68 BIRDS OBSERVED IN PURBECK. 



167. Crested Lapwing, Vanellus cristatus. 



Common. 



168. Turnstone, Strepsilas Interpres. 



A winter visitor. 



169. Sanderling, Calidris arenaria. 



A winter visitor : not uncommon. It has been killed 

 in the neighbourhood of Wareham. 



170. Pied Oyster-Catcher, Hcematopus ostralegus. 



Is of frequent occurrence in Poole harbour. 

 172. Common Heron, Ardea cinerea. 



Common. There is a Heronry on Brownsea Island, 

 inhabited by (on an average) about a hundred birds. 

 In the seasons of 1854 and 1855, two pairs of He- 

 rons built their nests in some fir trees at Arne. 



178. Common Bittern, Ardea stellaris. 



An occasional winter visitor. Two specimens were 

 shot near Wareham during the third week in De- 

 cember, 1855. 



182. Black Stork. Ciconia nigra. 



A specimen of this rare bird was shot in the Isle of 

 Purbeck, in a marshy field on the banks of the 

 Middleburg creek, on the 22nd of November, 1839, 

 and passed into the hands of the Earl of Malmesbury. 

 Its entire length was three feet four inches and a 

 quarter ; from the carpal joint to the end of the wing, 

 twenty-one inches ; the length of the beak from the 

 point to the forehead, six inches and three quarters ; 

 to the angle of the gape, seven inches ; length of the 

 middle toe, four inches ; of the tarsus, eight inches ; 

 of the naked part above, four inches and a half. 

 The colour of the head and neck, dusky brown ; 

 wings, tail, and back, black with purple reflections ; 

 lower part of the breast and belly, dingy white ; bill 

 and orbits, bright orange ; irides, hazel ; legs and 

 toes, pale red. 



183. Spoonbill, Platalea Leucorodia. 



An occasional winter visitant. Two specimens, male 

 and female, were shot in Poole harbour, on the 17th 

 of June, 1841 : they are now in the possession of my 

 friend W. Borrer, Esq. of Cowfold, Sussex. Four 

 others were killed there in the month of Nov. 1848. 



