BIRDS OBSERVED IN PURBECK. 71 



many notes which I have of the occurrence of this 

 Gray Phalarope in this part of Dorsetshire, I find 

 that on the 2nd of October, 1839, I obtained two 

 specimens, one of which had been picked up on 

 Brownsea Island, the other had been sent from 

 Swanage. It has also been killed, I am informed, in 

 the neighbourhood of Wareham. About the year 

 1849, a flock of these birds appeared in Kimmeridge 

 bay, during a gale which lasted several days, and 

 left with the storm. 



215. Water Rail, Ballus aquaticus. 



216. Land Rail, Crex pratensis. 



A summer visitor. I am not prepared to state whether 

 this bird breeds in the Isle of Purbeck or not. It is, 

 however, very abundant in the vale in some seasons, 

 especially after a wet summer. S. Serrell, Esq., 

 of Dumford House, informs me that the flight ar- 

 rives about the middle of September, and takes its 

 departure about the second week in October; and 

 that he had killed as many as forty five couple in one 

 season, and the same number in the succeeding. 



220. Moorhen, Gallinura chloropus. 



Common on the banks of the river and brooks. 



221. Common Coot, Fulica atra. 



Is not so abundant in Poole harbour as it was formerly, 

 but is still to be met with in considerable numbers. 

 It breeds on the marshy shores of Little sea. 



ORDER V. — NATATORES, or SWIMMERS. 



222.* Wild, or Gray-Legged Goose, Anser ferus, 



228. Bean Goose, Anser Segetum, 



224. White-fronted Goose, Anser alhifrons. 



♦ The Species included between the numbers 222 and 263, must be 

 considered as frec[uenting, more especially, the northern shores of the 

 Island. 



