f 



NOTES. 231 



on the western side of the Kolyma delta migrating flocks 

 both of the Siberian species [T. acuminata), which has very 

 rarely been obtained in England, and of the American species, 

 which much more frequently visits us. In a coloured plate 

 accompanying the article the young in down of T. maculata 

 are figured. 



In the same number of the " Ibis *' the Rev. F. C. R. 

 Jourdain figures and describes the eggs of this bird, and those 

 of two other American species on the British List, viz., 

 Totanus soliiarius and Tringa hairdi. Like the Green and 

 Wood-Sandpipers the Solitary Sandpiper lays its eggs in the 

 nests of other birds. 



BONAPARTE'S SANDPIPER IN KENT. 



A SPECIMEN of Bonaparte's Sandpiper {Tringa fuscicollis) was 

 obtained at the Midrips in Romney Marsh, Kent, on June 

 4th, 1906. The bird was an adult male in process of change 

 to breeding plumage, the ash-grey feathers of the winter 

 plumage being much Avorn and mingled on the back with the 

 new dark brown feathers with tawny edges. It is said to have 

 been in company with a Knot which was in a similar condition 

 of plumage. This appears to be the first record of this 

 species for Kent. It was examined soon after being shot by 

 Mr. M. J. Nicoll. 



N. F. TlCEHURST. 



RED-BREASTED SNIPE IN KENT. 



On September 2nd last I had the pleasure of examining a 

 specimen of the Red-breasted Snipe {Macrorhamphus griseus). 

 It had been shot on August loth at Littlestone, in Kent, 

 and \\-as an adult male changing from summer into winter 

 plumage. This and the other two rare wanderers from the 

 American Continent recorded above passed through Mr. 

 Bristow's hands, and to his courtesy I am indebted for the 

 opportunity of examining them. 



N. F. TlCEHURST. 



THE FOOD OF THE BLACK-HEADED GULL. 



Mr. Pycraft's adverse comment in British Birds for 

 November, on Messrs. Thorpe and Hope's report on the 

 feeding habits of Larus ridihundus — that after being found 

 not guilty, sentence was passed on the bird — was not without 

 justification, but there is something to be said on both sides. 

 The sentence was not one of death, but merely a suggestion 

 that the protection of this bird's eggs should be suspended 



