SHORT NOTES ON BRITISH BIRDS. 



Red-footed Hobby. 



As it is a point of interest to know where rare birds are 

 to be found, I think that this is the time to mention that I 

 have recently ascertained a young male Red-footed Hobby 

 in my father's collection, to be the same specimen recorded 

 in Paget's "N. _H, of Yarmouth." It was shot at Breydon, 

 not as Messrs, Paget say in 1832, but on the ist of May, 

 1830. In all probability it was the first killed in Britain. 

 Mr. D. B. Preston of Catton, to whose notes I am indebted 

 for clearing up the confusion, says it was killed behind the 

 "Vauxhall Gardens," and he saw it shot. He adds that 

 Mr. Lombe of Melton, on hearing of the circumstance, sent 

 an artist to draw it. On referring to some MS. notes left 

 by that gentleman I find that " drawings were sent to the 

 Linnean Society" — drawings that is to say (I suppose) of 

 my father's bird and his own killed at Horning in the same 

 year. 



AVOCET. 



In April, 1867, I had a pair of Avocets from Leadenhall 

 Market. I was told it was a great thing to get a pair ; but 

 in April, 187 1, I saw no less than seven there. I think they 

 came from Dort or Dordrecht in Holland. It was a sight 

 not to be forgotten. 



