‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society,’ nos. 170 and 171; presented
by the Society. ‘ Transactions of the Linnean Society of London,’ General
Index, vols. xxvi.—xxx., completing the First Series; and vol. i., part 8,
Zoology; by the Society. ‘The Zoologist’ and ‘ Newman’s Entomologist’
for August; by the Representatives of the late Edward Newman. ‘The
Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine’ for August; by the Editors. ‘ Nature,’
nos. $49 to 852; by the Publishers. ‘The Naturalist; Journal of the West-
Riding Consolidated Naturalists’ Society,’ no. xiii.; by the Society. ‘The
Canadian Entomologist,’ vol. viii., no. 6; by the Editor. ‘L’Abeille’
(Cryptocephales, pp. 205—236); by the Editor. ‘ Bulletin of the Buffalo
Society of Natural Sciences,’ vol. iii., no. 2; by the Society. ‘ Check-List
of the Noctuide of America, North of Mexico,’ i., Bombycie and Noctuelite
(Nonfasciate); by the Author, A. R. Grote. ‘ Proceedings of the Boston
Society of Natural History,’ vol. xvii., parts 3 and 4; vol. xvili., parts 1
and 2; by the Society. ‘Appalachia; the Proceedings of the Appalachian
Mountain Club,’ vol. i., no. 1; by the Club. ‘ Fossil Orthoptera from the
Rocky Mountain Tertiaries,’ by Samuel H. Scudder; ‘ Fossil Coleoptera
from the Rocky Mountain Tertiaries,’ by Samuel H. Scudder; ‘On the
Carboniferous Myriapods preserved iu the Sigillarian Stumps of Nova
Scotia,’ by Samuel H. Scudder; by the Author. ‘Memoirs of the Boston
Society of Natural History,’ vol. ii., part 4, nos. 2, 3 and 4; by the Society.
‘Memoirs of the Peabody Academy of Science,’ vol. i, no. 4; by the
Academy. ‘Memoirs of the American Association for the Advancement of
Science ;’ by the Association. ‘The American Naturalist,’ vol. x., no. 6;
by the Editor. ‘Notes and Descriptions of North-American Coleoptera,’
by John L. Leconte, M.D.; ‘Catalogue of the Coleoptera of Mount
Washington, N. H.,’ by E. P. Austin, with Descriptions of New Species by

THE ZooLocist—SEPTEMBER, 1876. 5089

John L. Leconte, M.D.; ‘ Address of Ex-President, Dr. John L. Leconte,
before the American Association for the Advancement of Science at
Detroit, Michigan, August 13, 1875; by the Author. ‘Notes and
Descriptions of North-American Coleoptera,’ by George H. Horn, M.D.;
by the Author.

By purchase :—‘ Genera des Coléoptéres,’ par M. Lacordaire & M.
Chapuis, vols. ix. to xii., and plates 81 to 184, completing the work.
‘Bericht tber die wissenschaftlichen Leistungen im Gebiete der Ento-
mologie,’ 1871 and 1872.

Election of Members.

Mr. Harold Swale, of St. George’s Road, Pimlico, and Mr. Thomas
Stanton Hillman were balloted for and elected Ordinary Members.

Exhibitions, &e.

Mr. Stevens exhibited specimens of Tillus unifasciatus and Xylotrogus
brunneus, taken on an oak fence at Upper Norwood. These insects did not
appear to have been taken near London for many years.

Mr. Forbes exhibited a specimen of Quedius dilatatus (a parasite in
hornets’ nests), taken by him at sugar in the New Forest.

Mr. Champion exhibited Harpalus 4-punctatus, Dendrophagus crenatus,
Leptura sanguinolenta (female), Amara alpina (female), Cryptophagus
parallelus aud Omosita depressa, all taken at Aviemore, in Inverness-
shire.

A letter was read from T. V. Lister, Esq., of the Foreign Office, trans-
mitting, for the information of the Entomological Society, a copy of a
despatch from Sir John Walsham, Her Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires at
Madrid, relative to the plague of locusts, together with a box containing speci-
mens of the insect, and a number of earthen egg-cases, each containing from
thirty to forty eggs. The despatch stated that the Official Report showing
the progress of the plague and the steps taken to exterminate the insect had
not yet been published, but a copy would be sent to the Society in a few
weeks. It was said that the damage done by the locusts this year was
considerably less than that of last year, owing to the number of soldiers
which the Government had been enabled to employ since the war was over
to assist the inhabitants of the districts where the plague existed in
destroying the insects. The insects sent were stated to be specimens of
Locusta migratoria, but on examivation they were ascertained to be the
Locusta albifrons, Fab. (Decticus albifrons, Savigny).

Mr. M‘Lachlan exhibited a series of thirteen examples of a dragonfly
(Diplax meridionalis, Selys), recently taken by him in the Alpes Dauphiné
_ of France, between Grenoble and Briangon (the exact locality being near

5090 THE ZooLoGist—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

the village of La Grave, at the base of the ‘ Aiguille du Midi’), remarkable
for the extent to which nearly all were infested by the red parasite described
by De Geer as Acarus libellulie (perhaps a species of Trombidium). Of the
thirteen examples captured casually only one was free from parasites, the
number of them on the others being respectively 7, 8, 9, 15, 17, 19, 28,
47, 51, 73, 96 and 111, or a total of 481 on twelve individuals. They were
firmly fixed on the nervures towards and at the base of the wing, almost
invariably on the under side; but whatever might be the number on any
particular dragonfly it was always divided nearly symmetrically on the two
sides of the insect—those much infested having a very pretty appearance,
from the wings looking as if spotted with blood-red. He had no doubt that
the Acari must have attained their position by climbing up the legs of the
dragonfly when at rest; probably they did not quit it till the dragonfly died,
or perhaps they died with it, so firmly were they fixed. He remarked that
the history of the Acari was involved in much obscurity, for it appeared by
no means certain that all those existing could ever gain access to dragon-
flies; just as in the case of the bed-bug and the house-flea, where there
must be myriads that never have an opportunity of tasting human blood.
He further noticed that, at the meeting of this Society on the 1st of August,
1864, he exhibited a dragonfly from Montpellier similarly attacked, and it
was recorded as Diplax striolata (Tr. Ent. Soc., 2nd series, vol. ii., Proc.
xxxvi). This was an error, the insect being D. meridionalis, which seemed
to be particularly subject to attack.
Mr. F. Smith read the following :—

Note on Nematus gallicola, Steph.

“‘ This is one of the commonest species of sawfly found in Europe; it is
the maker of the well-known red galls so plentiful on leaves of different
species of willow. The galls are, as Mr. Cameron observes, in his com-
munication to the ‘Scottish Naturalist,’ somewhat local, but they are
extremely abundant in many situations. I have on many occasions collected
large quantities of leaves, more or less covered with galls, and have bred
mavy hundreds of the flies—all proving on examination to be females.
Mr. Cameron observes, in the paper alluded to, ‘The male is quite
unknown to me, and this appears to have been also the case with Hartig.’
Last spring I collected, in the London district, a quantity of the galls,
placing them in a large flower-pot half-filled with garden mould. The larve
soon quitted the galls and buried themselves in the mould for the purpose
of undergoing their transformations. About a mouth after this the flies
began to issue forth, probably to the number of from five to six hundred:
among this number I had the satisfaction of finding two males. This sex
closely resembles the female, but has a narrower body, longer antenne, and
the tip of the abdomen is pale; the abdomen is also narrower, and not, as

ee a a

THE ZOOLOGIST—SEPTEMBER, 1876. 5091

in the female, widened towards the apex. ‘This season I have repeated my
experiment, and have obtained a single male out of several hundreds of
flies.

“Mr. Cameron further observes, ‘In all probability they, like Cynips
(lignicola) Kollari and other Cynipide, propagate without the aid of the
male sex.’ This observation was undoubtedly made in ignorance of the
discovery made by Mr. Walsh in 1868. In the « American Naturalist’ for
that year, the author records the fact of having himself bred both sexes of
Cynips spongifica from the galls of the black oak of North America. These
galls resemble those of Cynips Kollari, being globular, rather larger than
the European galls, but of the same hard woody consistency externally,
and of the same spongy substance inside. Mr. Walsh adds, ‘ By the fore-
part or middle of June both male and female gall-flies eat their way out
of a certain number, say about one-fourth part; the remainder are not
developed until about two months later. In a private communication
from Mr. Walsh, I learnt that he had, like myself, bred hundreds of the
gall-flies from gulls collected late in the autumn, all these proving to be
females, and that it was not until he made collections of galls in summer,
when a partial development of flies takes place, that he obtained the male,
this sex being as one to many hundreds of females. At length he bred
three males, one of which he kindly forwarded to me, and which 1 exhibited
at a meeting of this Society. Following up Mr. Walsh's method of collecting
the galls of Cynips Kollari early in the season,—that is, just at the time
when they are becoming hardened, and before any flies have escaped from
the fresh galls,—I have tried, but hitherto without success, to obtain males
of Cynips; but I advise all who are interested in the matter to pursue the
same plan, always remembering that these mysteries of nature are only
unfolded at intervals, and then ouly to favoured votaries.

“With respect to the obtaining of males of Nematus gallicola, I believe
that any one may collect, even early in the season, thousands of the galls of
that insect without obtaining a male; but in all probability, by persevering
season after season, his efforts will, as in my own case, be crowned with
success ; but I feel assured that unless the galls are gathered before any
of the flies have escaped, he will have little or probably no chance of
success. The same care must also be taken in collecting the galls of
Cynips Kollari; collecting them early, just at the time when they harden
and become woody, for it is out of the flies first developed that the male
may be expected to be found. My having bred thousands upon thousands
of flies without obtaining a male should prove a stimulus to others, for that
a male exists I think Mr. Walsh has determined beyond question. The
impregnation of a single female may possibly be sufficient to render her
progeny, and their descendants, for several generations, equally fertile; and
the same may possibly be the history of Nematus gallicola. The male bred

5092 THE ZoOLOGIST—SEPTEMBER, 1876.

by Mr. Walsh is said not to belong to the restricted genus Cynips, but to
one not represented in Europe. This may be the case; but in all essential
generic characters it agrees in a remarkable manner: ‘spongifica,’ like
Cynips proper, has thirteen-jointed antenne ; the neuration of the wings is
the same, aud no difference is perceptible in the construction of the legs ;
the differences that are perceptible are in its ubdomen being less com-
pressed, and it is glabrous; there may be some other minor differences ;
the form of the thorax is apparently the same as that of Cynips. The
question, ‘ Has Cynips a male?’ remains, in the opinion of those who have
attentively studied the group, unanswered; but surely more differences
must exist between ‘spongifica’ and the members of the restricted genus
Cynips than a less compressed abdomen, and the absence of the downy
pile that is observable on the sides of the abdomen of Cynips Kollari and
its allies.”

A discussion ensued, in which Messrs. Dunning, M‘Lachlan, E. A.
Fitch and others took part, it appearing to some of the Members that there
was still a considerable amount of uncertainty as to the precise generic rank
of the presumed male Cynips.

Papers read.

The President, who was unable to be at the Meeting, forwarded a paper
entitled, ‘“‘ Notes on the Habits of a Lepidopterous Insect, parasitic on
Fulgora candelaria, by J. C. Bowring, with a Description of the Species, by
J. O. Westwood,” accompanied by drawings of the insect in its various
stages. This curious insect, resembling a Coccus, bad been brought to this
country twenty-six years ago by Mr. Bowring, and on his return to India
he had succeeded in rearing it to its perfect state, proving it to be the larva
of a Lepidopterous insect, the general appearance of which induced the
Professor to place it among the Arctiide. The larve were found attached
to the dorsal surfuce of the Fulgora, and as they grew had a cottony
covering, which also occurred in the pupa state (a period which appeared to
be of very variable duration). ‘The evidence appeared to prove that the
larvee fed on the waxy secretion of the Fulgora, and the cocoon of the
pupa was formed of the same substance. Prof. Westwood had previously
noticed this extraordinary insect at the meeting of the British Association
at Oxford in 1860, under the name of-Epipyrops anomala.

The Rev. R. P. Murray forwarded a paper by Mr. W. H. Miskin, of
Brisbane, containing “ Descriptions of New Species of Australian Diurnal
Lepidoptera in his own Collection.”

Mr. Edward Saunders communicated the third and concluding portion of
his “‘ Synopsis of British Hemiptera-Heteroptera.”"—2’. @.

THE ZooLocisTt—OcrToBER, 1876. 5093

On Human and Brute Intelligence.
By F. H. Batkwi1t, Esq.

WRITERS on mental science have hitherto been careful to
exclude the mental or moral faculties of the lower animals from the
limits of their subject before entering upon the examination of those
of man: or if they have compared human with brute intelligence,
it has been in its most violent contrasts, with the object of
establishing essential differences.

This may have arisen from that feeling of pride which considers
it derogatory to man’s moral dignity to trace any kinship, however
remote, between him and his humbler fellow-creatures ; and from
a suspicion that to allow the possibility of any such discussion
must be disloyal to the belief, cherished by man, that he has a soul
capable of an immortality not to be attained by brutes; but also,
and I think principally, from ignorance.

At any rate, in consequence of the knowledge which has been
accumulated and systematised by modern naturalists, and more
particularly in consequence of “ Darwin’s theory” having suggested
an hereditary connection between them, there is a wave of thought
now passing over us which makes the tracing and comparing of
the affinities, between the intelligence of man and the brutes,
inevitable. Such a comparison cannot fail to give some aid
towards the comprehension of each, even if we are not yet able
to lay down exactly wherein lies the great difference between
them.

The more highly organised the animal, the greater its intelli-
gence; so that the development of this faculty may be expected
to keep pace in parallel steps with the evolution of physical
organisation.

The embryonic stages in the growth of many animals show
marked resemblance to species lower in the scale. This fact
has been pointed out in support of an hereditary connection: in
the same way, when we analyse the human intelligence, in order
to conceive its simplest state and growth, we find a parallel
resemblance to the evolution of intelligence as conditioned by the
organisation of the lower animals. It may be roughly tabulated
thus—

SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. 3A

5094 THE Zoo.oGist—OcToBER, 1876.

Simple volition accompanied by action and preceded by an_
imagined purpose.

This action, being resisted by the external world, ideas are
Sormed of this resistance in order to overcome it.

Action repeated meets with resistance as before. The idea
previously formed, to account for this resistance, suggests
itself, and a perception is made.

It becomes more easy to repeat the same action than to try fresh
ones to which unforeseen resistances occur; hence habit
ts made.

Habit, or the will, or perhaps habit and the will, modifies the
body for the belter performance of certain actions; hence
organization.

Offspring inherit this organization. Their intelligence is con-
ditioned to flow more readily in the same actions as that
of their parents; hence instincts or other hereditary mental
Saculties.

Thus far human and brute intelligence seem to run parallel.
Then come the following conditions, wherein man’s intelligence
seems to have got quite beyond that of the brute :—

The increase of the powers by the use of implements.

The communication of information and the lessons of experience
by articulate language.

The consideration of his own mental state with a yiew to
improving it; hence reflection.

Animals can be arranged, according to their structures and most
essential characters, so as to form a more or less perfect genea-
logical tree. ‘This suggests one of two conclusions: either the
arrangement represents the successive steps of idea or invention
by which they were created; or that all the different species
have in reality the consanguinity which this classification appears
to indicate.

One of the simplest forms of animal life presents itself as a little
jelly-like mass, which, to quote Professor Huxley, “ possesses all
the essential qualities and characters of vitality; it is produced
from a body like itself; it is capable of assimilating nourishment,
and of exerting movements.” It has no definite organs or parts;

THE ZooLogist—OcToBER, 1876. 5095

-when it moves it pushes out any part of its body which is con-
venient. When it wishes to assimilate food, it can hardly be said
to eat, it places itself over or against the food, which then passes
directly into it through apy part.

For such animals to be able to maintain their existence, the
surrounding conditions of life—that is, a supply of food and the
absence of a liability to mechanical or chemical injury—must be —
of the most favourable kind. Consequently we find that one of
the first things done by animals of this type is to cover their
delicate bodies with a tiny calcareous shell.

We have here, in one of the simplest forms of physical life,
voluntary action, with power of changing the form of its body,
power of adding to that body from other substances so as to grow
by taking food, and a power of separating from itself a part which
shall commence a new life with similar powers.

Such animals form the models of the ultimate parts from which
alt the tissues of all animals are developed.

Physiological laws, then, instead of having chemical or me-
chanical laws as their highest principles, can be best explained as
habits of action. Hach tissue and organ of the body is the record
of voluntary action passed into habit and perpetuated into instinct
by the “survival of the fittest,” or some other law of suitability to
the surrounding conditions of life. Every animal has therefore
within it all the instincts of which its organs or tissues are
evidence.

Here the question of individuality thrusts itself upon us. Is it
the same life that continues on from parent to offspring? How do
all these aggregations of separate animals lose their individuality
and humbly class themselves as cells with fixed duties?

Does intelligence pass down from father to son? Have we dim
memories of what our parents did? or does each individual begin
his own experience and develope his own intelligence with such aid
as the arrangement of his inherited organization may give him?

In many of the lower forms, the individuality of community only
seems to have been arrived at. A sponge, for instance, is built up
of a great number of small particles into canals and chambers,
each of which particles “is provided with a cilium,” to quote
Prof. Huxley again, “and as all these cilia work in one direction
they sweep water out in that direction. The currents of water
sweep along such matters as are suspended in them, and these are

5096 THE ZooLocist—OcToBER, 1876.

appropriated by the sponge particles lining the passages, in just.
the same way as any one of the Rhizopoda appropriate the
particles of food it finds in water to itself. So that we must not
compare this system of apertures and canals to so many mouths
and intestines; but the sponge represents a kind of subaqueous
city, where the people are arranged about the streets and roads in
such a manner that each can easily appropriate his food from the
water as it passes along.”

In animals higher in the scale of life, when a nervous system
has been evolved, this republican form of individuality soon ceases
to exist. In communities of animals which have one economy,
such as exists in a hive of bees, the individuality of the separate
members is sufficiently evident. Thus, one solution of the difficulty
which presents itself is, that through the nervous system a central
government is established, to the individuality of which all the rest
of the organization of cells is subservient.

All action is not the result of intelligence. The heart beats, the
watch ticks, without our considering either as signs of intelligence,
because they continue their actions regardless of external circum-
stances which do not immediately affect them. If we saw them
forecast and alter their actions to suit coming events we should
attribute the quality to them. If we conceive of a being under-
standing the working of a piece. of machinery, we should allow
intelligence to it. To understand is in reality to translate the
principles involved into the principles of the actions of the under-
standing one. So far, intelligence will stand for a power of a being
to see the relation of external things to its own powers and
purposes. Again, if a being formed an intention or purpose, we
must allow it intelligence. Or if it considered its own purposes in
relation to its circumstances, chose some to encourage in pre-
ference to others, or formed fresh ones, intelligence would be
manifested. Is intelligence, then, the power of creating ideas—
the imagination ?

We concede to the man who does difficult and responsible
things, requiring at the same time great imaginative power, more
intelligence than to him who, whilst giving evidence of equal
power of creating ideas, is not capable of producing successful
actions of equal difficulty. Is it not, then, the power to perceive
truth? and, as practically manifested, the power to perceive the
relation of external things to its purpose, and wice versd.

THE ZooLoGist—OcTOoBER, 1876. 5097

Is this power of perceiving truth a substance or an attribute?
Intelligence perhaps could not exist without action, action without
willing, and feeling, yet our own consciousness bears us witness
that these states are distinct; hence we believe that they are but
states of one substance.

We are conscious we are the same individuals we ever were,
whilst the substance of our bodies is being constantly changed by
material loss and addition; hence we get one distinct notion of a
difference between mind and body, namely, that one is always the
same and indivisible, whilst the other is easily divided and always
changing.

Our appeal to consciousness gives us the same answer: we can
conceive that a mind cannot grow by little bits of substance being
added to it, whether these possess intelligence or not.

I am aware that this does not dispose of the question as to
whether mind itself is not an attribute of life. Intelligence is,
then, the power of the mind to see the relation of external things
to its own purposes, and vice versd; but it cannot see or know
anything beyond its own experience; it cannot grow, save by the
efforts and experience of the mind to which it belongs.

I think if we take a clear view of these two conclusions—

The mind cannot be divided ;
Its intelligence can only grow by its own efforts and
experience ;
and add to them another—
The mind cannot be prepared before it begins to exist (is
created) ;
we shall get rid of a great many indistinct notions which make
many of the actions of animals appear inexplicable, and the
direction in which we should seek their solution will be considerably
restricted.

The conditions under which intelligence acts divide into two
heads :—

First, the organization of the animal to which the intelligence
belongs; its body, with which it is always associated in time and
place (so far as we are speaking of it), over the actions of which it
has great power. This body is its instrament in carrying out its
ends, and requires constant attention to keep in good repair and
readiness for use.

5098 THE ZooLoGist—OcTOBER, 1876.

Second, the external world—liable to change in time and
space—in which it must seek to satisfy its desires. If the animal
can only perform few actions, the conditions necessary to its
existence must be easily fulfilled. If, on the contrary, the conditions
of life are varied and scattered, they require more considerable
perceptive powers and complicated actions in order to enable an
animal to avail itself of them; then, according to any theory of
evolution, the organization of the animal will have been gradually
fitted to meet those requirements, a more highly developed species
will be the result, giving conditions for developing a higher degree
of intelligence. It might be impossible for it to know how to
perform such complicated action without considerable experience,
and we find that where a high degree of intelligence is attained a
more or less lengthened period of parental care is given. The neces-
sity for parental care no doubt has a powerful reactionary influence
in stimulating the intelligence of the parent, and may prove the
elementary condition for developing sympathy into affection.

But there is a consideration which will show us that evolution,
if a fact, must implant in every animal a tendency to perform the
actions most conducive to its existence as a species.

The most simple animal has to use its intelligence on what
perceptions it can make. It finds some things suitable for food or
covering, which it appropriates ; some unsuitable, which it rejects.
This relationship of the object to the uses of the animal I propose
to call its purpose, using the word for the object or combination of
conditions, as well as for the volition of the animal to or from
them.

All animals, except the lowest, possess special organs, those of
sense enabling them to perform those acts by which they recognise
general qualities of objects, as well as special organs of physical
movement. When a perception of anything takes place, a con-
ception is made, including all the sensations received from that
object, together with whatever purpose or relationship to itself the
animal may imagine it to have.

Now if all that part of the organization by which information
only is obtained has been gradually evolved from species to
species aS we ascend in the scale, the external conditions which
brought them into existence must, at the same time, have entirely
co-ordinated them, with the other active parts of the body, in
accordance with the purposes of the species.

SEE

eee ee ee

THE ZooLocist—OcToBEr, 1876. 5099

Whatever perceptions its organization conditions the intelli-
gence of any animal to make, will be accompanied by a
co-ordination of its other active powers corresponding to the
usual purposes of that species.

There must always be in a species the organization to maintain
its existence, get its food, propagate offspring, &c.; and the
perceptive faculties which enable it to perceive the opportunity or
right time to do this will be co-ordinated with the active powers
for doing it. By this co-ordination the volition easily performs
its purpose; and when conditions containing a purpose are per-
ceived by an animal, the subjective purpose combining the
necessary actions naturally flows forth.

In animals of high organization we should expect a proportionate
number of subordinate purposes co-ordinated by superior purposes
which were commanded finally by the individual intelligence
which directed the voluntary actions.

This co-ordination is established by means of the nervous system
of which a general notion may be conveyed by comparing it to a
telegraphic system, permeating the body, in which the nerves
represent the wires, and the gray matter of ganglia, or brain, the
offices where messages are received and sent out. Intelligence is
required to read the purpose of the message received, and to form
the purpose which directs the actions ordered. For example, a
fish pursues a smaller one in order to devour it. It does not use
its intelligence to act all the complicated sets of muscles necessary
in following the turns and twists of the prey; it merely forms a
purpose from the information received from its eyes, and this
purpose uses the already co-ordinated powers in pursuit. Ona
near approach, however, the fish sees something which makes it
Suspect its expected prize is a snare. It perceives an opposite
purpose from almost the same visual sensations, and flies from it,
the same co-ordination of muscles taking place under command of
the contrary purpose.

Intelligence can only grow by its own efforts and experience ;
but a great deal of information or help may be had by the associa-
tion of animals having similar wants. Sexual association must
have immense influence in this direction. In animals of associated
or gregarious lives it begets a sympathy of action which opens up -
a wide field for the transmission of motives or purposes thus
becoming common to a species, which it might not be possible

5100 THE ZooLocist—OcToBER, 1876,

to transmit by the co-ordination of inheritable organization
alone.

Amongst men fashions, habits, and feelings are thus per-
petuated; such as are necessary or “fittest” surviving, whilst
those less perfectly adapted to life drop out. A law, with regard
to motives, habits, &c., may be laid down almost identical
in statement to Darwin’s theory of the “Origin of Species.” A
belief in this, however, does not at all necessitate the acceptance
of Mr. Darwin’s views. Habits of action, we know, can be thus
transmitted by association; as when an English child brought up
in France only speaks French.

The power of the sympathy of association may be noticed in
looking at a flock of sanderlings, which wheel and turn as if under
the influence of one spirit. May not the migrations of many
animals be thus explained ?

Man supplements the powers of his body by the use of imple-
ments, and so varies his purposes or co-ordinated actions as give
a choice as to what sort of business of life he will pursue.

This choice of business to man may be compared to that of
choice of species, and at once throws open conditions, of aetion
and reaction, to the development of his intelligence of immense
importance. The further consideration of these, however, as they
are not enjoyed by brutes as well as man, would hardly be suited

to the pages of the ‘ Zoologist.’
F. H. BALKwILt.

Ornithological Notes from Perthshire.
By J. WaiTaker, Esq.

On the 20th of June last, when staying with a friend at The
Barracks, Kinloch, Rannoch, Perthshire, we started for a day’s

fishing to Loch Eaigh, about four miles distant from the Lodge,

and as the walk was partly by the river and across a portion of the
famous Moor of Rannoch, I had good hopes of seeing some birds
breeding there that I had never before had the opportunity of
observing.

The first field we crossed was grass with a small piece of bog in
the centre, on nearing which out flew a pair of redshanks, and
their piteous cries and fearlessness led us to suppose they had
young ones among the rushes. Leaving the field, and going on

THE ZooLocist—OcrToBER, 1876. 5101

by the river-side we saw about half a dozen pairs of common sand-
pipers, which kept flitting along before us, with their peculiar flight,
from stone to stone, all the while making a shrill pipe. These had
their young about the stones on the river side, and, after looking
for a few minutes, I found one: the little fellow was just getting
into vice plumage, but could not fly: on being put down a few
yards from the river he started off at a good pace for the bank,
while the two old birds hovered over him in a state of great
excitement.

