iSBj-SS.] Some Peculiar Occurrences in Natural History. 155 



About the hawfinch a few words need only be said. I saw 

 it on two or three occasions ; but being on the verge of the 

 incubating period, it was not so conspicuous as it would have 

 been in autumn or winter, when it roves about in small flocks. 

 Moreover, it is unusually shy, and seldom allows one to ap- 

 proach near enough to admit of more than a fleeting identifica- 

 tion. A pair inhabited a thick grove of laurels bordering the 

 roadside in the village ; but so careful were they to conceal 

 their persons, that it was only at rare intervals that even a 

 glimpse could be obtained of them flying across the open field. 

 This bird visits Scotland now and then, and one was killed a 

 year or two ago quite close to Edinburgh, in the Corstorphine 

 direction. 



It was my original intention to append a list of the birds 

 of Warwickshire to this paper, but in consideration of the fact 

 that it has already exceeded the bounds as to length, I refrain 

 from doing so — the more especially as this information can be 

 gleaned from almost any standard work on ornithology, such 

 as Yarrell, Morris, &c. Any further attempts in that direc- 

 tion, therefore, would be, to use a pet clerical phrase, " a mere 

 work of supererogation." In conclusion, let me only add that, 

 in spite of bad weather, and consequent failure of the trip from 

 an ornithological point of view, the few pleasant days spent in 

 Warwickshire will always remain a green spot in my memory ; 

 and were it possible to repeat the same under better auspices, 

 I feel confident a more satisfactory account of the feathered 

 fauna could be placed before the members of the Edinburgh 

 Field Naturalists' Club. 



^^ll.—SOME PECULIAR OCCUBRENGES IN 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



By Mr EGBERT STEWART, S.S.C. 



{Read March 28, 18S8.) 



The first " peculiar occurrence " to which I wish to call your 

 attention to-night is in connection with the bird which I 

 have here beside me. It is one of the terns or sea- 



