Letters, Extracts, Notices, ^c. ^77 



of this bird, which had been shot a day or two previously 

 near Hillough, Co. Down, having been brought to me yes- 

 terday. 



I have not yet heard whether the bird was alone or in 

 company with others, but am inquiring. It was an adult 

 male bird, 16 inches long, and tlie two centre tail-feathers 

 almost 4 inches longer than the others. If I hear of others 

 turning up I shall let you know. 



Yours &c,, 



R. Lloyd Patterson. 



Nynehead, Wellington, Somerset, 

 June 5tli, 1888, 



Sirs, — It may be of interest to you to know the extent of 

 the invasion of the Sand Grouse. On Sunday afternoon I 

 was with our Vicar and a friend in his garden, when five of 

 these birds passed us at a distance of 8 or 10 yards — quite 

 close enough for us all to observe the pointed wings and tail 

 and the peculiar colour. The Golden-Plover-like flight first 

 attracted our attention; they were passing from S.E. to 

 N.W. at about 20 feet from the ground. These are the 

 furthest west that I have heard of. One was killed at Street, 

 about twenty miles to the east of this, a few days ago. 



The spot I saw them in is about a mile and a half N.N.E. 

 of Wellington Church : the ground about is tolerably free 

 from trees, and the enclosures vary from 30 to 150 acres 

 each. 



Yours &c., 



W. A. Sanford. 



Ileerengracht 534, Amsterdfim, 

 June utli, 1888. 



Sirs, — In ' Nature ' I find a note from ISIr. Alfred Newton 

 on the occurrence of SyrrJmptes paradoxus in England. In 

 Holland also these birds occur at the present moment at 

 difl^erent places and in considerable numbers, so that we have 

 received several specimens here in the Zoological Gardens. 

 The gizzard of one that was opened in my presence contained 