We now came toa large meadow of about eighty acres, from
which the water was drained by deep cuttings fringed with rushes,
this being a favourite place for snipe, several pairs of which we
flushed when walking across, but, though I looked, could not
find any young ones. Here also were great numbers of green
plover and about twenty curlews. I also saw one golden plover
and a pair of teal.

We next came to the lake, which is surrounded by hills and
is about a hundred and fifty acres in extent, two-thirds of it
being bog, and covered with moss, reeds, flags, and sedge,
through which the river winds, forming a pond here and there,
and, being far away from the “haunts of man,” is the very
place for wild fowl and wading birds to breed. We had
only got some few yards amongst the long grass when we
saw several pairs of redshanks coming towards us, which, with
sharp cries, wheeled about over our heads. During the day we
saw about fifteen pairs of this handsome bird; then we began to
see curlews getting up in front, far out of gun-shot; these flew
straight away, uttering their musical note. ‘There were a good
many gulls hovering over the water: I noticed several pairs of each
of the common, blackheaded and kittiwake. A little way on,
beside a pool, I saw a bird running along, which, as we came
near, rose and flew round, sometimes settling about ten yards off:
once or twice I nearly struck it with my fishing-rod. I believe it
was the green sandpiper, the note resembling that of the common
sandpiper, but was louder, and the bird twice as large. The legs
were a dirty yellow-brown, the inside of the feet being light yellow.
This bird had young close by. We saw it again next day, but
about a week after it had left.*

* [The colour of the legs and feet proves that it was not the green sandpiper, but
the wood sandpiper (Totanus glareola).—Ep. }
SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 3B

5102 THE ZooLocist—OcToBER, 1876.

We now got into the boat, and on pushing off from the shore
many common ducks, teal and wigeon rose out of the reeds; they
would be the male birds, as we saw several old ducks with young
swimming after them, and two lots of wigeon, one of five and one
of seven. After rowing across the lake I got out and fished up the
bank. After going about one hundred yards I heard a sharp note,
and on peeping amongst the rushes, about ten yards away, I saw a
beautiful rednecked phalarope, the first one of the kind I had ever
seen alive: he swam about on a small clear space amongst the
rushes, nodding his head like a waterhen, piping all the time.
I got into the boat to try and find the nest, or see if there were any
young about; but when we got about twenty yards from him he
rose up and flew out over the river; his flight was very much like
that of the dunlin. Although we looked about very carefully we
could not find either nest or young. We saw him again later in
the day: he was in splendid plumage, the red on the neck being
very bright.

The wind, which had been boisterous during the morning, now
blew a gale, and the lake being very rough, we started for home.
On our way we put up a bird which flew on to a stone near: it was
a dunlin in its handsome summer plumage. A few steps further
on we found two young ones, which were running about amongst
the grass: very pretty little fellows they were, too, just getting
into feather. After catching and examining them we put them
down, and they were soon lost to sight in the long grass. During
the day we also saw several herons and a flock of eight oyster-
catchers.

On the 28th, while fishing Loch Lydoch, we stopped at the
island where the herons breed, to see the nests, and when we got
about one hundred yards away, from fifteen to twenty birds flew
out of the birch trees which cover it. On landing we found about
thirty nests, but all the birds except four had left. The nests
were built low: the young birds were standing up in the nests, but
when we got hold of the trees and shook them they squatted down.
After a good deal of shaking, however, the birds took to flight and
flapped over the lake, apparently having some trouble to land on
the shore, where they stalked about amongst the stones in a most
awkward manner. We got hold of two younger ones; they were
very fat, and cried out most piteously, and on throwing one back
up to the nest, he just caught hold of the edge with his feet and

THE ZooLocist—Ocroser, 1876. 51038

hung there for a few seconds; then, much to our astonishment, got
hold with his bill and pulled himself into the nest. What an
enormous quantity of fish these sixty old birds and about one
hundred and eighty young ones would consume!

On rowing back up the lake we saw a large diver, but were too
far off to see what kind it was. Near the top of the lake we saw a
large bird sitting on a dead tree, and on my shouting and waving
my hat it took wing: it was a magnificent osprey, the first I had
ever seen alive in its native haunts: it flew steadily up the lake
side till lost to sight. We also saw a very fine blackbacked gull,
in full plumage, and lots of common sandpipers all along the lake
side. On this day we caught two large trout, one weighing eight
pounds and three-quarters and the other seven pounds and three-
quarters.

There is every prospect of a good grouse season, the birds
being healthy and strong on the wing and the packs large. Last
winter was the most severe that has been known in Perthshire
for thirty years, the deaths among the mountain sheep being very

numerous.

J. WHITAKER.
Rainworth Lodge, near Mansfield.

Notes from Castle Eden. By Mr. Joun Sciater.
(Continued from S, S, 4989).

JUNE, 1876.

Cuckoo.—Walking, on the 2nd, along the sea-beach I saw what
I at first took for a kestrel hovering over the banks, but on its
descending out of the glare of the sun it proved to be a cuckoo,
accompanied by three meadow pipits, which flitted about, chiefly
in front of her, as if leading her away from their nests; but this
act of the pipits appeared to me to be of the greatest service to
the cuckoo; and it was very curious to see how soon she took
advantage of it, for as soon as they had escorted her to what they
seemed to think a safe distance they turned back; but the cuckoo
turned too, and was then led in a contrary direction, the whole
distance being under three hundred yards. After flying in the same
manner some ten or a dozen times in those contrary directions the
cuckoo seemed to know that the object of her search lay within

5104 THE ZooLocist—OctToBEr, 1876.

this space, and she set to work to hunt it very carefully, alighting
at each end of this distance every time she arrived at it, perching
always in the same places—an old rotten branch that lay on the
ground at one end, and on the top of a large grassy hillock at the
other; and when so perched, which was only for a second or two,
she had the most strange appearance, sitting nearly upright, and
the feathers on the back of the neck and shoulders being puffed up
to their fullest extent, giving her much the appearance of an owl.
I imagined this might be done to frighten the pipits. Sometimes,
very like the kestrel, the cuckoo hovered low over the grass and
sometimes alighted amongst the roughest parts, walking, or rather
tumbling, about in the most clumsy manner. It seemed easy to
know when she was nearest the nests by the louder notes of the
pipits, and I fancied I could have gone almost straight to them.
I watched her for some time through a glass, and much regretted
I could not stay until I had seen an end of the performance.
Rooks.—Uaving several times lately seen the rooks visiting a
small plantation some distance from the rookery, and always going
in a straight line between the two places, I went to try and learn
the cause, and was not a little surprised to find a number of them
at the carcase of a horse which had been shot and skinned there,
and was intended for the dogs. I spoke to the keeper about it,
and he told me that he had long been aware of the fact of these
birds feeding their young on carrion when it “came handy.” As
to the partial migration of this species, I have for years observed
that they leave the rookery here regularly in the last week of
August and roost on the trees around the house. They are at that
time joined by the rooks from another rookery about two miles
distant, and by numberless jackdaws. At that time all collect
punctually at 8 p.m. and commence flying around the house: they
are very noisy all the time, and there are always some whose
voices, from some cause or other, have become peculiarly broken.
They often, all at once, settle for a minute or two amongst the top
branches of the trees, and then all will again rise in a body and
wheel round the house as before: this is kept up until they go to
roost. Ona fine quiet night, by going out and making a smart
noise,—striking a match, for instance,—one of them near you will
commence a snoring noise, which is answered by some of the
jackdaws: the snoring is kept up while you are anywhere near,
and appears to be a sort of alarum, for I have found by going into

a

———— eee eh

TuE ZooLocist—Ocroser, 1876. 5105 -

the house, and stealing to an open window which brought me
nearer to the snorer, that it invariably ceased.

Stock Dove.—In my May notes I intended to have mentioned
that on the 6th I found two nests of the stock dove only about
seven inches from each other: each had eggs. The nests were only
divided by a root, which passed in a slanting direction between
them; but there was a hole through which the birds could easily

have pecked each other.
JOHN SCLATER.
Castle Eden, Durham, July 20, 1876.

Erratum.—In my notes for May in the July number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (S.S. 4987,
line 26th), for morsel read Morel.—J. S.

Ornithological Notes from Norfolk.
By H. Srevenson, Esq., F.L.S.
(Continued from Zool. S. S. 4897.)

Marcu, 1876.

Hooded Crows.—First departure observed at Northrepps on
the 4th. A good many seen on Breydon on the 31st.

Blackheaded Gulls.—Large flocks observed, at Northrepps,
passing inland, on the 14th.

Rooks Migrating.—A flock observed at Northrepps on the 81st,
apparently departing by sea. See note, in the ‘Zoologist’ for
February (S.S. 4776), on the large increase of rooks, supposed by
migratory arrivals, on the same part of the coast, in November
last.

Puffin.—An immature bird picked up, inland, at Cawston, about
the middle of the month, and another on the coast on the 29th.

APRIL.

Summer Migrants—The following species were first heard
or seen at Northrepps by the sea, and at Keswick and other inland
localities, on the dates following :—

Chiffchaff. Northrepps, April 3rd.

Wryneck. Keswick, April 6th; Aylsham, 10th.

Blackcap. Northrepps, April 8th.

Redstart. Keswick and Aylsham, April 11th.

Sand Martin. Cromer, April 20th; Keswick, 28th.

5106 THe ZooLocist—OcrToB_Er, 1876.

Cuckoo. Northrepps, April 21st; Stratton Strawless, 20th.

Swallow. Keswick, April 24th.

House Martin. A single bird seen at Northrepps on the 2lst,
but the bulk of the usual summer residents in that locality did not
appear till just a month later—the 2]st or 22nd of May. Some
martins seen at Trowse, near Norwich, on the 13th of April, ina
snow-storm.

Willow Warbler. Northrepps, April 23rd.

Nightingale. Heard at Keswick, April 16th; Norwich, 18th;
Marsham, 22nd; Northrepps, 25th.

Woodcock.—A good many observed in the West Norfolk coverts
at the beginning of this month, which would probably remain to
breed. One seen at Northrepps on-the 23rd.

Nocturnal Migrants.—At 8.30 P.M. on the 16th, night fine but
very dark, and wind S.S.E., heard birds whistling overhead, the
notes of the curlew most plainly distinguishable.’

Osprey.—A single bird trapped at Hempstead ponds, near Holt,
on the 20th.

Hobby.—One seen at Northrepps on the 25th.

Spoonbill.—A flock of eight were seen at Horsey, near Yar-
mouth, on the 13th, of which some five or six, at least, were shot
subsequently in that neighbourhood.

May.

Summer Migrants.—Ring Ouzel. A single bird seen at North-
repps on the Ist.

Nightjar. Seen at Northrepps on the 8rd.

Turtle Dove. At Northrepps on the 4th.

Greater Whitethroat. At Northrepps on the 7th.

Garden Warbler. At Northrepps on the 16th.

Spotted Flycatcher. At Northrepps on the 17th.

Swift. At Cromer and Northrepps on the 20th.

Hooded Crow.—On the 5th I saw a single bird in a field at
Gunton, near Lowestoft, where stragglers have been observed, at
times, throughout the summer months. One was seen about the
same time, near Cromer, feeding with some rooks.

Late Fieldfares.—One seen at Guist on the 83rd, and one at
Foulsham on the 4th, both of which uttered their winter note.

Great Crested Grebe.—A pair of these birds have nested for the
last three years at Gunton Lake, near Cromer, and have averaged

THE ZooLOGIsT—OcTOBER, 1876. 5107

about three young ones each season. The eggs were hard sat on
by about the 29th of April this year, and the old birds are said
to arrive almost to a day in March and leave as punctually in
September. One young one last year got entangled in a bow-net,
but was fortunately rescued in time.

Gunton Heronry.—This thriving colony continues to increase,
at least forty birds having been counted at their nesting haunt at
the beginning of this season.

Great Spotted Woodpecker.—A single bird seen at Northrepps
on the 28th.

Little Owl.—A very small owl, supposed to be Carine noctua,
which had been seen at Northrepps on the 18th of May, was gee
observed near the same spot on the 16th of June.

Hooded Crow.—One seen at Northrepps on the 22nd.

Pochards and Tufted Ducks nesting in Norfolk.—T last
year recorded (Zool. 8.8. 4634) that I had seen, on one of our
Norfolk Meres, three pairs of tufted ducks in the first week of
June, and that from the actions of one hen bird I strongly suspected
her nest, or a young brood, was not far off. This season I have
pleasure in announcing that the nesting of the tufted duck in this
favoured locality is an ascertained fact, a female having been
flushed from her nest of six eggs on the 29th of May, two females
and four males of this species being seen. At the same time and
place, also, several pochards were found breeding, two females
having broods of young ones, and one a nest of six eggs.

Stilt Plover.—Since I recorded, last year, the occurrence of two
specimens of this rare wader in Norfolk,—one at Ingham on the
26th of May and one at Ditchingham about the end of July,—
I have ascertained that a bird of this species, either a third
example or possibly the same subsequently shot at Ditchingham,
was observed on several occasions, in June, in the Hellesdon
meadows, about two miles from Norwich. Mr. John Henry
Walter, who resides at Hellesden, informs me that he first saw
the bird on the 6th of June, and described it in his note-book
at the time as having “long red legs, white body, and black
pointed wings, about the size of a plover. It flew like a heron,
with its legs out behind it.” Altogether he saw it about
half-a-dozen times, always about the same locality, and could

have shot it easily as it flew close to his boat, or when feeding on
the land.

5108 THE ZooLocist—OcTOBER, 1876.

Sand Martins nesting in Sawdust-heaps.—Travellers by the
Cambridge line of the Great Eastern Railway will have observed
for many years past large quantities of sawn fir timber closely
adjoining the Brandon station, and which, with the addition of
huge stacks of sawdust piled up on the spot, give evidence of a
busy trade. In these stacks of wood-fibre, firmly compressed and
consolidated by the action of the weather, sand martins have of
late discovered a novel, and I believe hitherto unrecorded, nesting-
place. I was first informed of this curious fact by Mr. E. Bidwell
in the summer of last year, and an ornithological friend residing in
the neighbourhood confirms the same from his own observations
this season, having found the sand martins, in considerable num-
bers, boring into the firm but easily-worked strata of these
wooden cliffs.

The Polish Swans (?) at Northrepps.— Like Mr. Southwell
(Zool. 8.8. 5084) I must own that my previous impression that
Yarrell’s so-called Polish swan is a good species has been greatly
strengthened by an examination of a white cygnet, one of a brood
hatched this summer at Northrepps by the pair of birds formerly in
the Zoological Gardens. This cygnet differs essentially in colour
from any mute swan cygnet I ever saw, for an albino cygnet of the
mute swan is utterly unknown on the Yare, where such large
numbers of the common swan are reared yearly for edible purposes.
I cannot agree with Mr. J. H. Gumey, jun. (S. 8. 5047) that the
occurrence, as asserted, of mixed broods of white and gray cygnets
militates against the specific difference of Cygnus immutabilis, as
it is quite possible that in the case he cites from the ‘ Field’ of
July 8th, 1871 (which had escaped my notice previously), in which
two of a brood of cygnets, bred on a lake in South Wales in 1870,
were white, and also one out of six, in the season of 187], were the
offspring of mixed parentage, one of the old birds being—probably
unknown to the owner—a Polish swan, or descended from a true-
bred bird of that race or species. The same was no doubt the
case with Dr. Westerman’s cyguets.

HENRY STEVENSON.

Norwich, September 12, 1876.

THE ZooLocist—OcToBER, 1876. 5109

Ornithological Notes from Devon and Cornwall.
By J. GarcomBE, Esq.

(Continued from S. 8. 5030).

JuLy AND AuGustT, 1876,

July 8. At Wembury I was glad to observe two or three pere-
grines dashing. about in the vicinity. These beautiful birds have
now become very scarce on most parts of the coast.

July 12. Saw and heard a redshank, flying rather high, on its
way up the River Tamar, having no doubt just returned from some
breeding station. I do not remember having observed this species
so early in autumn in our neighbourhood before. I may here
mention that I have detected a few notes almost exactly resembling
those of the common redshank in the song of a thrush.

July 13. - Took a trip to Fowey, on the Cornish coast, passing
several nesting-places of the herring gull, and observed several
very young birds swimming by the side of their parents on the
smooth water close under the lofty cliffs. No other species of
gull seemed to be breeding on any part of this coast.

August 10, Many ring dotterels and some whimbrels were
seen to-day on the Breakwater, and numbers of curlews on the
banks of the Tamar. Waders generally seem to have returned
from their breeding-places very early this season; and I find
swallows already congregating on the telegraph-wires soon after
daylight.

August 18. Went up the River Tamar, and found that a few
blackheaded gulls had returned from their nesting quarters, and
many common sandpipers from the moorland streams. Curlews,
too, were numerous on the mud-banks.

August 22. Whimbrels and other waders were making a great
noise, flying over the town about ten at night; and on the 23rd
I observed flocks of the yellow, or Ray’s, wagtail in fields near the
sea. A great many young sanderlings, knots and turnstones have
been brought to our birdstuffers within the last few days, and
among some dunlins J have detected a few of the very small
yariely or race answering to the Tringa Schinzi of Brehm, one of
which was an adult, in full breeding dress, with a fine black
breast, and really not much larger than the little stint. I have
also examined some beautiful old turnstones.

SECOND SERIES—VOL., XI. 3¢

5110 THE ZooLocist—OcToBER, 1876.

I had almost omitted to mention that several storm petrels,
seemingly in an exhausted state, were captured in Plymouth
Sound on the 16th of August. The weather was fine, with a nice
breeze, but the day after, it blew a gale from the east, accompanied
by a tremendous thunder-storm.

J OHN GATCOMBE.
8, Lower Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth.

Fish Culture for the Thames. By Joun T. CArrinGTon,

ACCOMPANIED by my friends Mr. W. A. Lloyd and Mr. E.. Howard
Birchall, I recently visited, by invitation, the fish-breeding esta-
blishment of Mr. James Forbes, of Chertsey Bridge, on the Upper
Thames. Mr. Forbes’ fish-house is a large well-built glass and
brick edifice standing in the immediate rear of his house: it is
quite new, and built entirely for the purpose to which it is devoted,
having replaced an older structure, a greenhouse, which Mr. Forbes
formerly used for his experiments: these were so successful that
the operations were extended.

Before commencing my description of Mr. Forbes’ establishment,
it should be understood that all he has done is from an entirely
patriotic and disinterested feeling: he is a keen sportsman and an
ardent angler, and the whole of the fish thus reared at a great outlay
of time and of several thousands of pounds in money will, as soon
as the fish are able to take care of themselves, be turned into the
Thames, there to grow and delight the heart of many a fisherman.
The saloon in which the operations are conducted is thirty-four feet
in length and proportionately broad. On the right, on entering, is
a brick wall; the front of the building, which has a north-west
aspect, and the ends, being of glass. The first series of tanks are the
ordinary step-shaped hatching troughs: in this series, with several
additional tanks, Mr. Forbes hatches out from sixty thousand up to
a hundred thousand ova each season. In connection with these
is a further series of six tanks, each three feet long by one foot
eight inches wide, and two feet deep, for receiving the young
fish. The sides and ends of these tanks are of glass, so that all
the operations of feeding may be readily observed. Besides these
are several larger tanks, used for various purposes, but chiefly
to contain parent fish or some of large growth which have been
reared by Mr. Forbes from ova, Lastly, in this room, is a useful

Tuer ZooLocist—OcrToBER, 1876. 5111

shallow tank, about eight feet by five feet nine inches, and nine
inches deep. Fitted in the middle of this tank are two ornamental
fountains, which are adaptations of Barker’s Mill: these thoroughly
aérate the water supplied, by tossing it in the form of spray through
the air and distributing it over the surface of the water in the tank.
The bottom is covered with clean shingle: over this may be seen
large numbers of young fry hatched out late this season.

The fish-fry, after going through a careful course of feeding
in these nursery tanks until they become about two inches in
length, are drafted off to the rearing pond at Sunbury, which is
now under Mr. Forbes’ care, and where at the present time are
upwards of 20,000 young fish of this season’s hatching. These are
thriving so rapidly that they will at the end of two years be in
condition to start on the business of life on their own account in
the rippling waters of the Upper Thames and its tributaries.

The system of water supply and aération of the tanks in the
Fish Saloon at Chertsey Bridge is original and ingenious, but not
without some defects, which may, and I believe will, soon be
remedied. The machinery and many of the appliances are the
adaptation of ideas suggested and carried out by a neighbouring
firm of engineers, Messrs. Charles and James Taylor, of Chertsey.
Though somewhat different to what would have been arranged by
one experienced in aquarium construction, they are very creditable,
and to some extent effective. The water is lifted by means of a
pump, worked by a small steam engine, of two horse-power, from a
well to a height of twenty-four feet, into a reservoir containing
about five thousand gallons placed upon the roof of the building.
In addition to this is a second or reserve engine of one horse-power,
nominal, but in both these engines the power may be considerably
increased—it is said to ten horse-power; but I cannot help thinking
this must be an error. This quantity of water (5000 gallons) serves
the whole system for a period of twenty-four hours, when the upper
reservoir is again recharged. On leaving this reservoir the water
descends directly into each tank, from whence it flows directly
away into two outer reserve tanks in the garden, and thence to the
river. One of these tanks is thirty-six feet long, five feet broad
and two feet deep, the other ten feet by five feet and a half, and
two feet deep. On its way from the tanks the water is caught by
an ingenious bucket arrangement, automatic in its working, which
drives two pairs of ordinary kitchen bellows: these force air into

5112 THE ZooLocist—OcrTosER, 1876.

the breeding-tanks by frequent but fitful supplies. Here is a great
loss of power, for if the water which serves each tank were injected
by means of a small jet placed over the water in the tank, the effect
would be to cause a constant and superabundant supply of air;
whereas, by the present arrangement, the supply is sudden and
explosive-like, and at intervals of from twenty seconds to half a
minute. This sudden disturbance of the whole body of water must
always be unsatisfactory, and is certainly contrary to anything in
nature. Again, there is a further loss of power by allowing the water
to enter into and leave each tank directly ; whereas, if all had been
connected and it had flowed from one to another, a much less
reservoir would have served, or the present one would have supplied
for a proportionately longer period.

Mr. Forbes proposes to add to his already extensive fresh-water
aquarium and hatching tanks several sea-water tanks for experi-
mental purposes. In the erection of these he has obtained the
advice and assistance of Mr. Lloyd, of the Crystal Palace Aquarium.
These tanks will be upon the circulatory system discovered by
Mr. Lloyd, so that one, and the first, supply of sea-water will be
sufficient. .

The fish now being reared at Chertsey Bridge are the common
trout (Salmo fario), the great lake trout (Salmo ferow), golden
tench (Tinca vulgaris), and a large number of beautiful specimens,
of several ages, of the American brook trout (Salmo fontinalis).
Of this last-named truly handsome fish Mr. Forbes has many fine
examples, reared by Mr. Capel and Mr. Edon: we observed some
about half a pound in weight and others were a year and half old.
One very striking character in rearing Salmo fontinalis is the
remarkable difference in the growth of individuals in a single brood
of “fry” from the same batch of ova: some grow at great speed and
outstrip their brethren in a short space of time, while the majority
are probably two-thirds less than these in size at the end of the first
few months. I cannot help thinking that, owing to Mr. Forbes’
efforts, this fish will soon obtain permanent hold in the Thames,
and whenever a fine eight-pounder is taken, “may we be there
to see.”

Mr. Forbes is a naturalist as well as a sportsman; and, after
lunch, he conducted us to see his really fine collection of stuffed
British birds: this contains not only rare species, many of which
were shot in the neighbourhood, but every specimen has been

THE ZooLocist—OcToBER, 1876. 5118

chosen for its state of plumage and condition of preservation. In
the grounds are a number of aviaries, arranged much after the style
of those in the Zoological Gardens, Regent’s Park, in which are
many species of the genus Phasianus; but best of all is the duck-
pond, upon which we counted no less than twenty-eight species of
swans, geese and ducks, amongst them being the very rare Peruvian
swan, with its black head and neck in such striking contrast to its
white body.

We left Chertsey Bridge, at the end of a day spent after our own
hearts, wishing there were more such men as Mr. Forbes, who
spares neither time nor money where he can further the ends of
pisciculture.

Joun T. CaRRINGTON.
Crystal Palace Aquarium,

September 19, 1876.

Dr. Buller on the Fauna and Flora of New Zealand.—At the last
General Meeting of the Wellington (N. Z.) Philosophical Society, the new
President (Dr. Buller), on taking the chair, delivered a short address, in
which he compared the present state of knowledge regarding the fauna and
flora of New Zealand with what it was at the date of the formation of this
Society. He said :—* At the time to which I refer, the scientific literature
of the colony consisted of Dr. Hooker's ‘ New-Zealand Flora,’ Dr. Mantell’s
chapters on New Zealand in his ‘Fossils of the British Museum,’ the
‘ Zoology of the Voyage of the Erebus and Terror,’ Dr. Dieffenbach’s two
volumes of ‘ Travels’ (which contained much information on Geology and
some valuable Natural-History appendices), Professor Owen’s early memoirs
on Dinornis and its allies in the ‘ Transactions’ of the Zoological Society of
London, besides a few minor works and scattered papers in the ‘ Proceedings’
of various learned bodies. With the exception of the Botany, which had
been explored at a very early date by Banks, Solander, Sparmann, and the
two Forsters, and had afterwards been exhaustively treated by the accom-
plished Director of Kew, no department of New-Zealand Biology had been,
in any sense, properly worked. The lists of the fauna appended to Dieffen-
bach’s ‘ Travels,’ although useful to students in the colony as a basis to
work upon, were enumerations of such species only as were known to
science, and were confessedly imperfect. In every section of Zoology the
number of recorded species has been considerably increased. For example,
the whales and dolphins positively mentioned by that author as inhabiting
the New-Zealand seas were only 4; the number has since been increased to
21, and new species are being continually added. Of the 84 species of birds
enumerated, no less than 17 were of doubtful authority ; the number of well-

S14, * THE ZooLocist—OcToBER, 1876.

ascertained species has now reached 155, and of most of them the life-history
has been exhaustively written. The 6 lizards have since increased to 14,
not including one or two doubtful species. The list of fishes was then 92;
it now comprehends 163 species, and fresh discoveries are being constantly
made. Although the list of Mollusca even then included 240 species, the
number has now increased to 502; the Radiata and Crustacea have been
largely multiplied, while the list of insects has increased to nearly a thousand
recorded forms. In Botany large and important additions have been made
in every section, chiefly through the zeal of local collectors in both islands.
Dr. Hooker’s ‘ Handbook of the New-Zealand Flora,’ published in 1864,
enumerates 935 species of flowering plants, to say nothing of the immense
variety of ferns and lycopods, mosses and jungermannias, lichens, fungi, and
sea-weeds. The pages of our ‘Transactions’ contain many subsequent
additions by Kirk, Buchanan, Travers and other local botanists. Of the
Physical Geography and Geology of the country comparatively little was at
that time known, while a great part of the interior was a terra incognita.
Even the Southern Alps had not been explored, and nothing was known of
those glaciers since discovered by Dr. Haast, which are said to surpass in
magnitude and grandeur the well-known glaciers of the European Alps. In
the field of Paleontology, however, even before that date, some important dis-
coveries had been made. Mr. Mantell, the first scientific explorer of the moa-
beds of Waikouaiti and Waingongoro, had forwarded to Europe a magnificent
collection of fossil remains, which, after ‘ exciting the delight of the natural
philosopher and the astonishment of the multitude,’ found a fitting resting-
place in the galleries of the British Museum, and were, in due course, minutely
described by Professor Owen in several elaborate memoirs read before the
Zoological Society of London. Later years have yielded, in the South Island,
fresh treasures to an almost unlimited extent ; and the group of colossal moa-
skeletons brought together through the energy of Dr. Haast, and now to be
seen in the Canterbury Museum, is, I think, one of the most striking and
interesting exhibitions on this side of the Line. The principal recent dis-
coveries are :—the wonderful saurians, from the Waipara beds and elsewhere,
so fully described in last year’s volume of ‘ Transactions’; the gigantic bird
of prey, Harpagornis Moorei, from the tertiary deposits at Glenmark; the
great wingless goose, Cnemiornis calcitrans, from Otago; and the giant fossil
penguin from the tertiary rocks on the west coast of Nelson—all of which
have been exhaustively dealt with in papers read before the various local
societies and published by the Institute.”

