178 ANATHLE. 



adjoining the cliffs, at Port Wrinkle, a small fishing place, 

 about four miles from St. Germain's, near which it re- 

 mained for two or three days. Being several times dis- 

 turbed by attempts to shoot it, it came more inland, to a 

 low situated farm, called Pool, and there associated with 

 the Common Geese ; but was wild, and immediately took 

 wing upon being approached. Here it kept to and fro for 

 a day or two, but being much disturbed, left, and came 

 down upon the shore of the St. Germain's river, or estuary, 

 when the following day, the 20th of June 1821, it was 

 shot by John Brickford in a wheat field at Sconner, about 

 a mile from St. Germain's. When killed, it was in the 

 most perfect state, having only one shot in the head. 

 Some gentlemen who saw it the following day, requested 

 him to let me have it, which he promised ; but though he 

 knew I was a bird stuffer, he had a wife, who, from 

 some strange infatuation, thought she could stuff it ; but 

 being soon convinced of her inability, she cut off the wings 

 for dusters, and threw the skin away ; and it was not till 

 three weeks afterwards that I heard of the circumstance, 

 when I sent a servant, who brought it covered with mud, 

 the head torn off, but luckily preserved, as also one wing, 

 when I had it washed, and put it together as well as I 

 was able. The skin, in this state, was obligingly forward- 

 ed to Newcastle by Mr. Mewburn, for Mr. Bewick's use, 

 from whence it passed into Mr. R. Wingate's hands, who 

 has most ably reset it, and thus preserved one of the 

 most uncommon ornithological rarities ever known in 

 England." 



The bad management of the skin in the first instance 

 explains Mr. Couch's remark on this bird in his Cornish 

 Fauna ; namely, " one specimen only is on record, and 

 that was mutilated when ascertained." 



