166 MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



Occurrence of the Rose-coloured Pastor, (Pastor roseus,) in Norfolk. — A labourer shot, on 

 Tuesday, May 3rd., a fine male specimim of this bird at Lakenhara, a village a short distance 

 from this city. A specimen of this bird was shot in the same localitj^, and nearly about the 

 same date last year. — J, 0. Harper, Curator of the Hospital Museum, Norwich, May 8th., 1853. 



Tufted Pochard, (Fuligula cristata.) — A fine male specimen of this bird was shot on the Tees 

 by Mr. R. Hornby, of this town, on the 17th. of March, 1853; also two males and two females 

 were shot on the Tees, by Mr. T. Hodgson, of Portrack, and Mr. T. Laverick, of this town, on 

 the 28th. of March, 1853.— "W. Martin, Stockton-on-Tees, March 31st., 1853. 



Goosander, (Mergus merganser ) — A fine female specimen of this bird was shot on the Tees, 

 by Mr. F. Leach, of Middlesbro', about a fortnight since. There was also a fine male specimen 

 shot at the same time, which had in its gizzard part of a gold ear-ring.— Idem. 



The Golden Eye Garrot, (Clangula vulgaris.) — A fine old male specimen of this bird was shot 

 on the Tees, about two miles below this place, by Mr. J. Hodgson, of Portrack, on the 26th. 

 of February last. — Idem. 



The Little Aiih, (Mergulus Alle.) — One of these birds was seen the other day in the Cut below 

 this town, but was not captured. — Idem. 



Land Rail, (Crex pratensis,) in February. — On tJie 19th. of the present month some boys 

 pursued and killed a Land Rail in a field, about a mile from this town, in the shire of Kirk- 

 cudbright. The said bird was brought to me in the flesli; it was an adult in fine plumage, and 

 was in good condition. "That it is a bird of passage there can be little doubt," says Markwiek, 

 and this is the general impression; but the above says, I am no bird of passage for this year 

 at least. This has been a very severe winter, more particularly for six weeks past. We have 

 flocks of Mountain Finches with us just now, and some Crossbills also. — W. G. Johnstone, 

 Green Brae Cottage, Dumfries, February 28th., 1853. 



The Water-hen, (Gallinula chloropus.) — Whilst shooting lately on the banks of the Dcrwent, 

 a few miles from Derby, near a large orchard, my dog put out a Water-hen from the top of 

 a high bank; it flew across the river, and perched on the top of an alder tree, some twenty- 

 five feet high, and whilst sitting there with outstretched neck, watching the dog, I shot it. 

 Soon afterwards I met the gardener, and on observing to him that I had rarely seen a Water- 

 hen perched on a tree, and never one so high, he told me that he had not only frequently 

 remarked the same, but had seen them on the apple trees, pecking at the apples. I have never 

 before heard such an accusation brought against the Water-hen, but have no reason to doubt 

 the man's veracity. — J. B., Marlborough, March 29th., 1853. 



The Rock Dove, (Columba llvia.) — Although Rock Doves are most frequently found among 

 clifis near the sea, yet this is not always the case. Two or three pair build every j^ear in a 

 steep and lofty range of sandstone rocks, called the Black Rocks, near Matlock, in Derbyshire, 

 about one hundred miles distant from the nearest sea. I have frequently taken the eggs of these 

 birds. Their nests were built in holes of the rock, generally near the entrance, and were inva- 

 riably made of the same materials, namely, the fresh green tops of the Scotch Fir, wliieh grows 

 in great abundance near. The eggs are about the same size as those of the Tame Pigeon, but 

 more spherical and of a deep cream-colour. — Idem. 



The Whinchat, (Saxicola rubetra.) — I have to intimate to you a very early and most unusual 

 appearance of the Whinchat. I was passing thi-ough Hyde Park, and close to where the Crystal 

 Palace stood it was perched on the wood railing, separating the park from the carriage drive 

 through it; I watched it attentively for some moments as it stood giving its peculiar jerk to 

 its tail ; it then flew to the opposite railing, and there continued for some moments more, en- 

 abling me to take a view sufiicient to allow a mistake to be impossible. I should have thought 

 it an escaped bird from a cage or aviary, but its plumage was in such perfect order that I 

 do not think that possible. This bird I saw yesterday morning, the 8th. of March, now all 

 works on tho subject state the middle of April to be the time of its re-appcarance in the southern 

 and midland counties, and the end of that month in the more northern. I have at times shot 

 scoi-cs of these birds, and consequently know it too well to be mistaken: in the summer when 