Wild Cats: period of Gestation (Zool. S.S. 5038)—I am sorry I cannot
give further satisfactory information regarding the wild cats (S. 8. 4825), -
which Mr. Alfred Heneage Cocks asks for. I applied to the owner, who still

THE ZooLocist—Ocrorer, 1876. 5115

possesses the two animals, in Glasgow, and he told me that “ nothing came
of it,” contrary to the expectations at one time entertained: the female
would not receive the advances of the male.—J. 4. Harvie Brown ; Duni-
pace House, Larbert, N. B.

Bats hawking for Flies at Noonday.—On Sunday, the 13th of August,—
almost the hottest day we had,—two bats continued hawking for flies,
during divine service, between the hours of eleven and twelve.—C. Matthew
Prior ; The Avenue, Bedford.

[The circumstance is not so unusual as our correspondent seems to
suppose. Numerous instances of bats flying by day have been recorded
from time to time.—Ep.]

The Exeter Albert Memorial Museum.—When in Exeter the other day
I visited (as I always do when I find myself in the capital of Devon) the
excellent Albert Memorial Museum, and found—what I always find—great
progress and improvement. I have never yet had the pleasure of seeing
the Norwich Museum, with its rich collection of raptorial birds, but I should
say neither the Norwich Museum nor any other provincial institution of
the kind can be better than that at Exeter. Too great praise cannot be
awarded to the indefatigable Curator and Secretary, Mr. D’Urban, for what
he has done with the money and the materials placed at his disposal. The
Museum seems to be popular with the townspeople, as it well may, and on
a market-day it is so crowded that it is difficult to move about, I was
pleased to see that Mr. D’Urban is getting together a collection of local
birds. Unless local Museums confine themselves to the local F auna they
are only the source of confusion; but they are of great value and of
immense assistance to a naturalist studying a district, when they receive
only specimens obtained within its limits. An omnium gatherum collection
of birds and animals, some British, some foreign, is of use perhaps for the
unscientific to gape at, but it vexes the eyes of those who would prefer to
see what the neighbourhood can produce. Let the local birds, &c., be kept
apart; and then (as is done at Exeter) let characteristic types of foreign
birds be ranged, for the information of those who would wish to see how
the Fauna of other countries differs from their own. Let me beg any
reader of the ‘ Zoologist’ who finds himself with a spare hour at Exeter to
visit the Museum: he will be well repaid.—Murray A. Matheu ; Bishop's
Lydeard.

The Time of Day at which Birds lay their Eggs,—Mr. Cordeaux (Zool.
S. 8. 4983) asks, “Can any one tell me at what time during the twenty-four
hours the egg is deposited by birds?” Quoting Dr. Saxby, he says, “ Careful
observation of twenty different species of our insessorial birds has enabled
me to ascertain the fact that, as a general rule, they lay their eggs between

5116 THE ZooLocisT—OcTOBER, 1876.

the hours of 7 and 12 p.m.” Ihave had some experience in collecting
birds’ eggs, and though I cannot say that I have given much attention to
the time when the egg is laid, still I am decidedly of opinion that birds lay
their eggs, as a rule, about eight o’clock in the morning. Could Dr. Saxby
have meant A.M. instead of p.m.?—JI’. Boyes; Beverley.

Sea Birds at Bridlington.—The following birds have been shot within
the last week or two at Bridlington :—Six Manx shearwaters (all old birds),
and many more seen. Several Richardson’s skuas, in four stages of
plumage; many more seen. One great shearwater (young bird), and another
or two seen. One cormorant, and two or three others seen. Half a dozen
or more gannets, all immature but one; they are common on this coast in
the herring season, when some fine old birds are generally procured. Other
birds were shot, chiefly kittiwakes, herring gulls, common gulls, arctic
terns, &c. The above list only includes birds shot by personal friends or
self, and no doubt many more have been secured by others.—Jd.

Spotted Flycatcher returning Annually to the same Nest.—In the
‘Zoologist’ for July (S. 8. 5001) Mr. Prior mentions a spotted flycatcher
returning annually to the same nest for four successive years. I remember
my brother telling me of a certain person in this neighbourhood asking him
if he had ever looked into the hole of an elm tree, about nine feet from the
ground growing beside a stream which runs near the village, as there used
to be a nest built there every year when he used to go birdsnesting. My
brother went, and found to his surprise a spotted flycatcher’s nest. The
bird continued to build in the same hole for about four years after he found
it, when it forsook the place, owing’ to my breaking an egg, and, being
young, I left it inthe nest. It must have built there for at least twenty
years. So far as my own personal observations go (and they have been
somewhat extensive), in no instance have I known this bird build its nest
again in the same place after it has once been rudely disturbed,—not to say
had its nest taken,—especially when it had young; but such a penchant
has it for certain localities, that if it has its nest taken it almost invariably
builds again in the vicinity. In this respect it is very similar to its con-
gener the pied flycatcher, and, although differing very materially both in
its structure and habits, I may add, to that most beautiful bird with
its “proud pied form,” which is fast becoming extinct,—I mean the
magpie,—which, from the time of Gilbert White to the present has been
noted, however much it might be molested, for its intense attachment to
its favourite breeding haunts.—E. P. P. Butterfield; Wilsden, near Brad-
ford, August 22, 1876.

Redstarts and Blue Tits nesting in Human Skulls.—Having visited the
supposed Saxon burial-place in Mr. Gibson’s garden at Saffron Walden,
whilst the skeletons were exposed to view, in July last, I can confirm
Mr. Travis's statement (Zool. S. S, 5042) as to a redstart having made its

THE ZooLocist—OcToBER, 1876. 5117

nest and hatched its young in one of the skulls, gaining access to the
interior through one of the orbits. A somewhat similar incident was lately
communicated to me by the Rev. W. Blyth, of Fincham, near Downham,
in Norfolk, respecting the common blue tit, but under still more ghastly
circumstances. “Early in the present century,” he writes, “say 1804 or
1805, a man named Bennett was tried at Thetford, executed and gibbeted
in a certain lane at Wereham, for the murder of his master, one John
Filby. In 1809 or 1810, John Complin, of this parish, now aged seventy-
five, had the bold curiosity to climb the gibbet and examine the skeleton.
On reaching the head there flew out first an old blue tit and after her the
terrified little family of nine or ten; one only remained, and was secured
by the venturesome explorer.”"—H. Stevenson; Norwich, Sept. 12, 1876.

On the Colour of the Fauces of Nestling Warblers.—Allow me to point
out that the writer of a note in your last number (Zool. S. 8. 5080) has,
unintentionally, I am sure, misrepresented me in doing me the honour of
referring to a former remark of mine (Zool. §. S. 8527). I never said, on
the authority of Signor Bettoni—Beltoni is a misprint with which I, of
course, do not credit your correspondent—or of anybody else, that “the
Jauces of the nestling blackcap are pink.” What I did say your readers, by
turning to the page cited, can easily see for themselves, and therefore
I need not ask you to occupy your space by reprinting the passage.— Alfred
Newton ; September 1, 1876.

Note on Warblers.—Perhaps there is not a class of birds which are
greater favourites with ornithologists than the numerous and interesting
group of warblers. Unknown as many of them are, to the general public,
from the retired habits of the various species, and rare as some others are,
even to those who care to search for them, any little incident in their
economy seems werthy of notice. There are few readers of the ‘ Zoologist,’
I imagine, but are acquainted with one or more species of these tiny
summer-loving birds, and delight to watch their movements or hear their
peculiar notes. A short time since a gentleman, who is more of a general
naturalist than an ornithologist, asked me if I had ever heard the nightin-
gale utter a “low murmuring sound” when any person passed near its
retreat? This question recalled to my memory that some few seasons ago
I found a nightingale’s nest amongst some brambles at the bottom of a
hedge, and often when I went near the spot I heard some such sound as
the one described, but whether it came from the nightingale, male or
female, I am not prepared to say, as the nest was in a very secure retreat,
and could not be seen without pulling aside the brambles, and I had no
wish to disturb the domestic happiness of the lovely songster, although
some one less sympathetic destroyed the nest, as I found it, on a subsequent
visit, torn to pieces. If the nightingale does utter this sound, it seems to
be more of a warning note than anything else. It is well known that the

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 3D

5118 THE ZooLoGist—OcrToBER, 1876.

garden warbler utters a low, guttural note, especially when—in the wane of
summer—it is searching among the bean-sticks for insects or discussing a
fat larva of the common cabbage butterfly; and I am not sure that—with
its near relative, the whitethroat—it does not give vent to the same sort of
murmur when searching amongst the gooseberry and currant bushes, or
amongst the fallen fruit beneath them. I could never satisfy. myself whether
one or both species produced the sound, but in any case it seems to have
been an inward note of satisfaction and complacency, rather than one of
fear or alarm. This “murmuring” will doubtless be understood as in no
way connected with the song of the birds. I should like to know whether
any other of the warblers are in the habit of producing this sound, and
whether it is a well-known trait in the three I have named. The scanty
ornithological literature to which I have access is silent on the subject.—
G. B. Corbin; Ringwood, Hants.

Erratum.—In my note on the song thrush (S. 8. 5003), for’ singing
music vead ringing music.—G. B. C.

Distinguishing Characters of the Aquatic and Sedge Warblers.—Last
October I saw an undoubted aquatic warbler at Cliffe, in Kent, which
I duly recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. 8. 4693). Though I confess that in
commencing the study of Ornithology I have made several rather serious
mistakes of identification, I think there is no reasonable doubt here. Iam
surprised to have heard it said that the aquatic warbler and the sedge
warbler are very like each other and difficult to distinguish. Undoubtedly
there is a certain similarity in the distribution of the markings: each
species has a whitish eye-streak surmounted by a dark band, and each
species has the ground colour of the upper plumage more or less marked
with dark striations. ‘There the resemblance ends, and we may first note
a radical difference in the colouring of the crown of the head, that part
being very light-coloured in the aquatic warbler, but in the sedge warbler
olive-brown with darker markings. But it is very misleading to speak, as
so many do, as if this were the only great difference between the two birds.
I have referred to a similarity between the styles of marking, but at how
great a distance can this be detected? Seen with the naked eye at a very
little distance the sedge warbler seems to be of a uniform olive on the upper
surface, barring the tawny rump, the dark striations being far too faint to
be visible. Even the tawny red of the rump blends so harmoniously with
the olive of the back that it wants a young pair of eyes to detect the
difference. An excellent ornithologist said to me one day in Lincolnshire,
“ What are those birds that look to me like willow wrens? Your eyes are
younger than mine.” The birds were sedge warblers, and I have elsewhere
noticed the same superficial likeness between this bird and the willow wren
group. But when we look at the aquatic warbler we find a broad and
distinct blackish band on each side of the head, and the dark markings of

THE ZooLocist—OcrTosBer, 1876. 5119

the back as distinct as those of a bunting. These characteristics are plainly
visible at a moderately near view of the living bird, except of course when
on the wing, the flight being rapid. In breeding plumage, judging by
Gould’s plete, the ground colour of the upper surface comes nearer to that
of the sedge warbler than it does in autumn; but the aquatic warbler seems
to be grayer on the back and yellower on the ramp—colours which I should
think would not blend so well to the eye as the olive and tawny of the
sedge warbler; but in autumn plumage the merest “ yokel” ought to see
the difference. The aquatic warbler becomes of a yellow russet (wn jaune
roux, Schlegel) on the upper surface, the colour of the back approximating
to that of the rump. Dr. Bree very properly notices this state of plumage ;
but why the silence, and the very misleading silence, on this point, of our
other English authorities? Seen, as I saw it, flitting up and down a reedy
ditch on the Thames marshes, this yellowish red bird is a most striking
object, suggesting by its colour the bearded tit and the rufous warbler
(4idon galactodes) more than anything else. In its habits, as noticed by
Dr. Bree, it is very mouse-like, creeping in and out among the bottoms of
the reeds, as I never saw any sedge warbler do. JT must ask you and your
readers to pardon this prolixity; but I have written thus much in the
belief that Ornithology is much impeded by misleading representations as
to the difficulty of distinguishing (for non-scientific observers) species which
superficially are very disnare Clifton ; Cobham Hall, September 4, 1876.

Blackcap in Ireland.—Some of your readers may be interested in
hearing that a young blackcap was shot, on the 30th of June, by a young
friend of mine, at Rathgar, near Dublin. Two were in company at the
time, and they must have been reared in the neighbourhood. I have not
heard that the blackcap has been observed anywhere else in Ireland during

-the present year. My friend had been on the look out for the species for
a considerable time.—Charles W. Benson.

{In Ireland, although a local species, the blackcap is a regular summer
migrant in the county of Dublin, and has been observed in Antrim,
Wicklow, Waterford, Cork, Tipperary and Galway —Eb.]

Whitethroat’s Nest at an unusual Elevation—The other day Mr. Sways-
land, naturalist, of Brighton, had the goodness to take me to his garden, on
the outskirts of the town, to see a common whitethroat’s nest in an elder
bush, at the unusual elevation of sixteen feet. Mr. Swaysland informs me
that on some days his garden is quite an interesting ornithological sight.
Hundreds of tree sparrows may be observed (in flocks), passing over on
passage, and huge flights of wagtails; and at other times great squads of
redwings from the north, passing on, with strength unabated, to southern
climes. He has constructed a small pond, and a very clever net by which
to entrap thirsty birds who come there to drink. Only the other day he
caught a pretty pied flycatcher, which he showed me just mounted; and

5120 Tue ZooLtocist—OcrToBeER, 1876.

last Bank-holiday he and his son took sixteen garden warblers, besides no
end of other birds. The net covers the whole of the piece of water, and
I should judge it to be, when shut, about six yards long and four feet
across. It is the most ingenious contrivance I ever saw. I hear a glossy
ibis has just been taken in Sussex, but I have not seen it.—J. H. Gurney,
jun.; Hotel de St. Antoine, Antwerp.

Pied Wagtail building in a Thrush’s Nest——Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun. *
mentions (Zool. S. 8. 5003) an instance of a pied wagtail using a blackbird’s
nest as the foundation for its own. A similar case came under my notice
in May, 1874, where Mr. Purdy, of Woodgate House, Aylsham, showed me
a pied wagtail sitting on her nest, in a tall laurel-bush, which she had con-
structed in the hollow of a deserted song thrush’s nest. About a fortnight
later, however, the young of the wagtail were found dead on the ground, and.
the wagtail’s superstructure having been pulled to pieces, the original nest
was restored and four thrush’s eggs laid in it; all, no doubt, the act of the
original owner, who, disturbed in the first instance, had returned to take
possession of her lawful property —H. Stevenson ; Norwich, July 12, 1876.

Greenfinch nesting in a Furze-bush.—On looking over an old note-book
in which I used to enter circumstances which seemed to me to be of
uncommon occurrence, I find the following under date of June 19, 1875 :—
“To-day I found, in a furze-bush, a greenfinch’s nest containing five eggs.
This is the only time I ever observed this bird nesting in furze—the most
favourite situation for the common linnet."—C. Matthew Prior.

White Starling in Nottinghamshire.—Will some one one kindly inform
me if white specimens of starlings aré of more frequent occurrence than any
other kind of bird? Within the last six months I have recorded two
instances in the ‘ Zoologist,’ and I saw another a few days ago in Notting-
hamshire, which I endeavoured to obtain, but it never let me approach
within gunshot.—Id.

[The starling appears to be more subject to albinism than most birds.
Not a year elapses in which we do not receive numerous notices of the
occurrence of such varieties.—Eb. |

Rosecoloured Pastor in the Isle of Wight.—Mr. Smith, the Newport
taxidermist, informs me that a handsome male of this species, in perfect
plumage, was shot at Mill Hill, West Cowes, on the 31st of July, when in
company of starlings. ‘This is, I believe, its first occurrence on the island.
H. Hadfield ; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, August 17, 1876.

Rosecoloured Pastor in Hampshire.—It is a pleasure to be able to
record the occurrence of a female of this rare species at Wood-green, on the
borders of the forest, near Fordingbridge. I have not seen the bird, but my
friend Mr. H. W. Aubrey, of the Rectory, Hale, who is now having it
preserved, has kindly sent me the following note: —‘“It was shot by
Mr. Hinxman’s gardener, and was apparently feeding on cherries when

Tue Zootocist— Ocroser, £876. 5121

first observed. It was killed about the middle of July.” We are informed,
in Wise’s ‘New Forest,’ that a fine male of this species was killed some
thirty years ago at Purewell, Christchurch, by a brother of Hart, the bird-
stuffer there, so that this specimen was undoubtedly preserved.—G@. B.
Corbin.

Lining of the Crow’s Nest.—With one exception, all the crows’ nests
I have examined have been lined with wool. I once came across one
without any wool in whatever, but in its place was a quantity of dried flags,
which it had obtained from the River Ouse close by—C. Matthew Prior.

Hooded Crow nesting in East Yorkshire.—I am informed that the hooded
crow has nested in the Flamborough cliffs this season, and that five or six
of them were seen on the 15th of August last. A “hoodie” was killed a
short time ago by the gamekeeper at Kilham, a village some twelve miles
north of Beverley, but I have no particulars, except that the gentleman
who has the shooting told me he saw the bird a week or two ago, and it
was freshly killed.—F’. Boyes.

Jackdaws nesting in Modern Gables——The jackdaw is so associated in
one’s ‘mind with ecclesiastical edifices, ruined castles, and monastic
buildings, or the scarcely less venerable trees that surround ancestral
houses, that one seems to regard almost as a degenerate race such birds as
content themselves, for nesting purposes, with the chance inlets of more
modern structures. During the last two or three seasons I have watched
with some interest the gradual increase in a colony of jackdaws, which,
haying turned out the first tenants—the starlings—have, to the number of
five or six pairs, established themselves in the roofs of the Esplanade
houses at Lowestoft, on the Suffolk coast. These being situated close
to the beach, the birds have taken care to select the west side, facing
inland, and find a safe and snug retreat for themselves and young in
openings between the wood- and brick-work in the angles of the orna-
mental gables. Staying at Lowestoft this year at the beginning of April,
I was able to watch their proceedings, day by day; and as the weather at
the time was anything but spring-like, the progress of nest-building was
unusually prolonged, and consequently the raids made upon each other's
stores of nesting materials afforded constant amusement. For more than
a fortnight they were thus employed, working only at intervals during the
day, and some days, apparently by common consent, taking an “ outing” in
the fields ‘‘ from morn till dewy eve”; but occasionally, on these “ excursion
days,” a sly customer would return to its haunt, and, after a cautious
survey, dive suddenly into the entrance of a neighbour's unest-hole,
where, securing certain coveted sticks, it coolly conveyed them to its own.
‘Once or twice, however, I saw the thief caught in the act, by the sudden
return of the lawful owner, or “Jack” proved after all to be ‘at home,”
though not seen at first in the dark recesses of the gable openings, and then

5122 THE 7,00LoGIst—OcToBER, 1876.

a battle royal ensued, and, after the manner of stage-plays, always ended in
the discomfiture of the villain of the piece. On cold days—and there was
an unpleasant prevalence of N.E. winds at the time—it was funny to see
how these birds would seek out the most sunny parts of the roof for their
afternoon siesta, carefully placing themselves under the lee of the chimney-
pots and nestling close to each other for increased warmth. The sticks for
their nests were chiefly broken off the branches of trees and shrubs in the
gardens below, though occasionally good-sized ones were brought from a
distance, as also were masses of grass or fibrous stuff of some kind, as it
appeared through my telescope, and a considerable amount of deal-shavings,
gathered close by where carpentering work was going on. ‘The chief
novelty, however, was to watch them, even at midday, alight in the roadway
before the houses, a busy thoroughfare, and carry off the freshly-dropped
horse-dung in large masses to their nests; but whether used partly by way
of lining, or, with a strange instinct, to plaster up some draughty crevices
in their lofty nurseries, I am quite unable to say.—H. Stevenson; Norwich,
September 12, 1876.

Wood Wren and Greenshank in Sutherland.—While staying at Helms-
dale, last May, [ found the wood wren singing at Kildonan, which is about
ten miles up the Helmsdale River. I am well acquainted with its peculiar
tremulous note, the bird being very abundant here (at Cobham). This is
the furthest northern locality in our islands that the wood wren has yet
been recorded from. I heard one this summer close to the high road at
Chislehurst, where I should hardly have expected to find one. I saw
nothing else very rare at Helmsdale, beyond a pair of greenshanks, which
were evidently nesting at Kildonan, and were very fierce in their attacks
upon me.—Clifton ; Cobham Hall, September 4, 1876.

[Hitherto the range of the wood wren northward in the British Islands
has not been known with certainty to extend beyond Loch na Nuagh, in
Inverness-shire, on the west coast, and the neighbourhood of Banff on the
east.— Ep. |

Habits of the American Cowbird.—Though much interested in the
extracts from Dr. Coues’s ‘ Birds of the North West,’ I doubt the cowbird’s
ability to “slip by stealth” into the nests of such numerous species as it is
known to deposit an egg in. Nor do I see in the building by the summer
yellowbird of a two- and three-storied nest a ‘proof of its possessing a
faculty indistinguishable, so far as it goes, from human reason.” It gives
up a nest the cowbird’s egg has been laid in, and builds another on the top
of it, leaving the “obnoxious egg in the basement.” Would it not have
been better and more akin to reason had the summer yellowbird sought out
a more secluded spot, unknown to cowbird, and there made a new nest,
instead of adding a second story to the first, making it more conspicuous
than before—to say nothing of the third story referred to? Again, how

Tur ZooLocist—OcrToBeErR, 1876. 5123

comes it that a bird endowed with such faculties does not throw out the
egg of the cowbird, and save time and labour in the construction of a second
or a third nest? I had no opportunity when in Canada of observing the
breeding habits of the cowbird, not having met with it there or in New-
foundland during the summer, though the most abundant of all species in
the autumn ; but the spring migration, according to Wilson, extends very
far north. Though it is said to derive its name from its note of “ cow-cow,”
I am inclined to think that its habit of feeding among cattle is more likely
to have given rise to it—H. Hadjield.

Susceptibility of the Swift—The boisterous weather of yesterday, accom-
panied by much cold and rain, appears to have had an effect on the swifts
at Dover. Many have flown into houses and been captured by hand this
day (September Ist), as I am informed by Mr. Gray, the taxidermist, to
whom some were brought, and at whose house I saw two. I do not think
this is unusual with swifts. It is well known they are very susceptible of
cold,—more so than the swallow,—as is proved by their coming later and
leaving earlier. Mr. Gray mentioned to me, as a remarkable instance of
the feebleness to which they can occasionally be reduced, that once the
walls of St. Mary’s Church, in Dover, were covered with them, hanging in
great clusters, seemingly incapable of exerting their powers of flight —J. H.
Gurney, jun.; Lord Warden Hotel, Dover, September 1, 1876.

Nigration of Swifts—Though I have not noticed any migration of these
birds this year on or about the 1st of July, and therefore cannot throw any
light on Mr. Gurney’s note on this.subject in the ‘ Zoologist’ for August
(S. S. 5045), I find by my note-book for 1873 that I was at Spurn on the
7th of July, and have the following entry, “ Saw a quantity of swifts going
southward.”—#’. Boyes.

Migration of Swifts.—Large numbers of these birds passed over Bedford
on the morning of the 8th of August, and I continued observing small
quantities till the 11th, when they all disappeared from this locality. On
the 24th I observed a swift flying about near the little village of Fiskerton,
upon the Trent. I see in the ‘Field’ that the editor observed swifts at
Bognor upon the 4th of this month (September); and a friend informs me
that he saw one near Stony Stratford upon the 8th.—C. Matthew Prior.

