418 RARE BIRDS KILLED IN THE WINTER OF 1837-8. 



the ridge of the upper mandible ; the distal half blackish, abruptly defined. Cere 

 and space around the eyes pale greenish yellow. Iris very pale yellow, almost 

 yellowish-white. The legs and feet pale flesh-colour, with a tinge of yellow, 

 the joints of the toes darker above; the tarsal joints, and especially beneath the 

 toes, more distinctly yellow. The plumage is thoroughly mature, and most 

 exquisitely delicate and beautiful ; crest of considerable length ; though perhaps 

 not quite so long as in some stuffed specimens which I have seen, still it is longer 

 than usual, even among the adults.'"' 



I have information of a specimen of the Great Auk ( Alca impennis) having 

 been obtained last winter in Wexford Bay. Being in hyemal aspect, its cheeks, 

 throat, and fore-neck are consequently white. It now adorns the collection of 

 Dr. Birkett, of Waterford. 



The same gentleman has also an Irish specimen, it would appear, of Surnia 

 funerea. At least my informant so described the bird that I have little doubt of 

 its being this species, and upon my shewing him Gould's plates of the European 

 Owls, he immediately fixed upon it, and again, when I exhibited to him a skin. 

 He was evidently too well acquainted with all the common species to have mis- 

 taken one of these. 



Mr. Bartlett lately obtained a recent specimen of the Parrot Crossbill. Its 

 length was 7| inches; extent 12 inches. Mr. Yarrell will figure the sternum 

 of this bird, together with that of the Common Crossbill, which latter has been 

 tolerably plentiful in the eastern counties of England, and also in the north of 

 Ireland, during the past winter. The Parrot Crossbill adverted to was sent from 

 Holland. 



Another interesting continental bird recently purchased by the same industrious 

 collector, is that beautiful little bantam of a Grouse, Tetrao bonasia. Two 

 specimens of it were obtained, both of which had their crops and stomachs filled 

 with Birch-catkins ; hence (from the supposition that they feed on Hazel-catkins) 

 has probably originated the name of Hazel Grouse, by which it is known to the 

 poulterers. It rarely appears in the market, where it commands a rather high 

 price, being esteemed a particular delicacy ; its flesh is remarkably white, con- 

 trasting in this respect with all its European relatives. 



* Since writing the above, I have examined this beautiful bird more minutely, when it appeared 

 that the feathers of the crest were new, and not full-grown. It had only just acquired its final 

 livery, and had still a few intermixed old feathers, characteristic of the second state^of plumage. 

 Its anatomy presented all the usual characters of the Herons ; it proved on dissection to be a 

 male, and its stomach contained two small Newts and various water insects. At.ithe divarication 

 of the bronchi were placed two fatty glandular yesicles, the size of a small pea, which possibly 

 may be a seasonal development. All the Herons agree precisely with the Bittern in the 

 conformation of the tracheal apparatus. 



