2t2 THE BIRDS OF BERKS AND BUCKS. 



coast. A male bird of this species was caught In the 

 river at Fenny Stratford, on the 13 th of November, 

 1852, during the great floods which then prevailed,* 

 and another was seen near Simpson, In Buckingham- 

 shire, upon the 14th of November, 1852. 



Few eggs of British Birds vary more than those of 

 the Guillemot ; In an extensive series of many dozens 

 perhaps scarcely two will be found alike. 



Little Auk {Merguhts melanolmcos — Fleming). 

 A scarce winter visitant to our shores, occasionally 

 driven Inland by high winds. The Rev. Bryant 

 Burgess, of Latimer, near Chesham, informed me 

 that a single specimen was taken on one of the 

 large pieces of water In the vicinity of Drayton 

 Beauchamp, In December, 1 841. According to the 

 Rev. F. O. Morris, this bird has also occurred near 

 Newbury, in Berkshire. It Is a truly oceanic bird, 

 preferring deep water, and seldom approaching the 

 shore except for the purpose of nldlficatlon, or when 

 driven by high winds from its native element. 



Puffin {Fratercnla arctica). So far as I am 

 aware, this remarkable-looking bird has only once 

 been obtained in Berkshire. Like the last-named 

 species, It is seldom seen inland, and then only in 

 stormy weather. 



The Rev. F. O. Morris states that a Puffin was 

 taken alive upon the i6th of March, 18 16, in North- 

 brooke Street, Newbury. It had probably been 



* Morris's 'British Birds.' 