Black Grouse in the New Forest.—Having read the extracts from Mr.
Lord’s ‘ Naturalist in British Columbia,’ with regard to the dancing per-
formances of certain grouse in the breeding season, and Mr. Mathew’s
comment upon the same, in the September number of the ‘ Zoologist’(S. S.
5072-73), I am induced to give a short account of what has fallen under my
own observation respecting the amatory fervour with which black game will
sometimes fight as wellas dance. ‘The species is undoubtedly much scarcer
than formerly in this neighbourhood, and no one can but regret its steady
decrease, yet it is pleasant to know that even now it does exist in this part

5124 THE ZooLocist—OcToBER, 1876.

of the kingdom, and is still indigenous in some of the more wild parts of the
forest. One evening in May I had been upon an extensive heath for some
considerable time, in the hope of finding the much-coyeted eggs of the hen
harrier or Montagu’s harrier,—one or both species had frequented the heaths
the previous season,—and, as darkness was fast coming on, I was preparing
to find the track into the highway when I was somewhat startled by a
peculiar noise, as loud as it was strange to me, and, as far as I could
conjecture, it came from the top ofa hill at no great distance. I crept
stealthily towards the spot, and on reaching the brow of the hill I saw five
or six males of the black grouse engaged in a desperate fight. So intent
were they on tearing and plucking each other that I crept on hands and
knees amongst the heather to within a few yards of the scene of the
conflict, when my proximity became apparent, and the belligerents dis-
persed, one or two settling upon the branches of some beeches which were
near. I had read, but was never before an eye-witness, of these amatory
conflicts amongst those beautiful birds, and on this occasion I did not see a
female anywhere in the neighbourhood; but the scattered feathers left upon
the battle-field seemed to indicate that what I had seen was not the first
occurrence of the kind which had taken place upon the same spot. Is it
the case that, the species being polygamous, all the males of the surrounding
neighbourhood meet at a particular spot and fight for the privileges of the
harem? I was not aware, until I saw the congregation in question, that
such a number of this species were resident in any one spot in the forest.
Often in crossing the heaths and moorlands a specimen of this noble bird
may be put up, but it is seldom that more than one, ora pair at most, is
seen. I have occasionally seen the young birds, but never stumbled upon
the nesting-place except on one occasion. ‘The slovenly-constructed nest
was on the ground amongst a few stunted bushes of blackthorn and tall
heather, and contained four eggs, but the bird which laid them was evidently
unwell, as the markings were pale and very ill-defined—different, in fact,
from specimens I have seen from the north. As to the food of the species,
I suspect few kinds of berries come amiss to their taste. I have seen both
acorns and hawthorn berries in the stomach of the same bird, and on one
occasion I saw a female feeding upon the scarlet berries of the knee-holm,
or “ butcher’s-broom,” as I believe itis called, which berries, by-the-bye, are
said by the forest people, to be stained with the blood of the Danes. They
will also eat whortle-berries,—locally “ black-harts,"— which grow very
commonly in some parts of the forest. At the beginning of April a game-

keeper brought me a beautiful female bird which had come by its death by

flying against the telegraph-wires: it was much mutilated about the breast,
its neck was broken, and its head nearly severed from the body: the
stomach of this specimen contained the tops and leaves of heather, mixed
with a little green herbage. ‘The forest people call the male “ black cock,”

OO a ee

Tue ZooLocist—OcrToseEr, 1876. 5125

and the female “ poult,” or “heath poult,” and some of them seem totally
ignorant that they are the two sexes of the same species ; in fact, I remember
a man once bringing a female to me, with the remark that he had got a
queer hen pheasant with a short tail, and thought it would be a valuable
novelty. ‘‘ Within the memory of man,” to use a much hackneyed phrase,
the species has become comparatively rare, and will, I fear, eventually be
‘a thing of the past” in the grand old forest, whose natural beauties are
replete with pleasure and profit to any thinking mind.—G. B. Corbin.

Redlegged Partridge sitting on a Gate—A farmer told me that a few
days ago he heard a great noise proceeding from an adjacent enclosure:
on reaching the place he saw what he took to be a hen partridge standing
on a, gate calling its young together out of reach of danger; but on creeping
up quite close he was surprised to see that it was an old male French
partridge calling lustily. I remember once seeing in Lincolnshire a
partridge standing on the top of a haycock calling as loud as he could.—
C. Matthew Prior.

Common Dotterel near Penzance.—I think it well just to note the occur-
rence of the dotterel in this neighbourhood, because we are very seldom
visited by it: it is a species, I believe, that occurs far more frequently in
the south-eastern districts than the south-west. Now and then, and at
uncertain intervals, we hear of a specimen or s0 in our open moors and
fallows. The example I examined last week was, I believe, solitary on a
hill or slope running up from Mount’s Bay to no great elevation. It appears
to be a bird in adult plumage, with a few of the feathers on the back
bordered with rust-colour—perhaps indicative of winter plumage, as the rest
of the plumage shows no sign of its being a bird of the year—Z. H. Rodd;
Penzance, August 29, 1876.

Green Sandpiper at Northrepps.—In my note on the occurrence of the
green sandpiper rather a curious misprint occurs: “of knot” should be
“‘oftenest”—yrather a perplexing mistake, as ornithologists do not, in a
general way, consider the green sandpiper to be a “species of knot” (S. 8.
5083). I saw the same bird or another one in just the same place a few
days afterwards, and this time it did utter a note upon being flushed.—
J. H. Gurney, jun.; Calais.

Curious Habit of the Common Sandpiper._In the August number of
' the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. S. 5081) is an account of a curious habit of the common
sandpiper by Mr. H. M. Wallis, who asks if any one has observed a similar
trait in the same species. I once had the pleasure.of observing something
of the kind. It was early in April, while angling in the Petteril, near
Carlisle, when, for the first time that year, I noticed a common sandpiper,
which was sitting on a bed of gravel near the brink of the river. As
I approached it flew across to the opposite side, and sat down on a stump of
the weiring made to defend the bank of the pool, which is deep, and the

SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI, 3E

5126 © THE ZooLtocist—OcToBER, 1876.

stream rapid. It had not been there more than a minute when a sparrow-
hawk swept over a high hedge close by; observing this, the sandpiper
dropped off the stump into the pool, like a piece of lead, and the hawk went
on: the bird then came cautiously out on to the gravel bed it had left on
perceiving my approach. I do not remember the year this occurred in, but
I was a young man, and I am now nearly eighty-four years of age.—James
Cooper; Dole’s Cottages, Sankey Bridges, near Warrington.

Great Snipe in Devon.—On the 23rd of August a beautiful specimen of
the great snipe was killed on Dartmoor. Although not a very large bird,
T feel sure, from the state of its plumage and general appearance, that it is
an adult one. The markings are particularly dark and well defined; but
the extreme edges or margins of the feathers have become rather light
from exposure, and much worn from constant preening, which would not be
the case with a young bird of the year—John Gatcombe.

Little Crake at Hastings.—When at Hastings last week I bought a little
crake for my collection. It was brought in to be preserved on or about the

16th of April. It was very stale, and had the appearance of not being shot;

probably the verdict was “found dead.” One other Hastings little crake
(recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ some years since) was, if I remember right,
caught by acat. The bird obtained this year is in the brown plumage,
with much white on the throat, and the bars on the flanks indistinct. Its
a very large specimen; this may be-partly in the stuffing, but I think the
little crake is a decidedly larger bird than Baillon’s.—J. H. Gurney, jun. ;
Antwerp.

Velvet Scoter.—On the 14th of June last, when driving round the head
of Loch Scridain, an arm of the sea on the west coast of the island of Mull,
in company with my friend Mr. J. A. Harvie Brown, I observed a pair of
velvet scoters sitting on the water a little way off the shore. From the
lateness of the date, it is not at all impossible that they were breeding on
the moors on the adjoining hillside——J. J. Dalgleish ; Brankston Grange,
Culross, N. B., September 13, 1876.

Does the Common Gull breed in the Scilly Isles !—I shall be obliged
to any of your correspondents who would tell me if they ever knew positively
of the common gull (Larus canus) breeding on Annet, or any other of the
Scilly Isles. I have some eggs that are said to have been taken there this
year.— William H. Heaton ; Meadow Croft, Reigate, September 20, 1876.

[The common gull is not found in the Scilly Isles in summer, nor is it
by any means so common there in winter as the kittiwake, herring or lesser
blackbacked gulls. Mr. Vingoe, of Penzance, on visiting Scilly in the
breeding season found no common gulls there, and Mr. Rodd is equally
certain that this bird does not breed in the Land’s End district—Eb.]

Herring Gulls at Tintagel. Passing through the churchyard, where the
graves were covered, to the depth of a foot and more, with lady’s bedstraw

—_— ———

THE ZooLocist—OcToBER, 1876. 5127

(Galium verum), and the air was perfumed from its golden blossoms, we left
the lonely church, and came out on the side of the cliff, with the wild
promontory on which one portion of the old castle stands immediately before
us. It wasa glorious July day; the sea below caught the sun-light and
answered back with “ countless laughter”; the scent of the sea pink wafted
all around was itself a delicious reminder that we were on the coast; the
curious ruins on the hill-side shimmered in the sun; a few kestrels were
poising themselves athwart the deep blue of the sky; and the silvery
herring gulls were sailing solemnly in little parties of threes and fives but
a few feet above the ground, all pointing northwards, and all seeming to
follow the line of flight which those before them had taken, which tracked
with hardly any deviation the many windings of the cliffs. Slipping quietly
a little further down the hill-side above the sea, we placed ourselves under
this path in the air which the birds had chosen, and, sitting behind a frag-
ment of ancient masonry, soon had some of the gulls passing overhead ;
and so close did they come, that, had we stretched out a walking-stick, we
' might, perhaps, have tickled some of them on the breast. But they were
not startled; one or two gave a glance as they swept solemnly on, as much
as to say ‘‘ All right, old fellow!” and so grave and silent were they that
there was something ghostly about them; they might have been the
transmigrated Knights of the Round Table keeping watch over the scene of
their former revels. We looked anxiously for the choughs, but they were
nowhere to be seen. An aged birdstuffer at Boscastle told us that they
were all engaged with their nests, which are placed in deep crevices among
the cliffs; and that until the young choughs are advanced enough to sit
out upon the rocks the old birds are seldom seen, as they keep close at
home with their young. —Murray A. Mathew; August 25, 1876.

Greater Shearwater in Devon.—I have just examined a greater shear-
water, which was killed off Plymouth at the end of July last, but I could
not get the exact date. It is a very fine adult bird, with the under parts
much whiter, or apparently more bleached, than they are just after the
autumnal moult, with scarcely a shade remaining of the dusky patch on
the belly, so conspicuous on the birds generally obtained at the beginning
of winter. I understand there were no others with it when shot.—John
Gatcombe.

Acipenser huso.—A fish of this rare species, in a decomposed state, was
washed ashore between Brook and Freshwater, on the 9th of August.—
H, Hadfield; Ventnor, Isle of Wight.

Red Mullet and Salmon Peal taken at bottom on a Spiller.—On the
7th of September Mr. Symons, of Mayon, captured a red mullet on hook
and line: it was taken on a “spiller” baited with lugworm and pilchard.
Which sort of bait the fish took it is, of course, impossible to say.

5128 Tue ZooL.octst—OcToBER, 1876.

Mr. Symons also took on the spiller (which is a line fishing at the very
bottom, and this makes the catches remarkable), on the 7th instant, a
salmon peal, and another the next day.—Thomas Cornish; Penzance,
September 9, 1876.

Tadpole-fish, or Trifureated Hake, off Penzance.—A specimen of the tad-
pole-fish, or trifurcated hake (Raniceps trifurcatus), has been taken on rocky
bottom in about four fathoms of water, a mile from shore. This fish is
remarkable, whether alive or dead, for its exceedingly unpleasant odour.—
Id. ; September 22, 1876.

Flying-fish (EZxocetus evolans) in the Bristol Channel.—While on a
yachting cruise on the south coast and in the mouth of the Bristol Channel,
last month, we saw, within about one hundred yards of the yacht, a shoal of
flying fish spring from the water and fly just above the surface for about
twelve yards. I was not aware that these fish came so near our shores,
but our captain informed me that it was not the first time he had seen them
in our English seas.—IV. Taylor; Chad Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham,
September 15, 1876.

Capros aper.—A small shoal of boar-fish (Capros aper, Lacepéde) is now
on exhibition in one of the smaller tanks of the Crystal Palace Aquarium.
These were obtained on the extreme south-west coast of Cornwall, not far
from the Land’s End. The exhibition of these very beautiful and highly-
coloured fish in a metropolitan aquarium is one example of the marked
advance of aquarian knowledge. They were conveyed many miles by road
and rail, and after the journey, as may be easily imagined, were in a weakly
condition. After having been on exhibition a fortnight, however, fifteen out
of sixteen are alive and well, one being dead on arrival.—John 7’. Carrington ;
Crystal Palace Aquarium, September 25, 1876.

Parasitic Sea-Anemones.—It has long been known that some intimate
bond of attachment exists between two species of hermit crabs (Pagurus)
and two species of anemones (Actinaria). Pagurus Prideauxii and Adamsia
palliata are very rarely, if ever, found alone, but generally in company with
each other; and, what is still more astonishing, young hermits are always
associated with young anemones. They grow together, never separating—
unless by some untoward accident—while life lasts. ‘The anemone is fixed
to the lip of the shell inhabited by the hermit, its lateral lobes expanding
and meeting ina suture on the top. It is thus carried with its tentacles
hanging? down under the legs of the crab, and gathers its food—to use

Mr. W. A. Lloyd’s graphic expression—* like a sweeping-machine, which

collects what it removes.” When the hermit changes its residence, after
having first ascertained that the new quarters are comfortable, it returns to
the old one, carefully peels off the anemone and causes it to adhere to the

a

Tae ZooLogist—OcrToser, 1876. 5129

new shell. There is a similar, though hardly so intimate, connection between
Pagurus Bernhardus and Sagartia parasitica. This hermit is never found
without one or more of these anemones attached to the upper surface of its
habitation, the load sometimes being so heavy that the unfortunate hermit
can hardly move; but S. parasitica may often be found attached to the
limbs of Maia squinado, and singly or in clumps to empty univalve shells.
The extraordinary association of such widely separate animals as crabs and
anemones is well worthy of more attention than it has hitherto received.
How do they recognise each other? and, in the case of P. Prideauxii and
A. palliata, how is it that the young are always found together, and vice
versd? The benefits of the association appear to be almost entirely in
favour of the anemone; for it can readily be supposed that, by taking
advantage of the locomotive organs of the crab, it obtains larger and more
frequent supplies of food. This is quite in accordance with what has been
observed in other departments of Nature; but as there is no known instance
of one species having been created for the sole benefit of another, it is
probable that there is some compensatory advantage to the crab, and the pains
which P. Prideauxii takes that the connexion shall not be severed appears to
point to something of the sort. Can it be that the crab also obtains a
larger food-supply from, or by means of, the anemone? Anemones never
digest the whole of what they catch, but, having taken what they need, the
remainder is thrown up in a round pellet, and, as crabs are scavengers and
nuisance-removers par excellence, they would have no objection to eat these
pellets of half-digested food—nay, may possibly consider it a duty to do so.
Besides the two species above mentioned, other anemones are occasionally
parasitic. Specimens of Actinoloba dianthus and Sagartia mesembryanthe-
mum have been seen in this aquarium firmly fixed upon the backs of shore-
crabs (Careinas menas), and I have myself seen a fine Tealia crassicornis
completely covering the carapace of a crab of this species. The appearance
reminded me of a common object of the sea-shore—to wit, a young lady
mounted on a donkey, his hind legs appearing to belong to his fair burden.
In Adamsia palliata and Sagartia parasitica the parasitic instinct has
become permanent, and the structure of the latter species has been
modified in consequence, for of all the Actinarie it possesses the toughest
and stoutest skin, which is a manifest protection against the hard knocks it
must occasionally receive from rocks and stones while moying about at the
will of its exceedingly active porter. Mr. P. H. Gosse, in his ‘ Actinologia
Britannica,’ says, “ this association is unaccountable.” Perhaps now that
these animals can be kept in health and strength in confinement oppor-
tunities may arise of explaining this, amongst many other unsolved problems
of marine and freshwater Zoology.—E. Howard Birchall; Crystal Palace
Aquarium, September 23, 1876.

5130 Tue Zoo_ocist—OctToBER, 1876.

Aroceedings of Scientitic Societies.

EntomoroeicaL Socrety oF Lonpon.
September 6, 1876.—J. Jenner WetR, Esq., F.L.S., in the chair.

Additions to the Library.

The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the
donors:—-‘ The Zoologist’ and ‘ Newman’s Entomologist’ for September ;
presented by the Representatives of the late Edward Newman. ‘The Ento-
mologist’s Monthly Magazine’ for September; by the Editors. ‘ Nature,’
nos. 853 to 357: by the Publishers. ‘The Sixth Annual Report of the
Leeds Naturalists’ Club; by the Club. ‘The Naturalist; Journal of the
West Riding Consolidated Naturalists’ Society and General Field Club;’ by
the Editors. ‘The Canadian Entomologist,’ vol. viii., nos. 7 and 8; by the
Editor. ‘Annales de la Société Linnéenne de Lyon,’ 1873 and 1874,
tomes 21 and 22; by the Society. ‘Sur une nouvelle espéce du Genre
d’Ephémerines, Oligoneuria (O. Rhenana), par feu le Dr. L. Imhoff, traduit
de l’Allemande et annoté par le Dr. Emile Joly ;’ by M. Joly. ‘ L’Abeille,’
tome xiv., no. 177; by the Editor, M. de Marseul. ‘ Mittheilungen der
Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft,’ vol. iv., Heft no. 9; by
the Swiss Entomological Society. ‘ Bulletino della Societa Entomologica
Italiana,’ anno ottavo, trimestreii.; by the Society. ‘ Bulletin de la Societe
Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou,’ 1876, no. 1; by the Society. ‘The
American Naturalist’ for July and August, vol. x., uos. 7 and 8; by the
Editor. ‘Monograph of the Geometrid Moths,’ by Dr. A. S. Packard, jun.,
forming the tenth volume of the United States Geological Survey of the
Territories; by Dr. F. V. Hayden, U.S. Geologist. ‘Acta de la Academia
Nacional de Ciencias Exactas existente en la Universidad de Cordova,’
tome 1; by Dr. Burmeister. ‘Description Physique de la Republique
Argentine d’aprés des observations personelles et étrangéres, par le Dr. H.
Burmeister, traduit de l’allemand par E. Maupas,’ tome premier; by Dr.
Burmeister.

By purchase :—‘ Fabricii Systema Piezatorum.’ ‘Reise der Oesterei-
chischen Fregatta Novara um die Erde,’ Heft iv.

Election of Member.
_ Edward Boscher, Esq., of Belle-vue House, Twickenham, was balloted
for and elected an Ordinary Member.
Exhibitions, &c.

Mr. Edward Saunders exhibited some recently captured Hymenoptera
and Hemiptera, many of them rare, and made some remarks respecting the ~

THE ZooLocist—OcToBeERr, 1876. 5131

bug of the house martin, of which he had taken eighteen specimens on the
window-sills of a house.

Mr. Weir mentioned that, on a recent visit to the South Downs, he had
suffered much annoyance from the attacks of the harvest-bug, as many as
- eighty pustules appearing on each foot. Several remedies were suggested,
especially rubbing the affected parts with brandy and water; but Mr. Smith
stated that on one occasion when he was in the Isle of Wight, and exposed
to their attacks, he had found that by taking a dose of milk of sulphur he
was effectually relieved from all annoyance.

Professor Westwood communicated a note with reference to some shoots
of horse-chestnut which he had exhibited at the July meeting of the Society,
as having been destroyed, apparently by some Lepidopterous larve or wood-
boring beetles; but he had since received from Mr. Stainton some shoots
that had been forwarded to him by Sir Thomas Moncrieffe, which had been
destroyed by squirrels in precisely the same manner. Sir Thomas had
himself seen the squirrels at work splitting the shoots with their teeth and
extracting the pith.

Mr. Smith remarked that he had found the common bufftip moth
(Pygara bucephala) very destructive of late to the Spanish chestnut, a tree
on which the insect is not usually found.

Professor Westwood also stated that he had received from a correspondent
in Oxfordshire specimens of the two small species of grasshopper with long
antennze, Meconema varium, F’ab., and Xiphidion clypeatum, Panzer, which
he had taken on a pear tree in his garden, where they had been regularly
observed for the last five or six years.

Mr. M‘Lachlan stated that the former insect was frequently observed by
Lepidopterists when sugaring for moths.

Mr. Smith communicated the descriptions of. three additional species of
Formicide from New Zealand, which had been sent to him by Mr. David
Sharp since his description of Mr. Wakefield’s collection was in the press.
Two of the species belonged to genera not previously ascertained to inhabit
New Zealand, namely Amblyopone and Ponera.

Mr. F. Smith exhibited a series of sixty specimens of a sawfly (Cresus
septentrionalis), which he had bred from larve found feeding on young
shoots of the alder, growing on the banks of the Sid, near Sidmouth, South
Devon. The specimens of the fly were all bred in a single flower-pot, nine
inches in diameter.

Mr. Smith also mentioned the fact of Mutilla Kuropza haying been found
parasitic on Bombus muscorum, by Miss M. Pasley, in an orchard at Shed-
field Grange, near Wickham, Hants; he also remarked on a coincidence
somewhat remarkable, that on the day previous to his receiving Miss Pasley’s
communication, Prof. Edward Brandt, of St. Petersburg, had informed him
that he had found Mutilla Europea in a nest of Bombus muscorum; this

5132 Tue ZooLtocist—OcToBER, 1876.

being the first instance that had come to his knowledge of the parasite
infesting the nests of that species of humble-bee.

Dr. Sharp communicated the following list of localities of some species
of Amazonian Staphylinide discovered by Dr. Trail, and described by

Dr. Sharp in the ‘ Transactions of the Entomological Society of London,’ -

1876, pp. 27—424 :—

Placusa confinis. Lages, near Manaos.

Diestota sperata, Homalota Traili, Gyropheena parca, G. debilis, G. boops,
Coproporus tinctus, Sunius strictus. Berury, on the east bank of the Rio
Purus, near its junction with the Solimoes, or Upper Amazon.

Calodera syntheta, Homalota brevis, H. gilva, Gyrophena parca, G. levis,
G.juncta, G. convexa, G. sparsa, G. quassa, G. tridens, G. boops, G. debilis,

Conurus setosus, Plociopterus letus, P. Traili. Gaviao, on the west (é. e. the’

left side descending) bank of the Rio Jurua, about three hundred miles from
its mouth (about 4° S.).

Gyrophena pumila, G. parvula, Coproporus distans, Xantholinus anticus,
Palaminus discretus, Stenus pedator, Bledius similis. Jurucua, on the
east bank (i.e. right, descending) of the Rio Purus (about 7° S.).

Coproporus curtus. Parentins or Juruty, on the south bank of the Lower
Amazons, about one hundred miles above Obydos.

Coproporus politus, C. ignavus, C. cognatus, Philonthus Traili, Stenus
Traili. Anana, on the north bank os the Solimoes or Upper Amazons, not
far above Manacapuru.

Coproporus conformis, Cryptobium triste, Sunius insignis, Stenus ex-
cisus, Omalium nanum. Pupunha, on the west bank of the Rio Jurua
(about 5°S.).

Dolicaon distans, Bledius albidus. Mouth of Lago de Pao, left bank of
Rio Jurua (about 3° S.).

Cryptobium Traili, Bledius muticus, B. modestus. West bank of Rio
Madeira, above Abelha (about 7° S.).

Pcederus punctiger. Cararaucu, north bank of Lower Amazons, about
one hundred miles below Villa Bella (formerly Villa Nova).

Bledius addendus, B. simplex. Rio Solimoes, or Upper Amazons, off the
Tlha de Catua, near Teffé (formerly Ega).

Papers read.

The following memoirs were read :-—

“Note Dipterologicee. No. III. Monograph of the Genus Systropus,
with Notes on the Economy of a new Species of that Genus.” By J. O.
Westwood, M.A., F.L.S., &c., President of the Entomological Society.

“Note Dipterologice. No.IV. Descriptions of new Genera and Species
of Acroceride.” By J. O. Westwood, M.A., F.L.S., &.—F’. G.

a ee

THE ZooLoGist—NoveMBER, 1876. 5133

The Eagles of Poetry and Prose. By the late Ep>warp Newman.

[The following fragment appears to have been written with some idea
that it should form the commencement of a popular work, to be entitled
‘British Bird Biography’; the idea was probably abandoned, for no con-
tinuation is to be found.]

EacGLss are of two kinds and of two characters: the first may be
called the poetic eagle ; he is royal, noble, lordly, brave: he strikes
only at “the antlered monarch of the glen,” or at some beautiful
child playing at the cottage-door; in either case he grasps the
object in his talons, and soars aloft with it, up the face of some
perpendicular crag; he will do this regardless of his enraged
pursuers, at whom he shrieks his utter contempt and waves his
defiant wing, and pursues his steady course unscathed through the
bullets which ascend from below or the rocks hurled at him from
above. His eyrie is a palace, where he feeds sumptuously every
day, he and his spouse and the little ones. Woe to the cragsman
who attempts to reach that eyrie! it would be certain death: it
were safer to beard the lion in his den than to approach the
monarch of the air in his exalted eyrie: cutlass and blunderbuss
would prove unavailing: from the moment the cragsman makes
the attempt his fate is sealed. Such is the eagle of poetry, the
eagle of the imagination !

The eagle of prose is a very different bird: he will glide over
the moors in search of a dead sheep that has fallen from a preci-
pice, or, better still, for a dead horse—rare dainty: five or six—in
one instance seven—eagles have been disturbed at this unsavoury
repast: he will gorge himself with the carrion until he can scarcely
fly. He is frightened at the yelping of a fox; trembles at the
baying of a collie; dreads the shepherd boy, and flies hither and
thither, in the extremity of fear, when pursued by the sea gull, the
skua, the kestrel, or the hoodie—birds that are ever ready to pursue
and insult his imperial majesty. Some reader may reasonably
object that there are not enough dead horses, or dead sheep, to
feed all the eagles of Scotland and Ireland. Oh, no! he will seize
the newly dropped lamb, or a rabbit caught in a gin, or a ptarmigan
struck by a peregrine, or a turkey poult, or a gosling from a farm-
yard; but a dead rat is his particular weakness; whether on his
native hills or in an aviary nothing is so acceptable as a dead rat.

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 3 F

5134 Tue ZooLocist—NovEMBER, 1876.

Then, again, dead fish—literally stinking fish—will attract him
from afar. I have abundant evidence of this: Mr. Thompson’s
may suffice. In June, 1835, 1836, 1837 and 1838, quantities of fish
sickened and died in Lough Derg, in the county Galway: perch
chiefly; trout and pike in smaller numbers: they floated on the
surface, and were landed on the shore by the ripple. The odour
was irresistible; the eagles came from all quarters, and for three
weeks at a time threw heart and soul into the banquet; nothing
could drive them away; if scared for a moment by the cries of a
baby, the yelping of a puppy, or the caw of a hoodie, they would
return immediately the imaginary danger had passed, and resume
their labours at the inexhaustible feast.

Stripped of his lion’s skin, the eagle is still a fine bird, noble in
appearance, if not in character. Itis a great treat for a southerner,
a real cockney like myself, to see him suspended almost motionless
above Ben Cruachan, or wheeling round the summit of Croagh-
patrick, Sleive Donard, or Lugnaquilla. How intently have I
watched him in all these places! and nearer still at Urrisbeg, a
little hill near Roundstone, in Connemara, at the base of which
Mr. Mackay first discovered the Mediterranean heath. The eagles
are very frequently seen floating over this bill, and passing and
repassing between it and the Twelve Pins, near Ballinahinch, the
seat of the once celebrated Mr. Martin; and their cry is some-
thing that tells of wild nature: I have heard it called a scream,
a yelp, a bark: it is neither of these: it is something inimitable,
indescribable. You may often hear it at the “Zoo”; more rarely
on the mountain wilds,

In confinement the eagle is sulky, savage and treacherous; but
still retains its cowardly disposition, and will submit to be worried
by ravens, crows and magpies. I know of but a single exception,
and this is recorded by Mr. Thompson, who, in his ‘Birds of
Treland,’ says, “‘ My friend, Mr. Langtrey, of Fortwilliam, near Bel-
fast, had in 1838 a golden eagle that was extremely docile and
tractable. It was taken in the summer of that year from a nest in
Inverness-shire, and came into his possession about the end of
September. This bird at once became attached to its owner, and
after being about a month in his possession, was given its full
liberty,—a high privilege to a golden eagle having the use of its
wings,—but which was not abused, as it came to the lure whenever
called. It evidently derived much pleasure from the application

THE ZooLoGisT—NOVEMBER, 1876. 5135

of the hand to his legs and plumage, and permitted itself to be
handled in any way. As one of the first steps towards training
this eagle for the chase, it was hooded after the manner of a hunting
hawk, but the practice was soon abandoned as unnecessary, in
consequence of its remaining quiet and contented when carried on
the arm of its master. It was unwilling indeed to leave him even
to take a flight, unless some special ‘ quarry’ was in view. When
at liberty for the day, and my friend appeared in sight at any
distance, his arm was no sooner held out towards the affectionate
bird than it came hurriedly flying to perch upon it.”

