at this season before. The note of both Sanderling and Stint is 

 a short sharp chirp, the Stint much clearer than the Sanderling, 

 often repeated when on the wing by both birds. It was passing 

 at about forty yards with the speed of the wind, which was 

 blowing hard at the time : I succeeded, however, in hitting it. 

 I intended to have sent it to you, but arrived too late for the 

 five o'clock train ; was just unpacking to examine it when Mr. 

 Heysham stepped in to inquire what news, and on seeing it 

 begged I would stuff it for him, and, as I lay under obligations 

 to him, did not like to refuse. I shall endeavour, however, to 

 send it over for your examination." It would always be useful 

 and interesting if your correspondents would notice when any 

 migratory bird, which is not commonly met with throughout the 

 country, is captured. C. M. A., (Newcastle-upon-Tyne). 



SPOONBILLS SHOT IN SUFFOLK. 



(Reprinted from " The Field" Newspaper, May Wth, 1863.) 



WILL J. M. be so good as to give some more information about 

 the birds he shot ? Will he say whether there was a flock of 

 them, and the sexes of those obtained, which by this time are 

 most likely preserved, and whether they had the bare places on 

 their breasts which birds that have been sitting on eggs get ? I 

 think I have got Spoonbills' eggs in Leadenhall Market (taken 

 on the Continent) much earlier in the season than this. It would 

 be worth while trying to find out what these birds were doing 

 away from their breeding ground at this season. If breeding 

 birds, one would expect them to be with their young, and they 

 would scarcely be flying great distances yet. I have sometimes 

 thought, when birds appear at a distance from their breeding 

 grounds, as in this case, that they have been deprived of their 

 eggs or young, and, not intending to breed again the same sea- 

 son wander about, and appear at different times than during 

 their regular migrations. C. M. A. (Newcastle-upon-Tyne). 



