THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 137 



of the Grey Phalarope. Every winter we have a 

 few, but on this occasion they came in such flocks 

 as had never been noticed before. They appeared 

 to have had a long flight, and to be quite worn 

 out, so much so that many were caught with the 

 hand, others knocked down with sticks, and shot 

 in large numbers as they sat, till very closely 

 approached. There were several killed on the 

 quay at Exeter, and it appeared from the many 

 notices in the local papers, that these birds had 

 occurred in large quantities on the whole southern 

 part of this county. The time of their visit was in 

 October. . . . ; and this year they certainly appeared 

 after very strong south-east winds" (Zool. 1849. p. 

 2384). 



In 1857, we find Gatcombe recording that, 

 " Some of these birds have been killed at Plymouth 

 during the past autumn. They are generally 

 considered rare, but a few may be seen every 

 autumn in Plymouth Sound, during the equinoctial 

 gales. There actions at such times are very elegant ; 

 they alight just outside the breakers, where the 

 froth and seaweed have accumulated, swim with 

 extraordinary activity and lightness, constantly 

 whisking their bodies round, and incessantly 

 n odding there heads and dipping their bills in the 

 water in search of food. So tame and fearless are 

 they at these times, that I have actually seen them 

 give a little spring and flutter only, when fired at 

 and missed, and immediately go on feeding as if 