This, as I have said, was a most exceptional instance of tameness,
and even affection, in an eagle, and deserves to have a more ex-
tended circulation than it could obtain in Mr. Thompson’s volumes
on the ‘ Birds of Ireland’—a good work, but very little known.

Eagles are at especial pains to drive their young from the neigh-
bourhood as soon as they can shift for themselves; hence arises
the fact, which I think was first noticed by Mr. Stevenson, that
nearly all the eagles that have been shot or trapped in different
parts of the United Kingdom, are very young and in immature
plumage. The knowledge of this habit of the eagle is, however,
very much older than Mr. Stevenson’s time; indeed, it is mentioned
so long ago as Turberville’s ‘ Booke of Falconrie,’ printed in 1575.
The author first explains how the parent eagles teach their young
to “kyll their praye and feede themselves”—in which, by the way,
1 believe he is mistaken, for killing and feeding “ come by nature,”
as a philosopher once solemnly enunciated of reading and writing ;
this is parenthetical, of course, but reverting to Turberville, he goes
on to explain that, “ No sooner hath she [the female parent] made
them perfit, and thoroughly scooled them therein, but presently
she chaseth them out of that coaste, and doth abandon them the
place where they were eyred, and will in no wise brooke them to
abide neare hir, to the ende that the countrey where she discloseth
and maketh her eyrie, bee not unfurnished of convenient pray,
which by the number and excessive store of eagles might otherwise
be spoiled and made bare. For the avoyding of which, this pro-
vident and carefull soule doth presently force her broode to depart
into some other part and region.”

In the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1846 there is a curious account of an
eagle and of the way in which it was obtained:— Some boys
having thrown out a line and hook into the sea, baited with a

5136 THE ZooLoGist—NovemMBER, 1876.

herring, for the purpose of catching a gull, the bait was spied and
pounced upon by the eagle; and the hook becoming fixed in the
inside of his foot, he was found, by the boys upon their return to
examine their line, floating on the surface of the water. They
immediately went off in a boat and completed their capture without
much difficulty.” (Zool. 1301).

Perhaps a word or two may be useful to those who have an
eagle in confinement. The aviary must be kept as clean as
possible. Then as regards the food, it is always better with the
hair or feathers on: a live rat is acceptable,—though not so much
so as a dead one,—and an eagle will prove himself an adept in
securing this kind of prey: a dead sparrow will be swallowed
whole, and a herring—one of those loudly commended to our
notice as “fine fresh herrings”—will be swallowed with great
gusto: if fresh meat be offered to the captive, it should be trailed
through gravel or sand: he will swallow an odoriferous herring
with any amount of bird-sand adhering to it. Skin, feathers,
scales and bones will be ejected from the stomach in masses
almost equal to a hen’s egg in size. Lastly, about the bath:
on no account neglect to keep the captive eagle abundantly
supplied with pure cold water in which he can bathe ad
libitum. No protection against wind and rain appears to be
required: Nature does not drive the prose eagle into secret
caverns or deep recesses of the rock: he is a stranger to all
solicitude about temperature.

Three species of eagles inhabit Britain: one of these has the leg
bare of feathers to just below the knee; this is the sea eagle or
white-tailed eagle: the toes of this species, as well as the front
of the leg, are covered by large and nearly uniform scales: when
perfectly adult his tail is pure white: he scientific name is Aquila
albicilla. The other two have the leg clothed with feathers to the
division of the toes, and each toe has three large scales at the
extremity only, the other portion of the toe being covered with a
network of much smaller scales: the tail in these two species is
never white. But the two birds differ so greatly in size that this
character alone at once distinguishes them: the larger is the golden
eagle; its scientific name is Aquila chrysaétus: the smaller is the
spotted eagle, so called from each feather on the back and wings
being tipped with white; its scientific name is Aquila nevia.

THE ZooLocist—NovVEMBER, 1876. 5137

Hotices of Hew Books.

Rambles of a Naturalist. By J. H. Gurney, jun., F.Z.S. Demy
8vo. London: Jarrold and Sons, 3, Paternoster Buildings ;
and London Street, Norwich.

THE contents of this book sufficiently prove the correctness of
the title bestowed upon the author by certain of his friends, who
are accustomed to speak of him as “the indefatigable”; for we
find in it pleasaut chitchat on birds observed by him during a
journey to Russia and back; notes from his journal on a collecting
tour in the Algerian Sahara; notes during the Franco-German
War; an account of six months spent among the birds of Egypt;
some passing notes on the birds of Italy ; an analysis of the claims
of certain birds to be accounted British; additions to the avi-fauna
of Durham; and other matter. The larger portion of the book is
occupied by Mr. Gurey’s experiences in Egypt. How in-
dustrious he was there is instanced by the list of birds he himself
obtained, numbering some two hundred and twenty species; he
was fortunate enough to come across one species supposed to be
unknown to ornithologists as occurring in Egypt, the lesser white-
fronted goose, but in a subsequent note Mr. Gurney states that he
was not the first to detect this goose in Egypt, it having been
already noticed in the Delta; and he was able to establish the
certainty of other birds frequenting that country which had been
admitted by previous writers with some hesitancy, such as the
marbled duck, our English swift, the honey buzzard, Montagu’s
harrier, and Baillon’s crake.

It was little to be expected that much that was new could be
said on the birds of Egypt, after the numerous treatises which
have issued of late years from Continental and English writers,
and Mr. Gurney is to be congratulated on having achieved so
much on a well-worked field. The voyage up the Nile to the
first Cataract has become a fashionable winter excursion for
invalids and sportsmen; and we hare reaped the fruits of this in
the able papers upon the Ornithology of the country which have
appeared from time to time in the ‘Ibis, from Dr. Leith Adams,
Mr. Cavendish Taylor, and Captain Shelley. The last has pub-
lished his various notes in a single volume, which forms the best
authority we have on Egyptian Ornithology.

5138 THE ZooLoGist—NoOvEMBER, 1876.

With its grand and mysterious river and numerous lakes and
marshes, Egypt has ever been celebrated for the abundance of its
birds. The ancient inhabitants of the land worshipped many cf
them which they regarded as beneficial in destroying noxious
insects and vermin. The sacred ibis, the chief object of their
cultus, was probably a species imported by them, and one which
was never common on the Lower Nile, where it is now unknown.
The prophet Isaiah, in a much-disputed passage, apostrophizes
Egypt as “the land of whirring wings.”* We have read the first
impressions of scores of travellers, not given to the study of birds,
who were astonished at the multitudes of water-fowl to be seen on
the lakes bordering the Nile. In the winter time ducks of various
species may be measured on Lake Menzaleh by the acre. Mr.
Gurney tells us how the natives catch coots in the dark on this
lake with casting-nets. Among the palm-groves, the only birds
met with, besides the ubiquitous Turtur Senegalensis, were night
herons, hiding in the thick foliage near the tops of the trees.
The white wagtail was the commonest of the smaller birds in
the Delta in the winter. “And really they rather pall upon you
after a time,” writes Mr. Gurney, “for one sees white wagtails
at every step, in every field, on every pathway, and frequently in
company with sandpipers on the sandbanks—singly, in pairs, in
family parties, in flocks of hundreds; and sometimes they came
upon the Diabeyha.”

Of course everybody who visits Egypt has something to say on
the subject of quails. Mr. Gurney quotes from Sonini, who pub-
lished his ‘ Travels in Upper and Lower Egypt’ in 1799, that the
quantity of quails at Alexandria (on their migration) is really past
belief. Four were to be had at the market for three farthings.
“The crews of merchant-ships were fed upon them; and there
existed at the Consul’s office at Alexandria several complaints
preferred by mariners against their captains for giving them
nothing but quails to eat.” This reminds us of the old stories
about the abundance of salmon in Scotch households. “ Extra-
ordinary as this may appear,” Mr. Gurney adds, “I can quite
believe it from what I have seen and heard.” From the middle of
March until the middle of April is the time of the passage of
quails through Egypt. At that period Mr. Gurney says, “ out of

* Isaiah xviii. 1. In our version, “ Woe to the land shadowing with wings,” but
the rendering above is the most literal translation of the Hebrew.

THE ZooLocist—NoveMBER, 1876. _ 5139

a patch of lentils twenty feet square, I may safely say, fifty brace
rise.” The birds at this time are fat and delicious.

A very characteristic bird of IXgypt is the spur-winged plover,
called, from their cry, “ ziczacs” :—

“They quite pervade Egypt. At the village pool, on every sandbank, in
every flooded rice-field—go at any season you like, you cannot fail to find
them. Similarly in the young wheat-crops and in the clover-fields they are
quite at home. Sometimes, when I have been scanning a clover-field, my
eye has been arrested by a white patch about the size of a florin, looking
for all the world like an oxeye daisy; but though a second glance serves to
show that it is not a flower, it will remain still for several seconds, and you
may imagine that you see resentment gleaming out of a red eye. During
this time the bird’s head is straight towards you,—as I have observed a
bird’s in a bush generally is,—and he is working himself into a passion.
His next performance, when he cannot stand being stared out of countenance
any longer, is to jerk his body as if some one was pulling at him with a
string, to dart up into the air, menacing you with his armed wings, and to
give utterance to the loud bi-syllabic cry, which has obtained for him his
name of Ziczac.”

Mr. Gurney felt himself fully repaid for his journey to Egypt by
the sight of the beautiful avocet, which used to be not uncommon
in our fens, and by the grand spectacle presented by a flock of
flamingos rising on wing. He says the description of the splendour
of the latter has not been overrated :—

“Nothing will ever dispel from my memory the feelings with which
I first saw flamingos. It needs not the halo of Afric’s sun to illumine a
splendour to which the gilded birds of the tropics must yield the palm.
Marshalled, they stand in one long glittering line ; some of them apparently
with no head; others with but one leg; others with raised wing and
extended neck, evidently enjoying what is denominated stretch. Their tall
forms are mirrored in the glassy lake. They are silent and still. Perchance
a distant boatman hails us. Perchance the word backshish is borne on the
air with such bawling that the cautious flamingos, fearful even in their
security, are put up. Then what a delicious scene arrests the eye, as the
black-pointed wings unfold, and reveal the intense red scapularies which,
hidden before, appeared to be cream-colour, pale by comparison with their
brightness now. They take several steps in the air, half flying, half walking,
and wholly awkward, for twenty yards or more; and then, gathering
themselves together, they gradually let their long legs trail out behind.
If a small troop, they perhaps fly away in Indian file; but if a large one,
they go off in one bright mass, the vivid tints of which are visible afar off,

5140 THE ZooLoGist—NoveEMBER, 1876.

and which no man who has seen it will ever forget. When the naturalist
has got over his ecstacies he had better go to the mud where they were
standing, as if, as is most probable, they have been preening themselves,
he will be rewarded by some exquisite feathers.”

Almost an equally interesting sight, to a naturalist beholding it
for the first time, is the vast army of storks upon their migration.
These birds pass through Egypt about the end of March. Only
a few remain to nest there. The greater number press on further
north. Mr. Gurney writes :—

“TI daresay I shall not be believed when I describe the prodigious
migratory flights which passed us. Armies of them would whiten the
sandbanks at early morning, which had evidently spent the night there;
and by day they were to be seen sailing round and round in countless
myriads. It dazed the eye to look at them. The air seemed scribbled
with their white forms. Iam within bounds in saying that there seemed
enough storks to stock every church, and every tower, and every public
office in the whole of civilized Europe. To those who deem me romancing,
let me say this—no one should disbelieve a thing because he has not seen it.
It must be borne in mind that Egypt, or at least the Nile Valley (they are
synonymous terms), is one of the greatest arteries, so to speak, by which
feathered migrants seek a northern clime. Like man, they shun to cross
the Great Sahara, where the sands are trackless, and the elixir of life—
water—is wanting. Hence their teeming thousands in the Nile Valley.
For the same number which, in another and a fertile land, would, perhaps,
be spread over three thousand miles, are here compressed into a space
which on an average is only three miles broad. And this will go on for
ever. The channel which has been found so often will be found again;
and unless their numbers are kept down by disease, each succeeding year
will probably witness greater and greater droves, for few guns are employed
against them, and they enjoy a comparative immunity alike from the real
sportsman, the naturalist, and the pot-hunter.”

Mr. Gurney found the Egyptian goose nesting on some lofty
cliffs, the lower ledges of which were tenanted by pigeons; above
these were the geese; and higher up still were kites, griffon
vultures, and a pair of ospreys. The appearance of the great
blackheaded gull (Larus ichthyaelus) seems to have been dis-
appointing. Mr. Gurney describes it as far from being as imposing
when on the wing as the greater blackbacked gull; but as being,
like that species, very shy and wary: it was already in full summer
plumage by the 23rd of January.

THE ZOOLOGIST—NOVEMBER, 1876. 5141

In examining into the claims of many rare birds to be inserted
in the British list, Mr. Gurney has undertaken a work which we
trust he will continue. There are, undoubtedly, many soz-disant
British examples of scarce stragglers to our shores which will not
stand any scrutiny into their genuiness. But the investigations
Mr. Gurney has been pursuing require not only perseverance but
audacity. Not a little confidence is needed by the naturalist who,
after examining some private collection, first of all points out to
the owner that several of his choicest specimens are not the
species they profess to be, and who next declares himself unsatisfied
with the evidence brought forward in proof that other rarities have
bond fide been captured within the limits of the British Islands.
Collectors do not look pleased when they are remorselessly told
that their golden eagles are young ernes; their pine grosbeaks
hawfinches; their American bitterns only young examples of the
common bittern, and so on. Nor are they pleased if, after all they
have urged in favour of the admission of their Greenland falcon or
spotted sandpiper as unquestionable English examples, they find
that all the impression they have made on the hard-hearted cross-
examiner is no more than to lead him to mark their treasures in
his note-book as “doubtful.” We feel sure that in what he has
already done Mr. Gurney has produced many heart-burnings, and
has often found it unpleasant work. Still, for the sake of scientific
accuracy, it is very necessary that all these unintentional mistakes
should be brought to book; and there are few of us who have
not, at some time or other, inadvertently contributed erroneous
records of the kind Mr. Gurney has been seeking to correct.

The birds which pass under Mr. Gurney’s scrutiny in the volume
we are noticing are—

The Eagle Owl.

The Red-throated Pipit.
The Spotted Sandpiper.
The Great White Heron.
The Harlequin Duck.
The Redbreasted Goose.
Briinnich’s Guillemot.

Two of these, the red-throated pipit and Briinnich’s guillemot,
Mr. Gurney would, after sifting the evidence in favour of their
admission, expunge entirely from the British list. It has come
under our own experience how little known a bird the latter of

SECOND SERIES—VOL. x1. 3G

5142 THe ZooLocist—NovemBeER, 1876.

these two rejected ones is by even distinguished British collectors
who are not aware of the very peculiar formation of the bill in this
species. Of the other birds in the above list, the eagle owl—
recorded instances of which have been generally escapes—and the
harlequin duck—usually confounded with the young of the long-
tailed duck—barely succeed in making good their footing. We
are fairly surprised at the numerous mistakes Mr. Gurney dis-
covered in criticising the occurrences of the spotted sandpiper,
a very distinct species, and one which might reasonably be
expected occasionally to be driven as a straggler to our coasts.
Many of those recorded proved to be either the common sand-
piper or the green sandpiper, and one was actually a spotted
redshank. Out of twenty-six cases investigated no less than
twenty break down, so that there are only six British spotted
sandpipers which can pass muster.

We have not time to comment upon the other short papers
contained in Mr. Gurney’s book, which, on the whole, we may
fairly welcome as a useful contribution to our ornithological lore.

Murray A. MATHEW.

Note on the Sabine’s Snipe (Scolopax Sabini).
By Epwarp Herartr Ropp, Esq.

AFTER the notice I sent to the ‘ Zoologist’ in February last
(S. 8S. 4811) of the capture of another example of this snipe in this
neighbourhood, and which, like the common snipe, had fourteen
tail-feathers, instead of the supposed normal number of twelve,—
a similar feature to the one | examined some years since, killed at
Carnanton, near St. Colomb, by Mr. Brydges Williams,—I intended
to have sent to the ‘ Zoologist’ a few remarks as to its specific value,
having already done so in my “ Ornithological Summary for the
year 1875-76,” which I sent, as has been my custom, to the Royal
Institution of Cornwall, at their spring meeting in May last. 1 do
not think that I can do better than send you a copy of the same
paper for your use, as it embodies pretty well the great feature of
the character of the dorsal plumage, as different from all the other
snipes, as entitling it to specific value.

The last year has been remarkable for Cornwall having given a
second example of the curious species or yariety of snipe called

THE ZooLocist—NovemsB ER, 1876. 5143

“Sabine’s Snipe” (Scolopax Sabini), and which has afforded no
ordinary amount of interest to naturalists from its doubtful claim
to specific value. Some half-a-dozen Specimens only have been
obtained,* and those at a comparatively recent period,t and, what is
singular, all these examples have occurred in the British Isles, the
bird being entirely unknown as indigenous in other countries, and
there is no record by ornithological authors of its ever having
been seen, except in our own islands, in the New or Old World. ¢
Cornwall claims to have afforded two of these specimens, the last
of which was obtained from the neighbourhood of Penzance, shot
by Mr. J. Dennis, jun., and the particulars duly recorded in the
*Zoologist’ in the month of February last.

Up to a very recent period Sabine’s snipe was recognised
and described in all our works on British birds as specifically
distinct from the other snipes. One of its principal distinguishing
characters, and the one most relied on, is in the number of its tail-
feathers being twelve instead of fourteen, the last being the normal
number of the tail-feathers of the common snipe, and sixteen that
of the great or solitary snipe. Another character in this bird
quite at variance with the other snipes is the entire absence of the
longitudinal buff lines which we always see in the dorsal plumage
of the great, common and jack snipes.

In spite of these two marked characters, there has been a
very strong leaning of late by our scientific naturalists to regard
this bird as a mere melanism of the common snipe and not a
distinct species. Mr. Gould is a convert to this opinion, for in
his ‘Birds of Europe’ he gives a figure of the bird as a distinct
species, but in his last work, the ‘ Birds of Great Britain,’ he has
omitted to figure the bird or to regard it as specifically distinct.
Now, in support of this newly-adopted opinion as to its being only
a variety and not a distinct species, it is no less interesting than
true that the two Cornish specimens—the one killed at Carnanton
and the other near Penzance—had each fourteen tail-feathers, the
normal number, as before mentioned, of our common snipe’s tail:
of this fact I am certain, as I counted them distinctly more than

* A list of twenty-five will be found in ‘ The Field’ of December 10th, 1870, since
which date several others have been obtained and recorded.—Ep.

+ The type specimen described by Mr. Vigors was shot in August, 1822.—Ep.

t A specimen in the foreign collection of the British Museum was shot near Paris
by a friend of the late M. Jules Verreaux.—Eb.

5144 THE ZooLoGIst—NOVEMBER, 1876.

once. This fact therefore throws to the winds the twelve-tail-
feather theory as the great leading character to be depended on of
its specific value, and aids in a very substantial form the correctness
of the modern opinion against it. (See articles in ‘ Zoologist,’
7882 and 7988; S. S. 1422 and 4801).

I will here remark that the opinions of Mr. Gould and other
eminent naturalists, previous to the establishment of the fallacy
of the twelve-tail-feather theory, had been strongly leaning to
S. Sabini being only a variety and possessing no claim to specific
value; and I need scarcely add that their opinions must probably
now be strengthened to a conviction of the accuracy of their former
conjectures by the fact of the correspondence of the number of the
caudal feathers in the two birds in more instances than one.*

As, however, I do not participate in a full conviction of the
identity of the two birds, I will proceed to offer my reasons for
entertaining a doubt on the subject :—

First. It is remarkable that in all the examples that have
occurred in Great Britain a perfect similarity of plumage exists
both as to the arrangement and tone of colour. In each specimen
correspondence of markings prevails, and the darker and lighter
shades of colouring in the different portions of the plumage above
and below, from the description of each specimen, have been proved
entirely to agree.

Secondly. That in no one instance has there been any sign or
shade of even a partial development of the longitudinal dorsal
lines which appear so prominent in all the other species.

Thirdly. In Scolopax Sabini the form and character of the dorsal
and scapulary feathers are very differeut from those of the other
snipes, being small, ovate, tile-like, and resembling the woodcock’s
feathers, whilst the scapularies and dorsal feathers of the other
snipes are lanceolate, elongated and pointed. This I consider to
be a very important character in §. Sabini, and appears to me
to offer a stronger specific value to its distinctness than even the
number of tail-feathers.

I am not aware that this character of the dorsal feathers was
prominently brought to the notice of scientific enquirers until
alluded to by Mr. J. E. Harting, in his ‘ Birds of Middlesex’ (p. 187),
but I think it a strong point in supporting its claims to specific

* Another instance was mentioned in the ‘ Zoologist,’ some years ago, by Mr.
Salyin.—Ep.

THE ZOoLOGIST—NOVEMBER, 1876. 5145

distinction; and, although these are weakened by the untenable
theory concerning the tail-feathers, it has an additional and quite
as strong a claim for specific value by this character of the dorsal
plumage. For the present, however, I do not see that the question
can be any other than an open one.

On referring again to Mr. Harting’s valuable and interesting
account of the ‘ Birds of Middlesex,’ I observe that he points out
not only this character of the scutellated form of the dorsal
feathers, but some others as confirming its specific value, viz., the
positions of the eye, the length and size of the tarsus, &c., but
I see also (which I had before overlooked) that these characters
inclined him at the date of that publication to consider S. Sabini
a distinct species from our common snipe; and I must say that, on
further considering the matter, I am more and more strengthened
in the opinion which Mr. Harting then expressed.

E. H. Ropp.
Penzance, October 9, 1876.

Ornithological Notes from Cornwall, Devon and Somersetshire.
By Joun GATCoMBE, Esq.
(Continued from S. 8. 5110).

SEPTEMBER, 1876.

2nd. There were some teal in the Plymouth market.

5th. Many young turnstones and knots were brought to our
birdstuffers, and several young ee godwits, and other
waders sent from Penzance.

8th. Nine oystercatchers killed on Ply si Breakwater.

llth. I examined, at Mr. Peacock’s, a very fine light-coloured
common buzzard, which had been captured near Plymouth.

12th. Before leaving Plymouth for Bridgwater this morning,
I observed a common scoter in Stonehouse Pool. Rather early in
the season for this species, which does not generally make its
appearance with us before the end of October or beginning of
November. On my way to Exeter I found Larus ridibundus
plentiful on the mud-banks of the Teign and Exe; and a party of
full twenty young herons, disturbed by the noise of the passing
train, flew off in a rather compact flock.

14th. Between fifty and sixty wild geese were observed to pass
over Weston Zoyland Common, near Bridgwater, flying south, in

5146 THE ZooLocist—NoveEeMBER, 1876.

the usual form of a wedge, and making a great noise: from
description I should think they were bean geese.

15th. Noticed small flocks of Ray’s wagtail in the meadows
near Moorland, which on being disturbed constantly alighted on
the tops of the elm trees. Pied wagtails are just now very numerous
by the side of the river Parrett, and it is very curious to see them
alight on the small masses of weed or other substances floating
swiftly down the stream, and after sailing a hundred yards or more—
actively engaged in catching the insects which may have collected
thereon—fly back to meet the next approaching mass.

18th. Remarked somejturtle doves and a spotted flycatcher; and
saw a thrush, picked up on the railway, which had its head cut
completely off—I presume, by flying against the telegraph-wire.

20th. There were some common godwits in a poulterer’s shop
at Bridgwater.

23rd. Observed a flock of goldfinches, consisting of about twelve
or fourteen: I mention this as I am told the species is becoming
scarce in Somerset as well as in Devonshire. Mr. Peacock, of
Plymouth, informs me that he this day purchased a specimen of
the gray shrike (Lanius excubitor), which was caught by a bird-.
catcher in the neighbourhood of that town; also a nice variety of
the yellow bunting, wholly of a canary colour, which indeed, at
first sight, he mistook for a bird of that species.*

29th. There were some sedge warblers and a few reed buntings
on the marshes and meadows in the vicinity of Northmoor. Tit-
mice are very numerous in flocks among the pollard-willow trees
in this district, but kestrels, which were so plentiful about two
years since on Northmoor seem to have entirely deserted it, in
consequence, no doubt, of the destruction of the rats and mice by
the disastrous floods of last year. While the moors were sub-
merged, I understand, the locality was visited by thousands of
coots, ducks and gulls, and that the noise made by the cloud of.
ducks when rising sounded like distant thunder. Green wood-
peckers seem to be very abundant in the neighbourhoods of Moor-
land and Bridgwater, but I have not observed any other species.
Barn owls also appear rather common, notwithstanding which, some

* On the 15th of September a similar variety of this species was forwarded to the
Editor of ‘The Field’ by a correspondent in Ireland; but these lutinos are of
course not common. One in Mr. Bond's collection was obtained some years ago, in
Devonshire, we believe, by the Rey. Murray A. Mathew.—Ep.

Tur ZooLocist—Novemper, 1876, 5147

of the peasantry are much startled at the snoring or hard breathing-
like sound made by the young after dark, and will not believe it to
be produced by birds, but attribute it rather to some supernatural
cause. When first heard at a distance, the sound does seem
rather strange and unaccountable.

JOHN GAtTcompe.
8, Lower Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth.

Notes on the Extinction of the Moa, with a Review of the
Discussion on the Subject, published in the « Transactions of
the New Zealand Institute. By Wek hz: Travers, F.L.S.#

You are doubtless aware that a considerable amount of dis-
cussion has taken place, during the last few years, amongst scientific
enquirers in New Zealand, as to whether the Dinornide became
extinct before or since the occupation of the islands by the present
native people, and as the question at issue is one of great interest,
I have been induced, in Consequence of having lately received
important information on the subject,—which | propose to give in
the sequel,—to review this discussion.

