154 MISCELLANY. 



Canada Swan, Cygnus Canadensis* ; Pintailed Duck, Anas acuta, a very fine 

 specimen, purchased for the Institution; Common Coot, Fulica atra\ ; Brent 

 Bernicle, Anser torquatus ; White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons, shot at Lea- 

 sowes, and purchased for the Institution ; Goosander, Mergus merganser. 



The following species have been rather more abundant : — Scaup Pochard, Fuli- 

 gula marila ; Teal, Anas crecca ; Oyster-catcher, Hcematopus ostralegus ; Com- 

 mon Gallinule, Gallinula chloropus ; Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus; Redwing, 

 Turdus iliacus ; Green Grosbeak, Fringilla chloris ; Yellow Bunting, Emberiza 

 citrinella; Quail, Perdix coturnix ; Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa rufa ; Common 

 Shieldrake, Tadorna Bellonii ; Whimbrel, Numenius phceopus. 



The following species have been exceedingly abundant : — Common Mallard, 

 Anas boschas ; Wigeon, Mareca penelope ; Common Pochard, Fuligula ferina ; 

 Tufted Duck, Fuligula cristata j Wild Goose, Anser ferus ; Common Curlew, 

 Numenius arquata ; Redshank Sandpiper, Totanus calidris; Golden Plover, 

 Charadrius pluvialis ; Grey Plover, Vanellus griseus ; Crested Lapwing, Vanel- 

 lus cristatus ; Dunlin or Purre, Tringa variabilis ; Blackbird, Turdus merula ; 

 Song Thrush, Turdus musicus ; Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris ; Missel Thrush, T. 

 viscivorus; Starling, Sturnus vulgaris ; Sky Lark, Alauda arvensis ; Ring Dove, 

 Columba palumbus ; Common Linnet, Fringilla cannabina ; Common Pheasant, 

 Phasianus Colchicus ; Common Partridge, Perdix cinerea. I have had one or two 

 very fine specimens of the Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus, given to me : 

 they were shot on Bidstone Marsh. — T. B. Hall, Woodside, near Liverpool, 

 Feb. 1, 1838. 



Aerial Augurs. — Countless flocks of birds, having the appearance of Field- 

 fares in the distance, past over the north-eastern parts of the metropolis, in a 

 southerly direction, at the end of last week. So numerous were these winged 

 fugitives from the bleak north that they darkened the air like a cloud, and their 

 transit occupied several minutes. The weather-wise consider the circumstance 

 a sure prognostic of a severe and protracted winter. — Doncaster Gazette, 



Jan. 19. 



Famished Wolves. — In many parts of France, the Wolve3, driven by the 

 extremity of the cold to ravage the cultivated districts, had become so numerous 

 and so daring, that the hunting of that animal had superseded the other field 

 sports. — French Papers. 



Wild Ducks affected by the Severity of the Weather. — On Sunday, 

 Jan. 28, a number of young men met, near Stainborough Park, with several Wild 

 Ducks which could not fly from the severity of the frost ; they were therefore 



* This bird was killed at Southport, and is in the museum of the Royal Institution, 

 t Surely this bird is not otherwise than abundant near Liverpool.— Ed. 