In the year 1871 Dr. Haast, who leads the discussion on the
first side, read three elaborate papers on the subject before the
Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, in the latter of which he
sums up the conclusions to which he professed himself justified in
arriving, as follows :—

“1. The different species of Dinornis or moa began to appear and
flourish in the post-pliocene period of New Zealand.

“2. They have been extinct for such a long time that no reliable
traditions as to their existence have been handed down to us.

“3. A race of Autocthones, probably of Polynesian origin, was cotem-
poraneous with the moa, by whom the huge wingless birds were hunted
and exterminated.

“4. A species of wild dog was cotemporaneous with them, which was
also killed and eaten by the moa-hunters.

“5. They did not possess a domesticated dog.

“6. This branch of the Polynesian race possessed a very low standard of
civilization, using only rudely chipped stone implements, whilst the Maoris,
their direct descendants (by which Dr. Haast evidently meant ‘ successors ’)
had, when the first Europeans arrived in New Zealand, already reached a

* Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 6th September, 1875,

5148 THE ZooLocist—NovemMBER, 1876.

high state of civilization in manufacturing fine polished stone implements
and weapons.

“7, The moa-hunters, who cooked their food in the same manner as the
Maoris of the present day do, were not cannibals.

‘8. The moa-hunters had means to reach the Northern Island, whence
they procured obsidian.

««9, They also travelled far into the interior of this island to obtain flint
for the manufacture of their primitive stone implements.

“10. They did not possess implements of Nephrite (greenstone).

“11. The polishing process of stone implements is of considerable age in
New Zealand, as more finished tools have been found in such positions that
their great antiquity cannot be be ede and which is an additional proof of
the long extinction of the moa.’

Many of these “conclusions” will be considered sufficiently
startling by those who take the trouble to analyse the grounds
upon which Dr. Haast affects to have arrived at them; but, with a
view to the sequel, and in order that po injustice may be done to
Dr. Haast with reference to such of them as are specially under
consideration in this paper, I think it right to extract from his
publications the various passages in which he attempts to support
them either by argument or evidence.

Dr. Haast, in the ce Damnachans of the New Zealand Institute’
(vol. iv., p. 71), says :—

“ Another argument in favour of this supposition—namely, that Dinornis
must have become extinct much earlier than we might infer from the
occurrence of bones lying among the grass—is the fact, proved abundantly
by careful enquiries, that the Maoris know nothing whatever about these
huge birds, although various statements have been made to the contrary,
lately repeated in England; however, as this question stands in close
relation to the age of the moa-hunting race, I shall leave it until I come to
this portion of my task.

“The testimony that moa-bones have been found lying loose amongst the
grass on the shingle of the plains, together’ with small heaps of so-called
moa-stones, where probably a bird has died and decayed, is too strong to be
set aside altogether, or to be explained by the assumption that the bones
became exposed, as I suggested before, through the original vegetation
having been burnt extensively. We are, therefore, almost compelled to
conclude that the bones have, in some instances, never been buried under
the soil, but remained lying on the surface where the birds died. I cannot,
however, conceive that moa-bones could have lain in such exposed positions
for hundreds, if not thousands, of years without decaying entirely. Even if

THE ZooLoGist—NovEMBER, 1876. 5149

we assume that the birds have been extinct for only a century or so, it is
inconceivable that the natives, who have reliable traditions extending back
for several hundred years, and of many minor occurrences, should leave no
account of one of the most important events which could happen to a race of
hunters—namely, the extinction of their principal means of existence. At
the same time, the pursuit of these huge birds to a people without fire-arms,
or even bows and arrows,—although they might have possessed boomerangs
or a similar wooden weapon,—must have been so full of vital importance,
excitement and danger, that the traditions of their hunting exploits would
certainly have outlived the accounts of all other events happening to a people
of such character. The Rev. J. W. Stack, with whom I repeatedly con-
versed upon this subject, fully agrees with me that the absence of any
traditions places an almost insurmountable obstacle in the way of our
supposing that the moa-bones found lying on the plains or hill-sides are of
such recent origin as their position might at first suggest.”

Further on, in the same paper (p. 73), he says :—

“Tt has been the fashion to assert that the present native inhabitants of
New Zealand, the Maoris, are the race who have hunted and exterminated
the moa, and there are even natives who declare that their fathers have
seen the moa and eaten its flesh. If such assertions could be proved, our
researches would have been much simplified. It will, therefore, be my duty
to examine the data upon which such statements rest, and to bring, in my
turn, what I consider overwhelming evidence to the contrary—namely, that
the forefathers of the Maoris not only have neither hunted nor exterminated
the moa, but that they knew nothing about it.”

In support of the positions thus taken, Dr. Haast quotes not
only the Rev. Mr. Stack, but also the Rev. W. Colenso and Mr.
Alexander Mackay, a Native Commissioner, all of whom, he tells
us, possessed excellent opportunities of obtaining accurate in-
formation upon this and other subjects connected with the
present New Zealanders. With regard to the Rev. Mr. Stack,
he informs us that gentleman did mention the existence, among
the Maoris, of a proverb relating to the moa, namely, “He moa
kaihau,” translated, “a wind-eating moa,” in allusion to a supposed
habit of the bird of keeping its mouth open when running against
the wind—a habit, by the way, which exists in the ostrich, and
was only likely to become known, as regards the moa, from direct
observation; but he says (erroneously, however, as will appear from
the extracts hereafter given from Mr. Stack’s own writings on the

SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. 3H

5150 THE ZooLoctist—NovEMBER, 1876,

subject) that “this was the only trace Mr. Stack could discover in
the sayings of the ancient inhabitants relative to the existence and
habits of those birds.” He then proceeds to detail, at great length,
the circumstances under which he alleges that moa-bones and other
animal remains had been found in kitchen middens, in what he
terms “a moa-hunters’ encampment,” at the Rakaia, in the province
of Canterbury, particularly noting the discovery, amongst these
remains, “of quantities of obsidian, identical in lithological
character with that obtained near Tauranga.”

Tauranga, as you are aware, is in the Province of Auckland,
and I think I am justified in asserting that no obsidian has ever
been found, zn stfu, in any part of the South Island, or even to the
southward of the great volcanic system in the centre of the North
Island.

The fact thus mentioned is, as you will find in the sequel, of very
great importance when taken in connection with the information
recently given to me.

But Dr. Haast, although he mentions the discovery in this
encampment of stone implements and other articles of apparent
Maori origin, dissociates them, at all events throughout the papers
published in 1871, from those which he assigns to the ‘ moa:
hunters,” arguing, moreover, that it was not till long after the
extinction of the moa that the encampment in question was used
by the present race. If this fact were really well established, it
would be a very interesting one; but a careful consideration of
Dr. Haast’s own statements has entirely failed to satisfy me that
he was justified in drawing the line of demarcation above referred
to, or indeed in dissociating the Maori at all from the destruction
of the moa.

With respect to the mode in which his supposed moa-hunters
killed their prey, Dr. Haast (Trans. N. Z. Inst., vol. iv., p. 86),
says :—

‘Amongst all the stone implements there was not one from which we
might draw an inference how the moa-hunters killed their prey ; but, as the
birds lived doubtless in droves, they were probably driven by men or dogs
towards the apex of the triangle, either to be killed with heavy wooden
implements or stone spear-heads fixed to staves, to be snared or to be
caught in flax nets. Another method of killing them, if we assume that
the moa-hunters were allied to the Australians, may have been by the use
of the boomerang, or a similar weapon, to be hurled at their prey.”

Tue Zootocist—NovemBer, 1876. 5151

Upon the question whether his moa-hunters were cannibals, he
says (Trans. N. Z. Inst., vol. iv., p. 89) :—

“Bearing in mind what the Hon. W. Mantell states in respect to the
occurrence of the bones of men, together with those of the Dinornis, dog,
and seal, in the kitchen-middens of the North Island, I concluded that the
moa-hunters must have been cannibals; however, the most careful sear ch,
continued for a number of days, has never brought to light the smallest
portion of a human bone at the Rakaia. And, although this evidence is
merely of a negative character, it is strong enough to induce the belief that
the moa-hunters were not addicted to anthropophagy, as Mr. Mantell’s
observations might suggest. Had the inhabitants of the Rakaia encamp-
ment been cannibals, there is no doubt in my mind that, amongst the
thousand fragments of bones passing through my hands, at least some of
the human skeleton should have appeared to bear witness. Mr. F. Fuller,
who lately discovered a moa-hunter encampment in Tumbledown Bay, near:
Little River, found, close to it amongst some sand-hills, the traces of a
cannibal feast ; but there was nothing to connect the one with the other.”

And again (at p. 91):—

“Mr. Mantell is reported to have stated that there was evidence that
cannibalism prevailed at the time the moas were used for food, but only in
the North Island, confirming my observations made at the Rakaia and
elsewhere, that the moa-hunters in this island were not Anthropophagi.
However, I still doubt very much whether the inhabitants of the North
Island, in the same era, were cannibals, as I believe that the same favourable
localities, formerly selected by the moa-hunters, were also used by the Maoris
as camping-grounds, by which the mixture of the kitchen-middens of both
races has been produced. Even were we to admit that the inhabitants of
each island had belonged to a different race, or that they had not com-
munication with each other, so that different habits of vital importance had
become formed in each of them, the discovery of obsidian in the kitchen-
middens of this island clearly proves that such arguments would be fallacious.
The pieces of obsidian being of such frequent occurrence, we are obliged to
assume that regular communication existed between both islands, and it is
difficult to conceive that, under these circumstances, the one island should
have been inhabited by cannibals and not the other. Nor could different
races have inhabited the two islands during the extermination of the moa,
and the southern race have gone to the North Island to obtain the much-
coveted obsidian, without fear of being devoured by the more savage tribes
inhabiting it.”

_With reference to the word “moa,” as used by the Maoris,
Dr. Haast (Trans. N. Z. Inst., vol. iv., p. 92) says:—

5152 Tue ZooLocist—NoveMBER, 1876.

“T have been told that the present race inhabiting New Zealand must
have been cotemporaneous with the Dinornis, because the word ‘moa’ forms
part of the designation of several localities in New Zealand, but this occur-
rence might be explained in several ways. In the first instance, it is very
possible that the word ‘ moa’ in those names is only the alteration of another
word in course of time, because words having the same, or uearly the same,
sound, are not unfrequent in the Maori language, such as moa, a bed ina
garden, a certain stone; moana, sea; moa-ta, to be early ; moe, sleep or
dream; moho, a bird; mou, for thee; or, moua, the back of the neck; or
that the natives used the expression to designate localities where moa-bones
were principally found. Another explanation might be given by pointing
out that the word ‘moa’ is used in connection with other birds. Thus I may
quote from the Rev. Richard Taylor's ‘A Leaf from the Natural History of
New Zealand’ (Wellington, 1848), the following expressions :—‘ Moa kerua,
a black bird with red bill and feet, a water hen; moa koru, very small rail;
moeriki, rail of the Chatham Islands.’ And may we not therefore conclude
that if the Maoris had known anything of the Dinornis, the present repre-
sentative of the genus,—which, in appearance, form and plumage, most
probably closely resembles some of the extinct gigantic forms,—would have
been in preference named by them moa-iti, or some similar appellation,
instead of calling Apteryx Owenii, kiwi, from its peculiar call; and Apteryx
Australis, tokoeka and roa! The fact that they added, instead,—to the
names of birds resembling somewhat the domestic fowl,—the prefix moa,
might be taken as an additional confirmation of the probability that the
theories advanced by me are correct. And how can we reconcile the
difference in the statements concerning the plumage, which, according to
one account, consisted of magnificent plumes on the head and tail, whilst,
according to the other, it resembled that of the Apteryx? Another point of
importance must strike the observer, concerning Maori nomenclature. If
the present race had known anything of the Dinornis, should we not expect
that several and very distinct names would have been preserved to us for
the different species? We may safely assume that the moa-hunting races
had different names for the huge Dinornis giganteus, D. robustus, and for
Palapteryx ingens, for the smaller and more slender species of Dinornis
casuarinus and D. didiformis, as well as for the stout-set Dinornis elephan-
topus and D. crassus, which, moreover, were doubtless distinguished by
different habits and modes of life. Instead of that, we find them speaking
of the ‘moa’ indiscriminately—a word extensively used all over the Poly-
nesian Islands.”

In the third of the papers above referred to, Dr. Haast criticises
the views of Dr. Hector, Mr. Murison, and Mr. Mantell upon the
subject under discussion, and, notwithstanding some very cogent

THE ZooLoGist—NovEMBER, 1876. 5153

evidence to the contrary, adduced by those gentlemen and others,
sums up the discussicn by stating the “conclusions” already
extracted.

I think it necessary, however, before proceeding further, to call
especial attention to the entire absence from these papers of any
evidence relevant to the proof of the first, fourth and fifth “ con-
clusions.” The first of these Dr. Haast probably adopted in order
to support his theory that New Zealand was entirely submerged up
to the close of the Tertiary period, and, on its re-emergence, was
subjected, during Pleistocene times, to an universal glaciation
similar to that of Greenland and the Antarctic lands. But whence
he derives the Dinornide and his wild dog is nowhere even sug-
gested, unless, indeed, the language in which the first “ conclusion”
is couched admits of the assumption that he believes in special
creation; whilst the fourth and fifth involve additional difficulties
which are too palpable to need specifying. It would be well if
Dr. Haast would supplement his papers on this part of the subject,
’ by giving the evidence or reasoning, as the case may be, which led
him to the conclusions in question.

Dr. Haast’s statements as to the absence of Maori traditions
relative to the moa were in some degree supported by the Rev.
Mr. Stack, in a paper read before the Philosophical Institute of
Canterbury, on the 5th of April, 1871 (Trans. N. Z. Inst., vol. iv.,
p- 107), in which the reverend gentleman, after referring to the
invasion of the Middle Island by the Ngaitahu, a section of the
Ngatikahungunu tribe, some two hundred to two hundred and fifty
years ago, says :—

“ Ngaitahu, having incorporated the remnants of the two preceding tribes,
the traditions of these tribes would become the property of Ngaitahu, and
be handed down with the rest of their tribal lore to posterity. Now, while
these traditions are full and distinct in everything else to which they relate,
and extend as far back as to events that occurred before the migration from
Hawaiki, they only contain very vague and meagre references to the moa.
It is inconceivable that an observant and intelligent people like the Maoris
should be without traditions of such exciting sport as moa-hunting, had
they ever engaged in it. And these traditions, did they exist, would not
be confined to particular localities, but would be met with in every part of
these islands in which the remains of the Dinornis are found. I have
occasionally heard in the North Island stories of moa-hunts, but they were
regarded by all, but perhaps those who related them, as pure fabrications.

5154 THE ZooLocist—NovemseER, 1876.

In common with most people, I was long under the impression that the
extinction of the moa was an event of recent date, and hastened by the
Maori. I took it for granted that the natives only required to be questioned
to afford every information regarding its nature and habits, and the causes
of its disappearance. Further enquiry, however, has led me to think that
the Maoris were not moa-hunters, and that the bones that strewed the
plains of Canterbury were lying there at a period anterior to the last
migration from Hawaiki.”

Mr. Stack, however, says (Trans. N. Z. Inst., vol. iv., p. 108):—

‘‘ But how are we to account for any allusions to the moa at all in Maori
poetry and proverbs, unless the people were familiar with it? Dr. Thompson,
as quoted by the President (Dr. Haast) says, ‘That the moa was alive when
the first settlers came is evident from the name of this bird being mixed up
with their songs and stories.’ But Dr. Thompson was probably not aware
that the Maoris were familiar with a large land-bird, which they called the
moa, before ever they came to New Zealand. The name by which the
cassowary is known in the islands is ‘ moa,’ and as it somewhat resembles
the Dinornis in form, an exaggerated description of it would be a sufficiently
accurate description of that gigantic bird to mislead any one not fully
prepared to question the knowledge of the Maoris on the subject, into
supposing that they were perfectly familiar with its form and _ habit.
I remember hearing, when a child, of the beautiful plumes that were found at
the top of the cliff which overhung a cavern somewhere on the East Coast of
the North Island, where the last of the moas hid itself. But no one I ever
met had seen them. Those who described them had only heard of them
from others. It is quite possible that moa-feathers may have been found and
used as ornaments ; but it is not necessary to believe they were so, to account
Jor the description the Maoris gave of them. The feathers of the cassowary
are used as ornaments in the islands where they exist, and probably the
ancestors of the Maori brought some away with them. These, from their
rareness, would be highly prized and carefully preserved, and when all recol-
lection of the Hawaikan moa had faded away would be thought to belong to
that moa of which remains were everywhere visible. In the same way we
may account for the saying regarding the toughness of the moa’s flesh, which
could only be thoroughly cooked with the twigs of the koromiko, by supposing
that it was the flesh of the Hawaikian moa, and not of the Dinornis, that
was meant. But, unless the Maoris saw the Dinornis alive, how did they
know that the bones they found strewing the earth were the bones of a bird?
The largest form of land animal life with which they were familiar on their
arrival here was that of a bird which they called a moa. Probably they
found many skeletons of the Dinornis lying in such positions as clearly
to indicate its form when alive. Being careful observers of Nature, they

THE ZooLocist—NovemBeR, 1876. 5155

would note the resemblance between the skeletons they found here and the
skeletons of the moa with which they were acquainted in the islands, and
would at once conclude that they were identical, and call them by the same
name,”

It will be observed that Mr. Stack does not go the same length
that Dr. Haast does as to the time which has elapsed since the
moa became extinct, although he supports the Doctor in his
opinion that its extinction preceded the arrival of the present race
in these islands. But whilst he goes no further than this in sup-
porting his leader’s “conclusions,” he calls upon us to accept a
a series of very remarkable propositions, which he makes on his
own account :—

Firstly, that the bones found on the surface of the plains in
various parts of the North Island existed there before the intro-
duction of the present race into New Zealand—an event which
careful inquiry leads us to carry back to a very remote period.

Secondly, that the present race must necessarily have migrated
from some place in which either the cassowary or some other bird
of the same kind existed, and was so commonly used as food that
the very structure of the skeleton was matter of ordinary knowledge
amongst the inhabitants.

Thirdly, that upon the discovery by the immigrants of the present
race of moa-bones on the surface of the plains, they would at once
have assigned them to birds similar in structure to, but of immensely
greater size than, the cassowary—a notable feat in comparative
anatomy which would entitle the Maori who performed it to rank
with Owen or Cuvier—and, moreover, that the occurrence of bones
under such conditions would lead them to hand down to their
posterity exaggerated accounts of the appearance and habits of a
mythical bird, of the mode of hunting and cooking it, of the nature
of its flesh, and of other matters connected with it which could
possess no possible interest for the numberless generations of the
Maoris who could never have an opportunity of understanding
such stories.

It will, however, be observed in the sequel how naturally all that
Mr. Stack has stated fits in with the information which I am about
to communicate to you, and how needless it becomes to resort to
improbable assumptions in order to apply “the allusions to the moa
found in the Maori poetry and proverbs,” and the descriptions
they give “of the appearance and habits of the birds,” and the

5156 THE ZooLoGisTt— NOVEMBER, 1876.

fact that “the name of the moa is mixed up with their songs and
stories.”

On the other hand, Dr. Hector, Mr. Murison, Mr. Mantell,
Sir George Grey, Dr. Buller, the Rev. Mr. Taylor, and many others
who have enjoyed far greater opportunities of obtaining information
on the subject than those who are quoted so approvingly by Dr.
Haast, strongly dissent from the views propounded in his papers,
and have adduced a large mass of facts relevant to the proof that
the extinction of the moa is a matter of comparatively recent date.

In a paper by Dr. Hector, read before the Otago Institute in
September, 1871 (Trans. N. Z. Inst., vol. iv., p. 110), in which he’
described the bones of an embryo moa chick, found with the egg
which had contained them; the cervical vertebre of a moa of
large size, upon the posterior aspect of which the skin, partly
covered with feathers, was still attached by the shrivelled muscles
and ligaments; and a remarkably perfect skeleton, in which
portions of the ligaments, skin and feathers were still attached to
some of the bones—all of which were discovered in the Province
of Otago—the Doctor says :—

“The above interesting discoveries render it probable that the inland
district of Otago, at a time when its grassy plains and rolling hills were
covered with a dense scrubby vegetation, or a light forest growth, was where
the giant wingless birds of New Zealand lingered till latest times. It is
impossible to convey an idea of the profusion of bones which, only a few
years ago, were found in this district, scattered on the surface of the ground,
or buried in the alluvial soil in the neighbourhood of streams and rivers. At
the present time this area of country is particularly arid as compared with
the prevalent character of New Zealand. It is perfectly treeless—nothing
but the smallest sized shrubs being found within a distance of sixty or
seventy miles. ‘The surface features comprise round-backed ranges of hills
of schistoze rock with swamps on the top, deeply cut by ravines that open
out on basin-shaped plains, formed of alluvial deposits that have been
everywhere moulded into beautifully regular terraces to an altitude of 1700
feet above sea-level. ‘That the mountain slopes were at one time covered
with forest, the stumps and prostrate trunks of large trees, and the mounds
and pits on the surface of the ground which mark old forest land, abundantly
testify, although it is probable that the intervening plains have never sup-
ported more than a dense thicket of shrubs, or were partly occupied by
swamps. The greatest number of moa-bones were found where rivers de-
bouch on the plains; and that at a comparatively late period these plains were
the hunting-grounds of the aborigines can be proved almost incontestably.

THE ZooLocist—NoveMBER, 1876. 5157

Under some overhanging rocks in the neighbourhood of the Clutha River,
at a place named by the first explorers ‘ Moa Flat,’ from the abundance of
bones which lay strewn on the surface, rude stone-flakes of a kind of stone
not occurring in that district were found by me in 1862, associated with
moa-bones. Forty miles further in the interior, and at the same place where
the moa’s neck was recently obtained, Captain Fraser, in 1864, discovered
what he described to me as a manufactory for such flakes and knives of
chert as could be used as rough cutting instruments, in a cave formed by
overhanging rocks, sheltered only from the south-west storms, as if an
accumulation by a storm-stayed party of natives. With these were also
associated moa-bones and other remains. Again, at the top of the Carrick
Mountains, which are in the same district, but to an altitude of 5000 feet
above the sea, the same gentleman discovered a gully, in which were
numerous heaps of bones, and along with them native implements of stone,
amongst which was a well-finished cleaver of blue slate and also a coarsely-
made hornstone cleaver, the latter of a material that must have been
brought from a very great distance.

“Still clearer evidence that, in very recent times, the natives travelled
through the interior, probably following the moa as a means of subsistence,
like natives in countries where large game abounds, was obtained in 1865-6
by Messrs. J. and W. Murison. At the Maniototo Plains bones of several
species of Dinornis, Aptornis, Apteryx, large rails, Stringops, and other birds
are exceedingly abundant in the allwviwm of a particular stream, so much
so that they are turned up by the plough with facility. Attention was
arrested by the occurrence, on the high-ground terrace which bounds the
valley of this stream, of circular heaps composed of flakes and chips of
chert, of a description that occurs only in large blocks along the base of the
mountains at a mile distant. This chert is a very peculiar rock, being a
‘cemented water quartz,’ or sandy gravel converted into quartzite, by in-
filtration of silicious matter. The resemblance of the flakes to those they
had seen described as found in the ancient kitchen-middens, and a desire to
account for the great profusion of moa-bones on a lower terrace shelf nearer
the margin of the stream, led Messrs. Murison to explore the ground care-
fully, and, by excavating in likely spots, they found a series of circular pits
partly lined with stones, and containing, intermixed with charcoal, abundance
of moa-bones and"egg-shells, together with bones of the dog, the egg-shells
being in such quantities that they consider that hundreds of eggs must have
been cooked in each hole. Along with these were stone implements of
various kinds, and of several other varieties of rock besides the chert which
lies on the surface. The form and contents of these cooking-ovens correspond
exactly with those described by Mantell, in 1847, as occurring on the sea-
coast; and among the stone implements which Mantell found in them, he
remembers some to have been of the same chert which occurs in situ at this

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 31

5158 THE ZooLoctst—NovEMBER, 1876,

locality, fifty miles in the interior. The greater number of these chert
specimens found on the coast are, with the rest of the collection, in the
British Museum. There is another circumstance which incidentally supports
the view that while the moas still existed in great numbers the country was
open and regularly traversed by the natives engaged in hunting. Near the
old Maori ovens on the coast, Mantell discovered a very curious dish made
of steatite, a mineral occurring in New Zealand on the west coast, rudely
carved on the back in the Maori fashion, measuring twelve by eight inches,
and very shallow. The natives at the time recognised this dish by tradition,
and said there were two of them. It is very remarkable that, since then,
the fellow-dish has been discovered by some gold-diggers in the Manuherikia
Plain, and was used on an hotel counter at the Dunstan Township as a
match-box, till it was sent to England, and, I am informed, placed ina
public Museum in Liverpool.”

(To be continued.)

La Girelle (Coris Julis, Giinther) at the Crystal Palace Aquarium.
By E. Howarp BrircHaLt, Esq.

Two specimens of this lovely little fish—the rainbow wrasse
of Yarrell, Couch, and Donovan—have recently arrived here from
Naples. The species has had a place in the British list, on
the authority of Donovan, since 1802, when a specimen was
taken by trawlers in Mount’s Bay, and luckily brought ashore.
As its capture has not since been recorded, its appearance on the
Cornish coast may have been exceptional; but as the custom of
trawlers is, after every haul, to pitch everything overboard which
they do not consider marketable at Billingsgate, perhaps the
exception may consist in the fact of their having brought one to
land,.and not in its capture. It is common in the Mediterranean,
and is found in the neighbouring parts of the Atlantic, as far west
as the Canaries, while its extreme northern range would appear to
be our own southern shores.

The old naturalists all speak of it as common in the Mediter-
ranean, though they differ in their accounts of its habits. Many
of them give it a bad name for ferocious and poisonous qualities ;
and Rondelet states, in confirmation, that he has been attacked
and bitten on his legs by shoals of them when bathing.

The naturalists of by-gone centuries seem to have had a
mania for discovering venomous and other disagreeable qualities

THE ZooLocist—NoveEMBER, 1876. 5159

in various innocent and harmless creatures, and their accounts of
La Girelle read like bitter calumnies, when one sees the pretty,
timid, little fellows swimming about in their miniature ocean, care-
fully avoiding their fellow-guests, and darting instantly out of sight
at the first symptom of danger. Several times I have put my hand
in the water to try and attract them, always with the same result—
an instant stampede. It is not often, however, that they are to
be seen at all; for being of the quietest and most retiring nature,
their usual habit is to hide deep in a bed of shingle,—preferring
shingle to sand,—from which they can only be dislodged by
violence. When one of them is disturbed, it darts out of its stony
bed, and vanishes like a flash of lightning. Presently it may be
discovered in some dark nook among the rocks, where, lying
hidden till it thinks all is again quiet and its enemy has disap-
peared, it comes out, and swimming quietly round and round,
carefully avoiding the other tenants of the tank, it makes a
reconnaissance of its old quarters. Gradually approaching closer
and closer it at last rests on the bottom, as if to make sure that
all is right; then raising itself a few inches, and taking a final
observation, it poises for a moment head downwards, and plunges
like an arrow amongst the stones. The dive is so wonderfully
' quick that, after placing itself in position, it simply disappears,
a slight disturbance of the shingle as it settles comfortably down
being all there is to show where the fish has gone.

Cuvier and Valenciennes say of it:—“ La Girelle est un poisson
trés-commune dans la Méditerranée, et dont on trouve un grand
nombre de variétés, qui quelques zoologistes ont essayé de separer
en espéces. Elles font ’ornement des marchés des ports de cette
mer, car leurs couleurs, trés-variées, ne le cédent en rien, par leur
éclat et leur beauté aux poissons les plus brilliants que les mers
des tropiques nous envoient.” Speaking of its habits they write :—
“Ces poissons sont littoraux, vivent parmi les roches madré-
poriques, ot ils trouvent en abondance des mollusques, des oursins
et autres animaux a test dur, qu’ils brisent facilement avec les
dents fortes et coniques.” This agrees with my own observations.

La Girelle is greedy for small Crustacea. I have seen it chase
a Cook wrasse (Labrus mixtus) ten times its own size, which was
swimming about with a crab in its mouth, round and round a long
tank, tearing off the legs of the unfortunate crab as they dangled
from the mouth of its captor.

5160 TuE ZooLoGist—NovEMBER, 1876.

There seems to be much doubt which species of wrasse was
known to the Greeks under the name of “ Julis,” probably various
species, some of which were said to be poisonous, while of others
they thought it not easy to do justice to the flesh: “to speak of its
trail as it deserved was impossible, and to throw away even its
excrement, a sin.” Speaking from experience, I can ,say that
wrasse is excellent eating, and at the present day they are largely
consumed in Southern Europe, where they form the chief ornaments
of the fish markets, Coris Julis being known at Naples as
“ Cazzillo di re.”

E. Howarp BIRCHALL.

Crystal Palace Aquarium,
October 20, 1876.

Ornithological Notes from the Isle of Wight——

Pomarine Skua.—A bird of this rare species was shot on the 9th of
September, by Mr. W. Smith, on Black Pan farm, in the north of the island,
when following the plough, feeding, I am told, in the furrows with the gulls!
The sex was not ascertained, but it is apparently a female (or an immature
male). Yarrell’s figure and description would, with slight alteration, answer
for this specimen. It was sent to me for identification by Mr. F. Smith,
the Newport taxidermist. Total length, about fifteen inches, the two central
tail-feathers exceeding the rest by three-quarters of an inch. General colour
of a brownish black, tinged with gray, most of the feathers slightly edged
with grayish white. The closed wing reaches to the end of central tail-
feathers. What is most remarkable is the parti-coloured web-foot, the half
next the tarsus being of a flesh-colour, the rest dusky. The tarsus, which
is two inches in length, dusky, having a greenish tinge. The Pomarine
skua has been included in our list as having occurred in the island some
thirty years since, but the author of the statement does not tell us where,
or by whom, it was shot. [See Zool. 978.—Eb.]

Kite—Towards the end of August I was informed by a friend who has a
fair knowledge of birds that he had observed one on the downs with a forked
tail, which, from the description, I thought could be no other than the kite,
of which on the 4th of September I had ocular proof. A large bird with
elongated tail having been seen in the distance, it was kept in view until
passing overhead, when, though at a great height, I observed that the tail
was forked. This, I believe, is the first recorded occurrence of the kite in
the island.

Spotted Crake-—A handsome specimen, in perfect plumage, has lately
been sent to Mr. Smith for preservation —H. Hadfield ; Ventnor, Isle of
Wight, September 21, 1876. [When, where, and by whom shot °Ep.]

THE ZooLocist—NovEMBER, 1876. 516]

Scarce Birds at Torquay.— Yesterday afternoon, while in Torquay,
I called at Shopland’s, the birdstuffer, to enquire if any uncommon species
had been brought to him lately, and was informed that, within the present
month, he had received one hoopoe, one little gull, two Sandwich terns, one
Richardson’s skua, one rednecked grebe, and one lesser tern. All these birds
‘ were obtained in Torbay; and, strange to say, the little gull and Sandwich
terns were shot the same day by two gentlemen who were quite unacquainted
with their value or rarity, and one of the terns was ordered to be made up
to adorn a lady's hat! How often rare birds fall into the hands of people
who do not appreciate them, and what numbers must be thrown away
unnoticed and unrecorded! I saw the little gull and remaining Sandwich
tern, and both were in good plumage and cleanly shot, although the larger
wing and tail-feathers of the latter were somewhat worn. Besides these
birds, I was shown a tern I could not quite make out, but believe it to be
an immature black tern: it was killed a few days ago on the Dorset coast.—
Gervase I’. Mathew ; H.M.S. ‘ Britannia,’ Dartmouth, October 18, 1876.

The Time of Day at which Birds lay their Eggs.— Mr. Boyes (Zool.
S.S. 5115) again calls attention to a paragraph in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1862,
as quoted by Mr. Cordeaux, in which Dr. Saxby is made to assert, as the
result of careful observation of twenty species of our insessorial birds, that
as a general rule they lay their eggs between the hours of 7 and 12 p.m.
I have looked through the indices to the MS. journals, and can find no
clue to the matter, but am strongly of opinion that Mr. Boyes’ surmise is
correct, and that my brother must have written, or intended to write, a. m.
and not p.m. Indeed it is hardly conceivable that observations could by any
possibility be made on which to found the assertion as quoted. The subject
had evidently received considerable attention from him, one of the last pages
of the MS. of his ‘ Birds of Shetland,’ written in 1873, having a remark
"upon the irregularity of the guillemot in its hour of laying, as exceeding
that of any other bird known to him. I have been told by a very accurate
observer that among domestic poultry and caged birds it is the rule that
each successive egg of the batch is laid at a later time in the morning than
the previous one.—Stephen H. Saxby; East Clevedon, Somerset, October 2,
1876.

On the Causes of Variation in Species—In Mr. Rowley’s ‘ Ornithological
Miscellany’ (part v., p. 15), Mr. Sharpe says, ‘No doubt isolation has a
great deal to do with variation in the barn owls, the tendency to a dark
colour being a character of all the insular forms, excepting the Jamaican and
British birds, which are extremely light-coloured.” I do not think, how-
ever, that a tendency to a dark colour in some species is accounted for
satisfactorily. How can we account for the dark continental form of the
barn owl? How do we account for the very dark North Russian form of
Hirundo riparia, while other species, such as Parus cinctus, Pratincola

5162 THE ZoOLOGIST—NOVEMBER, 1876.

rubicola (indica), Parus borealis (Kamschatkensis) have, as with most
continental forms, a tendency in the opposite direction—towards a mealier
phase or plumage? Actual melanism is caused, in some instances, by
particular kind of food, especially in caged examples. In a state of nature
also may not the same be caused by the superabundance of some particular
kind of food to which the species, or perhaps certain individuals of a species, '
are specially partial. I wonder if feeding on mosquitos makes the sand
martin black or dark-coloured in North Russia !—I know they made the
unprotected faces of our captain and his mate very red by feeding on them
in the space of a very few hours. Generations of sand martins constantly
feeding on mosquitos may, by a process of gradual poisoning, have become
changed in appearance, as people become who eat arsenic. When projecting
a trip to Persia—which, however, was not undertaken—I was asked to
bottle as many of the poisonous bugs of the country—I forget their name—
as I could, by a chemist who desired to analyse the poison. Has anyone
ever analysed the poison to be found in specimens of Rae's Culex damnabilis
(vide Rae’s ‘Land of the North Wind’)? Possibly, if it could be done, some-
thing sufficiently strong to turn people's faces black—let alone little birds
like sand martins—would be discovered. Your readers may adopt the above
theory or not, as it suits their own ideas; but my opinion, at all events,
is that Rae’s name should have priority. I do not wonder at the sand
martins—poor little things!—getting black. —John A. Harvie Brown;
Dunipace House, Larbert, N. B., October 16, 1876.

Golden Eagles trained to capture Wolves and Foxes.—In ‘ Nature’ for
August 24, there is an extract from a Jetter by Dr. Finsch, who, together with
Dr. Brehm and Count Waldburgzeil, is at present engaged in the scientific
exploration of Southern Siberia, under the auspices of the German Arctic
Society. The letter dates from Lepsa, near the Balkash Lake, May 18,
and the following occurs in the extract:—‘ Numbers of Argali were seen
running on the mountains, and we proposed for the next day an Argali
hunt. The hunting party offered a strange picture on the next morning;
there were fifty Kirghiz chiefs on horseback, many of them holding golden
eagles on their hands. ‘These birds are trained here to catch the wolf and
fox, and they acquit themselves excellently of their task, except in spring,
when, their minds being taken up by love-thoughts, they are unfit for
work.” May I enquire if the training of golden eagles to hunt has ever
been successfully tried in this country, or if these fine birds are educated
by man to capture wolves and foxes in any other portion of the globe?—
R. M. Barrington; Fassaroe, Bray, County Wicklow, September 13, 1876.

[Several such instances will be found mentioned in Mr. Harting’s
‘ Ornithology of Shakespeare,’ pp. 36, 37.— Eb. ]

Goshawk in Lincolnshire—The goshawk (Astur palumbarius, Linn.) is
now so rare a visitant to our shores that any occurrence is worth putting

THE ZOoLoGist—NoveMBER, 1876. 5163

on record. I recently purchased one, shot on the 28rd of May, 1871, by
the keeper on Mr. Chaplin’s estate at Tathwell, near Louth, in North
Lincolnshire. ‘This example is immature, and apparently in the plumage
of the second year.—John Cordeaux; Great Cotes, Uleeby.

Gregarious Habit of the Longeared Owl,—I had written a note for the
* Zoologist’ on the above when I read one by Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., in
the March number (S. 8. 4831), so I am glad to add my testimony to that
gentleman’s observation. My note was written in connection with “ bird-
screens,” for which there appears to be such a mania that I fear we shall
lose some of our harmless indigenous birds. Numbers of owls, kestrels, &c.,
are destroyed for the gratification of this silly fashion, and I hope the traffic
will be discouraged, for so long as people give great prices for such things
the birds will be always forthcoming, and it seems a pity to destroy
useful birds for so trumpery a purpose. The owls are likeliest to suffer in
this slaughter, as both the long- and short-eared species are gregarious in
winter. Should a company of long-eared owls be met with, the whole can
be easily shot ; for, as I have seen when a cover has been driven, they only
fly a few yards on the discharge of a gun. When disturbed by the beaters,
and five or six are on the wing together, they resemble large moths, some
of them flying out into the open as if lost, and after giving a turn or two in
an unsettled manner, they return and pitch on the fir-branches close to you,
turning their heads about and winking in their grotesque manner. The
short-eared owl is also met with in companies, and I have on two or three
occasions, when out shooting here, found nearly a score together, no doubt
attracted by a plentiful supply of food—they were on waste ground where
the coarse wet grass was tracked and tunnelled in all directions by the
short-tailed field vole. I left them unmolested, but I daresay, had anyone
been so disposed, every bird might easily have been shot.—F’. Boyes;
Beverley, March, 1876.

PS. The above, as will be seen, was written a long time ago, but had got
mislaid.—F’. B.

Gregarious Habit of the Longeared Owl.—The able reviewer of the
‘ Birds of the North-West,’ after remarking that sometimes as many as a
score of shorteared owls may be flushed in winter, goes on to say, “ but we
have no other owls in our list which congregate;” and then he adds,
“Dr. Coues [quoting Mr. T. G. Gentry] relates an instance of the longeared
owl once forming a community” (Zool. 8.8. 5074). Whether the American
longeared owl be distinct from the European or not, it appears that this
occasional gregarious habit is not confined to it alone, for Mr. F’. Norgate, in
one of the most interesting papers which has appeared in the ‘ Transactions’
of the Norwich Naturalists’ Society (vol. ii., part 2, p. 205), tells us of a flock
of fifty which, on reliable authority, were seen at Stratton, near Norwich, in
May, 1873. I have much pleasure in bringing this fact in the economy of

5164 THE ZooLocist—NoveMBER, 1876.

this species to the notice of the reviewer, which I have no doubt will be new
to many others.—J. H. Gurney, jun. ; Nothrepps, Norwich.

Late Fieldfares— In the ‘Zoologist’ for October (S. S. 5106), Mr.
Stevenson records the occurrence of a late fieldfare. I may also state that
I never knew their migration take place at so late a date as it did this year.
Near this village are a few trees which fringe a small stream, on the tops
of which I might say, without the least exaggeration, that there were
thousands assembled in the evenings of the last few days of April. At their
rendezvous they kept up an incessant chatter. They all disappeared on
the 1st of May.—E. P. P. Butterfield ; Wilsden, October 12, 1876.

Blackbird adopting a Young Sparrow.—On the 17th of June last I found
a young sparrow half dead on the ground, having fallen out of its nest. It
was entirely without feathers, and seemed to have been out of the egg about
two days. I took it up, and, out of curiosity, put it into the nest of a
blackbird which contained four quite fresh eggs, never in the least expecting
that it would live; but upon looking at it on the 19th I found it quite
lively and pretty well fledged, and grown a great deal, but there was only
one of the blackbird’s eggs left. On looking into the nest on the 2lst
I found that the sparrow was not there, and I suppose it had flown. Is not
this unusual ?—Robert M. Christy ; 20, Bootham, York, Sept. 21, 1876.

Robin nesting in a Room.—A pair of robins built their nest, and laid
eggs in it, on the top of a clock in the parlour of a man named Clark, at
Stanford Rivers, in Essex. Unfortunately his wife took the nest and flung
it away with the eggs. The old birds used to come into the room by the
door and window, and were very tame. Some time afterwards a single egg
was found on the top of the clock without any nest. This egg is now in
my possession.—Hdward H. Christy ; Oliver's Mount, Scarborough.

Wood Wren in Perthshire, Ross-shire and Caithness,—In the ‘ Zoologist’
for October (S. 8. 5122) it is stated that the wood wren has not been recorded
as having been observed to the north of Inverness, until the note by Lord
Clifton of its occurrence at Kildonan. I find that this warbler is mentioned
by Mr. E. T. Booth in his recently-published ‘ Descriptive Catalogue of
British Birds in the Dyke Road Museum, Brighton,’ as being particularly
numerous in many of the wildest glens of Perthshire, Ross-shire and Caith-
ness.—H. Cooke ; Brighton, October 9, 1876. [This is so: the statement
occurs at p. 107 of the Catalogue, which unfortunately has no index.—Ep.]

Does the Common Starling rear Two Broods in One Season!—A dis-
cussion on this subject was carried on in the ‘ Field’ newspaper some time
ago, and though I have no wish to reopen it and transfer it to the ‘ Zoologist,’
I still wish to establish a fact in connection with it relative to these birds
in this district. I believe Mr. Stevenson first mooted the point, and it
ended, as discussions often do, in a draw. I had my own opinion on the
subject at the time, but hesitated to give it until I had placed it beyond a

THE ZooLocist—NovEmBER, 1876. 5165

doubt by careful observation of the breeding season just passed, and now
that the controversy is closed in the ‘ Field’ it may not be out of place if
I inform Mr. Stevenson that, whatever may be their custom elsewhere, the
starlings at Beverley do not rear two broods in a season. ‘These birds are
very numerous here, and as soon as the young are hatched the parent birds
may be seen hurrying from all sides into the town with food; and to give
some idea of the quantity reared in Beverley, I may say that I placed
myself on one of our commons on the west side of the town, and watched
the constant flying backwards and forwards of the old birds, and though
I and a friend stood a long time, at no period of our stay could ten
seconds be counted before one or more birds passed us either to or from
the town—and very frequently five, six or seven were passing at the same
time—procuring food from this pasture alone. This fact proves that
these birds hatch off very nearly at the same time, so that a mistake is well
nigh impossible. As soon as the broods are able to fly the old birds take
them away into the commons and grass lands, where they may be seen in
large flocks, and the hurrying to and fro is ended for the season, and
though a few—only a very few—are seen carrying food afterwards, they are
no doubt birds that have had their nests destroyed from some cause or
other, such as house-painting, spout-cleaning, &c.—F’. Boyes.

[A writer in ‘ The Field,’ by means of a marked starling, established the
fact that this species does, at least occasionally, rear two broods in one
season.—Ep.]

Chough, Curlew Sandpiper and Little Stint at Portrush My friend the
Rey. George Robinson, rector of Tartaraghan, Armagh, informs me that
during November last his sons killed several choughs, a large number of
curlew sandpipers, and four little stints at Portrush.—John Gatcombe ;
October 7, 1876.

[It is to be regretted that the choughs were killed, for in the last few
localities in the British Islands where this species is found it is becoming
rarer every year. In many places it is beingousted by the jackdaw.— Eb. ]

Late Nesting of Swift.—On the 2nd of September I was at Torrington,
North Devon, and when in one of the principal streets was surprised to
observe a swift repeatedly fly into a hole beneath the eaves of a thatched
house, where, no doubt, she had her young. Surely this was very late for
a swift to be nesting, for they usually leave us about the 14th of August.
I watched for some time, but believe there was only one bird attending the
nest, otherwise I should most likely have seen both together. The day was
rather cold, with a strong breeze from the north-west.—Gervase I’. Mathew ;
H.M.S. ‘ Britannia, Dartmouth, October 7, 1876.

White Martin.—A white martin was observed for several days, in company
with many others of ordinary hue, hawking for flies over the surface of the
Torridge near Torrington, the last week in August.—Id.

SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI. 3K

5166 THE ZooLoGisT—NovEMBER, 1876.

Phasianus torquatus = P. decollatus!—A Phasianus torquatus in my
aviary, which before its moult had a remarkably broad white collar round
the neck, has now apparently completed its moult, and has entirely lost the
collar, not a white feather remaining: it is now, in fact, the Phasianus
decollatus of Elliot’s ‘ Phasianide.’ May not his P. decollatus prove to be
either a skin of P. torquatus in a similar state of moult, or that the P. tor-
quatus occasionally loses the collar altogether and becomes a P. decollatus?
In other respects the bird appears to have recovered his full plumage, though
I think the light feathers on the crown of the head are not so marked.
Should the white collar reappear within the next month I shall at once
write to inform you.u—John W. G. Spicer ; Spye Park, Chippenham, Wilts,
October 1, 1876.

PS.—Since writing to you on the above subject, I find my P. torquatus
is rapidly assuming the white collar.—J. W. G. S.; October 14, 1876.

Whimbrel in Wiltshire.—I saw here, on the 17th of May, a whimbrel
(Nwnenius phe@opus), in the flesh, which had been shot out of a flock of six
on May 18th, near Berwick Bassett, some seven miles from here, by a
labourer who was scaring birds. It was an adult male, in very fair
plumage, and extremely fat. Its gizzard contained the remains of earth-
worms with a blade or two of grass, and a few small stones. According to
the Rey. A. C. Smith’s ‘ Ornithology of Wilts,’ this species has only occurred
once before (in 1888) in this county —T7. Graham Balfour ; Cotton House,
Marlborough, Wilts, October 6, 1876.

Woodcock migrating in July.—In July, a few years ago, I had brought
to me a woodcock which had struck itself against the telegraph-wires near
Beverley, breaking its beak and cutting a deep hole into its breast. It was
a bird of the year, in capital condition, and weighed twelve ounces. I had
an idea at the time that it had been bred in the neighbourhood, but I have
“nested” through a great many woods in East Yorkshire, and [ have never
as yet been able to establish the fact of its breeding. The birds will some-
times linger late in the spring; in fact, whilst the woodcocks are nesting
in Scotland, others, which have been, perhaps, far to the southward, are
only just passing over Yorkshire, or resting, waiting for favourable winds to
carry them away to the north. An easterly wind, whilst it always brings
them on the Yorkshire coast in the autumn, just as surely retards their
journey in the spring. The spring of the present year added additional
testimony to this very old and well-known fact, for the birds were detained
to an unusually late period, and I should not be greatly surprised to hear
that some very few had nested, as they were evidently paired, and as
evening drew on they issued out of the coverts and toyed and chased each
other round the woods, uttering their peculiar breeding cries. Though
Ihave said I should not be greatly surprised at hearing that some very
few had nested here, up to the present I have not heard of a single

THE ZOOLOGIST—NOVEMBER, 1876. 5167

‘instance, and perhaps none have done so; therefore if, when they are
detained so long, none do breed in this district, it is highly probable the
bird above mentioned may have been a migratory one. But what does your
valued correspondent, Mr. Gurney, jun., wish us to understand in speaking
of a woodcock found on the shore at Beeston, in Norfolk, about the end of
July, when he says, “ The inference is that it was attempting to migrate in
the summer time, at a date when no migration is known to take place of
this or any other British bird”? This must surely be a lapsus plume, and
should be passed over quietly, like a similar one, in speaking of swifts,
“they are slow flyers, in spite of their long wings.”—F’. Boyes.

Great Snipe in Perthshire—A friend who was shooting, in the third
week of August, over some extensive moors, eight miles north of Dunblane,
flushed a pair of great snipe (Gallinago major, Gmelin). He did not, how-
ever, succeed in getting a shot. The keeper, a most intelligent man of his
class, told him they frequently see them on this moor, and he has flushed
them all the year round. I was shooting over the same ground in
September, but did not come across any of the “ big solitary,” although
I looked the ground over somewhat carefully where they had been seen.
I brought away, however, as proof positive of their occurrence, part of the
skull and upper mandible of one shot during the previous season in the
same locality. On the 7th of September I saw a remarkably fine example
of Motacilla alba on the grass, within a few feet of the Lodge door—John
Cordeaux.

Solitary Snipe, Hoopoe and Leach’s Petrel in Cornwall.—A specimen
of the solitary snipe was procured last week in the neighbourhood of
St. Austell: I am told that its weight was fully eight ounces. The hoopoe
does not frequently favour us with its visits, but scarcely a spring passes
without specimens turning up. Within the last week three hoopoes
were shot in this immediate neighbourhood. A forktailed petrel was found
dead here: this is a rare bird with us, only a few specimens having been
obtained at long intervals.—Edward Hearle Rodd; Penzance, October Aili.
1876.

Little Crake at Hastings—In writing of the little crake in your last
number (Zool. S. S. 5126) I omitted to state, not having the ‘ Zoologist’ by
me, that it was obtained the same day but one of the same month as our
other Hastings specimen, which was picked up—not by a cat, but by a boy—
on the 17th of April, seventeen years ago (Zool. 6537). In spite of this
singular coincidence, two birds could hardly differ more in plumage, the
example of 1859 being a type of the blue phase of colour, while that of
1876 is, as already stated, in the brown phase.—J. H. Gurney, jun.

[The latter was no doubt the younger bird; the change in plumage in
this species being analogous to that which is observable in the common
moorhen.— Eb. ]

5168 Tuer ZooLocist—NoveEMBER, 1876.

Green Sandpipers near Beverley—Lvery year in August, as regularly as
the month comes round, I hear the well-known whistle of the green sand-
piper as—generally single birds and usually in the day time—they
are passing over this district. From the beginning of August until the
spring they are more or less frequently met with here in the shallow drains,
and occasionally on the sea-coast. . They are of course most plentiful in
early autumn, getting scarcer as winter approaches, and the few stragglers
found in severe weather have probably come from other districts. They
resemble snipes in this respect, that, having become located in a certain
place, they are very loth to leave, and generally remain until shot. I have
never either seen or heard of one having been shot in this district at any
other period of the year than that above mentioned; but Mr. Roberts,
of Scarborough, states that he has received these birds, shot at Hun-
manby, in June, and which statement has, I believe, appeared in one or
two works on Ornithology. I am sorry to say that my endeavours to
establish the fact of the green sandpiper breeding in East Yorkshire have
hitherto failed. I know the present keeper at Hunmanby well, and I have
asked him particularly, both this June and last, to watch carefully for these
birds, and, should they make their appearance, at once to let me hear
about it; but he assures me that no such birds are to be found there at
that season, so I fear the late keeper—Roberts by name, and whose
address I have never been able to obtain—has shot the birds most likely
to have bred in England. Many statements have been made from time
to time expressing belief that these birds do breed here, yet they are
always without proof, and are most likely to mislead; as, for instance,
Dr. Bree, in the ‘ Field,’ some time ago, stated he had long been of opinion
that these birds bred here, yet he never advanced a single bit of testimony
in support of his statement. Mr. G. I’. Mathew, too, in the ‘ Zoologist’
(S.§. 4159), when mentioning having seen three of these birds near Instow
in August, after saying two of them seemed to possess much lighter
plumage than the third, adds, “and I have no doubt were bred somewhere
in the neighbourhood.” Of course these gentlemen know these statements
go for what they are worth, and I hope they will not think that I have
turned critic. I only mention them lest they should mislead younger
naturalists, for, shorn of these and many other similar statements, I believe
the fact remains that up to the present time it has not been proved that
these birds have ever bred in this country.—F’. Boyes.

Rust-colour on the Breast of Teal—tI think Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., in
referring to the teal mentioned by Mr. Sclater (S.S. 4816) as “having its
breast so red as to have the appearance of being stained with blood,” seems
to consider it rarer than it really is. I have seen the same colour, though
not in such degree, not only on the teal, but also on the common wild duck,
pintail, pochard, &c. By far the most rufous specimen I ever came across

Tur Zootocist—NovemBER, 1876. 5169

was an old male common pochard shot in the spring, and an idea struck me—
was it an abnormal change to summer plumage ?—F’. Boyes.

[We have noticed this frequently in the case of the common pochard ;
while the rust-colour on the head and neck of the wild swan has often
attracted attention.— ED. |

Summer Plumage of the Little Grebe.—I am quite of the opinion of
Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun. (Zool. S. 8. 5047), that Mr. Corbin’s bird is a little
grebe, though not, as Mr. Gurney says, in summer, but in spring, plumage.
I mention this because Mr. Gurney appears to be not very clear on the
summer plumage of the bird, judging from his mention of the one in
Mr. Bond's collection. He is quite correct in saying the little grebe is
much darker in March and April than in the winter time, but I may add
not nearly so dark as later in the summer, and here is where I think he has
not expressed himself so clearly as he generally does. I have one which
may be said to be perfectly black except the throat, which is a beautiful rich
dark chestnut. I had another one like it, which I gave away a short time
ago, and I always understood that this was really the full summer plumage
of the little grebe.—F’. Boyes.

Manx Shearwater (Pufinus anglorum, Temminck) on the North-East
Coast.—These birds appear to have been more than usually numerous on
the east coast during the autumn. There were several at sea off Flam-
borough Headland on the morning of August 1st.—John Cordeaux.

Swordfish in the River Parrett.— On the 25th of September a fine
swordfish was taken at a place called Black Rock, near the mouth of the
River Parrett, and brought for exhibition to Bridgwater, where I had the
pleasure of examining it.—John Gatcombe.

Loligo media.—An individual of this species was captured in Mill
Bay on the 9th of August, being found at low water in a shallow pool, by
Mr. Johnson, jun., of the Royal Hotel. When approached it did not dart
away, but retreated by a reversed action of the fin-like membranes, of which
it has one pair only. When inspected by me it was in a bucket of water,
anda remarkable looking animal it appeared; but the most striking feature
is its transparency, so that the action of the heart can be observed. It swims
gracefully and buoyantly, propelled by the fin-like membranes, which are
worked either backwards or forwards, according to circumstances, but when
undisturbed it lies passive. On revisiting the shore the following morning
I found that it had not outlived the night, though the water had been
renewed; but it may have sustained injury in the capture. I have

5170 THE Zootocist—NoveEmBER, 1876.

not met with it before on this coast. Its length is two inches and three-
quarters; extreme width seven-tenths of an inch, the mantle gradually
tapering to the fin-like membranes near the tail, which are triangular in
shape, half an inch in width and the same in depth. The eye large and
prominent for four-tenths of an inch in diameter; pupil black; iris yellow;
mouth placed far back; lip oval in shape and fleshy; throat very small.
General colour white; central under parts purely so; anterior thickly spotted
with reddish brown; posterior more minutely so; head spotted, but not
blotched like the back. The arms, or tentacular prolongations, misnamed
“ feet,” are not unlike the barbels of some fishes—the rockling, for instance ;
there are ten of them, distributed in three rows—six in the upper, two in
the centre, and a pair beneath. The upper exterior ones, which are the
widest, are three-quarters of an inch in length, irregularly spotted, and
margined on the inner edge with circular whitish lobes; the second pair are
half an inch long, spotted but not fringed; the third four-tenths of an inch,
similarly marked, but are more slender; the middle pair measure one inch
and seven-tenths, and have two rows of minute reddish brown spots ; the pair
forming the lower row are three-quarters of an inch in length. Though
Dr. Carpenter refers to the “feet” as important locomotive organs, and
remarks that it is by them and the fin-like expansions that progress is
chiefly accomplished, my observations lead me to believe that the arms
are not generally used as propellers; however, the upper exterior pair,
which are comparatively wide and lobed, may act as fins on occasions, but
were, in this instance, drawn in and contracted like the rest, so as to appear
like barbels fringing the mouth.— Henry Hadfield; Ventnor, Isle of Wight,
August 16, 1876.

‘ Proceedings of Scientitic Societies,

EntomoLogicaL Society or Lonpon.

October 4, 1876.—Sir Stpney SanrH SaunpeErs, C.M.G., Vice-President,
in the chair.
Additions to the Library.

The following donations were announced, and thanks voted to the
donors :—‘ Proceedings of the Royal Society,’ no. 172; presented by the
Society. ‘Journal of the Linnean Society (Zoology),’ nos. 64 and 65; by
the Society. ‘Journal of the Quekett Microscopical Club,’ no. 82; by the
Club. ‘The Zoologist’ and ‘ Newman’s Entomologist’ for October; by the
Representatives of the late Edward Newman. ‘The Entomologist’s Monthly
Magazine’ for October; by the Editors. « Nature,’ nos. 358—861; by the

THE ZooLocGist—NovEMBER, 1876. 5171

Publishers. ‘The Naturalist: Journal of the West Riding Consolidated
Naturalists’ Society,’ no.xv.; by the Editor. ‘A Monograph of the British
Species of Phenusa;’ by the Author, Peter Cameron, Esq. ‘ Description
of a new Species of Phasmide ;’ ‘ Description of a new Species of Cetoniide;’
‘On the Femoral Brushes of the Mantide and their Function (Abstract) ;’
by the Author, J. Wood-Mason, Esq. ‘ Proceedings of the Linnean Society
of New South Wales,’ vol.i., part 2; by the Society. ‘ L’Abeille,’ no. 170;
by the Editor. ‘Annales de la Société Entomologique, de Belgique,’ tome
xix., fasc.1; by the Society. ‘Le Helicopsyche in Italia; Lettera agli
Entomologi Italiani ;’ by the Author, Carl von Siebold. ‘ Stettiner Ento-
mologische Zeitung,’ 37 jahrgang; by the Society. ‘Transactions of the
American Entomological Society,’ vol. iii.; by the Society.

By purchase :—‘ Ueber neue indische Chernetiden,’ von Ant. Stecker.
‘Ueber blaschenformige Sinnesorgane und eine eigenthiimliche Herzbil-
dung der Larve von Ptychoptera contaminata, L.,’ von Carl Grobben.

Election of a Member.

Mons. Alfred Preudhomme de Borre, of Brussels, Secretary of the Belgian
Entomological Society, was balloted for and elected a Foreign Member.

Exhibitions, d&c.

Mr. Bond exhibited, on behalf of Mr. N. Cooke, of Liscard, near Birken-
head, a female variety of Hepialus humuli, pale in colour, and with the
usual markings; three fine specimens of Crymodes exulis; fifteen very fine
dark (some nearly black) specimens of Epunda lutulenta; and six specimens
of the new Tortrix, Sericoris irriguana. All the above were taken near Loch
Laggan this season.

Mr. Stevens mentioned that a specimen of Callimorpha Hera (the Jersey
tiger-moth) had been taken at St. Margaret's Bay, near Dover.

The Secretary read a note from the Rey. Fitzroy Kelly Lloyd, of Pitten-
weem, N. B., enclosing for inspection a worm measuring two inches in
length, extracted from the abdomen of an earwig. Mr. Pascoe said that it
was one of the Nematode worms, and was probably a Filaria.

Mr. Forbes exhibited a weevil (evidently not indigenous to Britain), taken
alive amongst some Orchids at Highgate, supposed to have been imported
from Ecuador. Mr. Pascoe pronounced it to be a Cholus. He subse-
quently gave the following diagnosis, under the name of

Cuotus ForBEsIt.

C. ovatus, niveo-squamatus, maculis nudis aterrimis variegatus, quarum
una in medio elytrorum majuscula, supra rugoso-punctatus ; rostro
pedibusque fortiter punctatis. Long. (rostr. excl.) 5 lin.

5172 THE ZooLoGiIsT—NovEMBER, 1876.

Mr. William Cole exhibited numerous bred specimens of Ennomos
angularia, bred from eggs laid by the same female, showing slight differences
according as the larva had been fed on oak, hawthorn, lime or lilac, and
comparing them with a number of specimens taken at large. In all cases
the yellowish tint of the captured specimens was more decided.

Mr. Enock exhibited microscopic slides containing some beautiful pre-
parations of Polynema ovulorum, one of the Proctotrypide, and other minute
Hymenoptera.

A letter was read from Mr. E. Higgins with reference to some specimens
of Deilephila Euphorbie, exhibited at a meeting of the Society on the 17th
of September, 1873, which were then stated to have been captured in the
larva state in the neighbourhood of Harwich. Some doubt was expressed
at the time, as it was stated that the food-plant did not grow in that neigh-
bourhood; but about the middle of September last he had visited Harwich,
in company with Mr. E. W. Janson, and they were afterwards joined by
Mr. Durand (from whom he had received the specimens of D. Euphorbis),
who undertook to show them the place of capture, and they not only found
the food-plant growing there, but in three other places nearly half a mile
further on.

Paper read.

Mr. Frederick Smith communicated “ Descriptions of new Species of
Cryptoceride belonging to the Genera Cryptocerus, Meranoplus and
Cataulacus,” accompanied by a plate containing figures of all the species,
twelve in number; thus raising the number of species described by him to
forty-eight. The descriptions were preceded by some interesting particulars
relative to the habits of these insects, especially of Meranoplus intrudens,
which constructs its formicarium in the thorns of a species of Acacia, some
four to five inches in length; and at a distance of about half an inch from
the pointed end a small round hole was made by the ants, which served for
ingress and egress to and from the nest. The thorns contained a kind
of spongy pith, in which the channels and chambers of the nest were
constructed.

New Part of the Society’s Catalogue of British Insects.

“A Catalogue of the British Hemiptera-Heteroptera and Homoptera
(Cicadaria and Phytophthires),” compiled by Messrs. J. W. Douglas and
John Scott, was on the table. This was the fifth Catalogue of British
Insects published by the Society.—F. G.

THE ZooLocist—Decemser, 1876, 5173

| Hotices of Hey Books,

_

Ostriches and Ostrich Farming. By Juutvs ve MOoseENTHAL,
Consul-General of the South-African Republics for France,
late Member of the Legislative Council of the Cape of Good
Hope, &c., &c.; and James Epmunp Harrtine, F.LS.,
F.Z.S., Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union, &c., &e.
With Illustrations. Triibner & Co. 246 pp.

ALTHOUGH the name of M. de Mosenthal stands first as joint-
author with Mr, Harting of this book on ostriches, we find only
some fifty pages at the end of it, and these descriptive of the
growth and present condition of ostrich farming, as coming from
his pen; the first and larger portion of it, consisting of a mono-
graph of the existing Struthious birds, has been industriously
prepared from a great number of sources by Mr. Harting. Besides
the ostrich, the American rheas, the cassowaries, the emus, and
the curious apteryx of New Zealand belong to this family of
ancient type, numerous representatives of which have only recently
become extinct. These birds differ from all others in having no
keel to the sternum, and, in consequence, are either wingless or
have only rudimentary wings, and progress by running only. The
leg of the ostrich is described as a wonderful piece of mechanism,
capable of propelling the bird forward like a catapult. The
ostrich is said to cover twenty-eight feet in its stride, and to be
able to run at the rate of twenty-six miles an hour. The casso-
waries are the best known members of the Struthionide: nine
species are described, four of which come from the little-
investigated island of New Guinea, where probably there remain
more species yet to be detected. The use of the singular bony
helmet and of the powerful elongated nail with which the inner
toe is furnished, in these singular birds, can only be guessed at, as
there have been few opportunities of examining them in their wild
State. The Struthious birds are very similar in their habits, being
for the most part hardy and able to bear vicissitudes of climate ;
most of them have bred in confinement in England, and they
are easily domesticated. With all of them the male bird takes a

SECOND SERIES—VOL. XI. 3.1L

5174 Tur ZooLocist—DEcEMBER, 1876.

larger share than the female in bringing up the family; collecting
together the eggs, which his spouse drops rather at random, and
either entirely incubates them, as do the emus, or as the ostrich
does, sits upon them at the most important time, viz., by night.
Mr. Harting has reproduced a very interesting and amusing account
of the nesting of the smaller emu of West Australia in this country,
which our readers may perhaps recollect appeared in the ‘Zoologist’
for 1863 and 1864.

The ostrich used to range over a considerable portion of Central
Asia, but is becoming each year more rare, and has a more
restricted habitat. It is still found in some parts of Persia, in the
Lower Oxus, and in the deserts to the east of Damascus, but the
vast continent of Africa is to-day its chief home. Here it is hunted
for its feathers from Barbary to the Cape, and is found upon all
level plains suited to its habits. The finest birds, producing the
best feathers, are those which are obtained in the neighbourhood
of Timbuctoo. These feathers are exported from Tripoli, and are
so highly prized that they never appear at a public sale. The
South-American rheas share with the ostrich the little-to-be-envied
privilege of being able to contribute towards the adornment of
beauty, and a war of extermination is being carried on against
them for the sake of their feathers. In 1874 sixty tons of feathers,
of the value of 132,689 dollars, were exported from the Argentine
States alone. It is calculated that between 300,000 and 400,000
rheas are slaughtered annually. One French firm received in
one year feathers worth £48,000 from Banda Oriental, Entre
Rios and Buenos Ayres. We are not surprised to hear that
these noble birds are fast becoming scarce. Like the ostrich,
the rhea is easily domesticated, and has bred with Mr. Walter
Trevelyan at Shepton Mallet, in Somersetshire, and in a park near
Chippenham.

The account furnished by M. de Mosenthal of the present pros-
pects of ostrich farming at the Cape Colony is most interesting.
It was felt that if the ostrich has to be hunted down and killed in
order to supply the demand for its beautiful feathers, the end must
soon come in its total extermination, and that the ostrich was too
noble and too valuable a bird for this fate to be permitted to over-
take it. Although for more than a hundred years the settlers at
the Cape had been in the habit of keeping domesticated ostriches,
there had been no attempt to rear them, or to make a business of

Tne ZooLtocisr—DrcemBer, 1876. 5175

farming them for the sake of the feather market. Some successful
experiments which were instigated by the French Acclimatisation
Society in Algiers first directed attention to the capabilities of such
atrade. It was not until 1866 that domesticated ostriches bred at
the Cape, and so rapidly has the practice of ostrich farming grown
since that year that a census taken in 1875 ascertained that there
were then in different parts of the colony no fewer than 32,247
ostriches in a state of domestication. In 1858 there had been
exported from the Cape 1852 tbs. of feathers, of the value of
£12,688; while in 1874 the quantity had swollen to 36,829 Ibs.,
of the value of £205,640, or an average yalue of £5 12s. per tb.
Sufficient to show that ostrich farming is no unremunerative. trade.
It was soon found thatit did not require very much to start an ostrich
farm. A certain extent of ground needed to be surrounded with
no very elaborate fence; crops of lucerne, the favourite food of the
bird, had to be cultivated, and then, provided the soil was suitable,
the ostriches did very well, bred readily in their domesticated
state, and endured to be plucked of their feathers once in eight
months. The chief requisite was that the soil should furnish
alkalies, either in salt-licks or in the shrubs growing wild upon it.
Farms supplying these conditions are in the colony termed “ sweet-
veldts;” those which do not are called “sour-veldts,” and on these
ostriches cannot be maintained in a healthy state unless they are
given phosphates of lime, in the shape of pounded bones. It was
found that the ostriches were in best feather at their breeding time,
when it would not do to disturb their plumage for fear of inter-
rupting their successful nesting. Necessity therefore invented,
and soon improved upon, a method of artificial incubation, which
is now brought to such perfection that the eggs stand a better
chance of being hatched than they would if left to the natural care
of the parent birds. It is said that out of forty-five eggs forty-three
can now be hatched out with almost a certainty, and that ostriches
thus artificially brought into existence are just as strongly deve-
loped as those hatched in a wild state, where there is usually much
waste with the eggs deposited by the female birds. Only a part
of the number produced are incubated; supplementary eggs are
left lying round the nest—it is said to afford their first food to the
newly-hatched chicken.

At the proper time for robbing the ostriches of their beautiful
and costly feathers—fine specimens are literally worth their weight

5176 THE ZooLocist—DEcEMBER, 1876.

in gold—the birds are driven into a small pen, and the operation
is conducted without cruelty. An eye-witness relates :—

“ Having got with my friend into the middle of the crowd, so packed
that they were unable to move, he quietly selected two or three of the best
feathers, and with a very sharp curved knife in his right hand, the blade
protected by lying flat against his finger, he pressed it down as near to the
root as he could, and cut it off obliquely upwards. The bird was quite
unconscious of the operation, standing perfectly still as he handed several
to me; he then picked out a blood-feather, very beautiful, which on being
cut bled a little, but the sharp knife separated it without it being felt. In
a month or six weeks he took out all the stumps, if they had not already
fallen out. By this means the health of the bird is not impaired, no
irritation-fever is produced, and you can select the feathers that are in
prime condition, leaving the others that are to ripen in due course.”

At some places it is the custom to pluck the feathers out, and
this certainly must be painful to the birds. The finest feathers are
those of the wings; a good feather is said to be almost two feet
long, and from eight to nine inches wide. Such a feather would
be cheap at a sovereign. By the Cape Government the wild birds
are now protected by a very stringent game law. No one can
kill them without taking out a £20 licence, and there are heavy
penalties for robbing the nests. The eggs of the ostrich have many
enemies. The black crow is wont to hover over them, dropping
stones until it succeeds in breaking one that it may devour its
contents. Vultures have been seen walking towards an ostrich’s
nest with pebbles in their beaks with which to hammer at the eggs.
The Bushmen carry off these precious potential feather-producers
to barter them for a paltry sixpence to the collector of curios.
And besides the winged marauders that plunder the nests, there
are many human spoilers to whom an omelette of ostriches’
eggs is a welcome dainty. So that there is every need to give
the birds and their nests all the protection of the law in order
that there may be an available wild stock to recruit the ostrich
farms.

Apparently there is no limit to which the South-African feather
trade might not be carried, and herein, and not in the diamond
fields, may be the future development of the prosperity of the
colony. As far as we can see, there is only one danger to
which the ostrich farmers are exposed. And that is the ten-
dency of disease to break out amongst all animals or birds

THE ZooLocist—DEcEMBER, 1876. 5177

which are placed in abnormally favourable conditions for their
multiplication. If in their wild state dangers have to be en-
countered which to a certain extent diminish their productiveness,
yet these very obstacles tend to strengthen their vital force. It
is said that diphtheria is apt to break out among domesticated
ostriches, and as the number of these mounts up annually we are
apprehensive lest this complaint may sometimes assume the
severity of “an ostrich disease,” to the loss and disappointment of
those who are devoting themselves to ostrich rearing.

The work of which we give this short notice is appropriately
illustrated with pictures of various modes of ostrich hunting, and
with figures, beautifully drawn and engraved, of the ostrich,
rhea, emu, cassowary and apteryx. It is just the sort of book
to give as a Christmas present to a young naturalist. Had
ostrich farming existed when we were young, and had such
an interesting account of it as that supplied by Messrs. Harting
and de Mosentbal been -put into our hands, we feel quite
certain that we should have been fired with a desire to emigrate
at once to the Cape Colony in order to join in what would
have seemed to us a most fascinating method of making our
fortune.

Morray A. MATHEW.
November 11, 1876.

Black Water Rat.—On the 27th of October an adult water vole (Arvicola
amphibius) was trapped at Keswick, near Norwich, in which the entire fur
was of a deep black, but with a slight silvery reflection on some of the
longer hairs of the back; it was caught in a garden, into which it had
probably strayed from a neighbouring meadow.—J. H. Gurney ; Northrepps,
Norwich.

[A black variety of this species, described by Pallas and other continental
naturalists, has long been known. According to Macgillivray, who described
it under the name of Arvicola ater, this variety is very common in Banff-
shire and Aberdeenshire. We have seen specimens from Cambridgeshire,
and, if our memory serves, from Sussex also, where two or three were
obtained on the mill-stream at Ratham, near Chichester, by Mr. W. Jeffery.
Apropos of varieties of the water vole, three white specimens of this species
have come under our notice, obtained at Newbury, Brighton, and Reading
respectively.— ED. }

5178 Tuer ZooLocist—DecemBer, 1876.

Whitetailed Eagle in Suffolk.—A sea eagle paid a flying visit to Lord
Guilford’s covers here, during the latter part of August, but was fortunate
enough to escape the keepers.—<Arthur J. Clark-Kennedy ; Little Glemham,
Suffolk.

Supposed Occurrence of the Lesser Kestrel near the Land’s End.—My
attention was called yesterday by Mr. Marks, naturalist, of this place, to a
very small kestrel he had received from the western district of this county,
and which I had an opportunity of examining in the flesh and weighing. The
weight was exactly four ounces; J see that of the male kestrel is said to be
seyen or seven and a half ounces. The bill is very short, thick and more mas-
sive than the common kestrel ; blue at the base. Length from carpal joint to
the end of the first quill-feather, nine inches ; total length of the bird lying
on its back, barely twelve inches. Head smaller and less bluff, in proportion,
than the common kestrel. Legs bright yellow. Claws black: in Gould’s
‘Birds of Europe,’ the claws are said to be white. The wings scarcely
reach to the end of the tail by three-fourths of an inch. I may add that
the rufous colour on the upper breast is more defined than in the common
kestrel ; the under parts are plain buff ash-colour, with few markings. The
plumage of the female kestrel, which it exactly resembles, applies to this
specimen. I have sent the above particulars off-hand; I know nothing
personally of the lesser kestrel, never having handled a skin or examined
one, so that I must leave the matter for the present in the hands of those
who may be able to suggest further particulars—Hdward Hearle Rodd ;
Penzance, November 15, 1876.

The Lesser Gray Shrike (Lanius minor) in Devonshire.—In my notes for
September (written in Somersetshire) I mentioned having received informa-
tion from Mr. Peacock, a bird-preserver, that a great gray shrike (Lanius
excubitor) had been captured by a bird-catcher in the neighbourhood of
Plymouth. On my return home I went to see the bird, and found to my
surprise that it was not the great, but the lesser gray shrike (L. minor), and
a bird of the year. As this is the first time that the bird has been known
to occur in Devonshire, I feel great pleasure in being the first to announce
the fact. It was caught on the 23rd of September last, and brought, alive,
the same day to Mr. Peacock, who supposed it to be nothing more than the
young of the great gray shrike until I pointed out the difference to him.
Fortunately he had preserved the skin, the description of which is as
follows :—Whole length nearly nine inches; from the carpal joint to the
longest quill-feather, four inches and five-eighths; third quill the longest,
and the fourth nearly equal to the second. Bill resembling that of the
woodchat shrike, shorter and rather more arched, or gradually sloped, from
the brow to the tip than that of L. excubitor. Plumage above ash-gray,
each feather having a faint dusky bar, but light at the tip; rump similarly
barred, but of a lighter gray. A dusky or nearly black band from the eye

THE ZooLocist—DerceMBER, 1876. 5179

to the ear-coverts, though not crossing the forehead, which is ash-gray.
Wings dull brownish black, with the coverts, secondaries, tertials, and
primaries more or less broadly edged and tipped with white; bases of the
primaries white, forming a conspicuous patch similar to that of L. excubitor.
Throat, breast and belly wholly dullish white, without an indication of the
semi-circular bars usual on the breast of the young L. excubitor; but the
sides under the wings are gray, faintly barred, and showed, I think, a slight
blush when first caught. Outer tail-feather altogether white, with the
middle of its shaft only black; outer web, base and tip of the second feather
white, with an elongated patch on the middle of the inner web; centre of
the third feather black on both webs—base and tip white; fourth feather
black, with the exception of a very small portion of white at the base and
tip; two middle feathers wholly black, but all the quills of both wings and
tail are much narrower in proportion than those of L. excubitor. The plain
white under parts, however, and the outer feather of the tail suffice, I think,
to distinguish the young of L. minor.—J. Gatcombe; 8, Lower Durnford
Street, Stonehouse, Devon.

[This makes the fourth recorded occurrence of the lesser gray shrike in
England. The first was obtained at Scilly in November, 1851, and is in
the collection of Mr. Rodd, of Penzance. The second was shot near Great
Yarmouth in the spring of 1869, and is in the possession of the Rey.
Murray A. Mathew, of Bishop's Lydeard; the third was procured also near
Yarmouth, in May, 1875, and is in the collection of Mr. J. H. Gurney, of
Northrepps, near Norwich.—Ep.]

Rufous Warbler at Slapton, Devon.—I wish to record the occurrence
near here—at Slapton, and bordering on the sea—of the rufous warbler
(Adon galactodes), on the 12th of this month. Asa gentleman and some
friends were crossing a turnip-field, a small bird of a very light colour was
seen to rise and fly on to the hedge: its peculiar action of flying up per-
pendicularly and alighting again at the same place, with expanded tail,
attracted attention, and it was approached and shot. The bird was sent to
my brother, R. P. Nicholls, at whose house I have carefully examined it,
and find it to be a male of the above species: it has much the appearance
of a bird of the year, the dark band on the tail being very indistinct, and
the middle feathers short. The specimen mentioned in Yarrell as having
occurred in 1859 must have been captured but a short distance from the
spot where this bird was taken. I have also to mention the occurrence here
of a female Montagu’s harrier, a little tern, a curlew sandpiper, and a little
stint.—Henry Nicholls; Roseland, Kingsbridge, Devon, October 20, 1876.

[We have received a second notice of this bird from the Rev. Murray A.
Mathew, who saw it at the house of Mr. Nicholls. He confirms the state-
ment that it is an immature specimen, and adds that ‘‘in the adult bird a
band of black extends across the end of the tail, with a white edging, giving

5180 THE ZooLocist—DECEMBER, 1876.

a very handsome appearance. The general colour of the plumage is isabel-
line, not so clearly rufous as in an old bird.”—Ep.]

Bewick’s Swan and other Birds at Kingsbridge, Devon.—I have to record
the occurrence, on the 14th of November, of a specimen of Bewick’s swan.
A pair of swans were seen on the Kingsbridge Estuary, and after a few
shots one of them was captured. . I purchased it, and found on examination
that it was a female of Cygnus Bewickii. Its weight was eleven pounds
and a half; length, three feet ten inches; eyes very dark hazel. The
peculiar formation of trachea and sternum sufficiently indicated the species.
I may also mention the occurrence here of a female longtailed duck (Anas
glacialis). Shorteared owls are unusually plentiful this season; I have seen
a great many which have been shot, and a friend of mine informed me that
he recently flusbed twelve from a small patch of furze.—H. Nicholls.

Variation of Colour in the Teal.—One day while looking over a large
quantity of teal, taken in the Ashby Decoy, Brigg, Lincolnshire, I noticed
that their breasts were of all shades, from dark red to white. I pointed
this out to the old decoy man, who said that the breasts of all teal on
leaving the sea are of a deep red, but that the fresh water of the decoy
blanched them ina very short time if they were not taken. He always
picks out the red-breasted ones to send to the neighbouring gentry, con-
sidering them to be the finest. In the winter of 1874 a fine pochard
(Fuligula ferina) was taken in this decoy, and is now in my collection.—
Adrian Peacock ; Bottesford Manor, Brigg.

[Pochards visit this decoy every winter, but from their habit of diving
back on perceiving themselves in the -decoy pipe they are not so frequently
taken as the wild duck, teal and wigeon.—Eb.]

Longtailed Duck near Padstow, Cornwall.—I have lately examined a
specimen of this arctic duck, which was shot a few days ago, and sent here
for preservation from the neighbourhood of Padstow. The bird has—what
I have never hitherto observed in the few specimens which have occurred in
this district over many years—white scapularies, which I apprehend denotes
it to be an adult male in winter plumage ; besides which it is decidedly larger
than the other examples I have seen, and which all had a generally dark brown
dorsal plumage, denoting the female or young male of the year.—Z. H. Rodd.

[The white scapulars no doubt denote the adult male bird in winter
plumage. In summer these feathers are chesnut, each with a black centre.
Adults of this species are rarely met with off our southern shores, although
in some winters immature examples are now and then obtained. In the
Albert Memorial Museum at Exeter, however, is an adult male longtailed

duck in summer plumage (still more unusual), which is said to en

shot on the Exe in 1847.—Ep.] aN \SH wie
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