214 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. xiv. 



Island At the present time the colony, if it exists 



at all, is probably the smallest round the British coasts." 

 The editorial notes contain mention of Mr. J. H. Gurney's 

 well-known w^ork on " The Gannet " (1913), yet a reference 

 to that book would have shown that not a single egg has 

 been laid on Lund}^ since 1903. Such statements, as that 

 on p. 8, that Mr. Popham's " clutches " of eggs of the 

 Curlew-Sandpiper are still unique also now require modi- 

 fication. We must confess to some doubt as to whether Mr. 

 Ogilvie really wrote (p. 26) that the small fish captured by 

 Puffins were probably the " prey " of the herring and sprat, 

 and think that the word in question was more likely to have 

 been " fry." The definition of the breeding-ground of the 

 Grey Lag-Goose (p. 178) is not altogether accurate. 



The list of ornithological papers and notes is also not quite 

 complete. Thus, we notice no reference to a note contributed 

 to the Field (April 12th, 1913) on the " Early Appearance 

 of the Common Tern " [near Oxford]. We must not omit 

 to mention the carefully executed coloured figures of the 

 bills of Anser anser and A. albifrons, which have the great 

 merit of being executed from absolutely freshly killed 

 specimens. The sketches by the Editor and D. Gunn add 

 to the attractiveness of the book, and misprints are happily 

 scarce, though that on p. 91 (Lewis for Lewes) should, 

 perhaps, be mentioned as it might lead to misconception. 

 The book is pre-eminently one for the sportsman naturalist, 

 by one who in his own person combined some of the best 

 qualities of both. F. C, R. Jourdain. 



LETTERS. 



POSSIBLE MIGRATION OF YELLOW BUNTINGS. 



To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — As I made an observation on the night of December 29th, 

 1920, which might indicate that a migration movement of Yellow 

 Buntings was in progress, I should be much obhged if anyone who 

 noticed any evidence of such a migration would kindly communicate 

 with me. Information from Lighthouses would be particularly welcome. 

 WoBURN Abbey, Bedfordshire. M. Bedford. 



ANCIENT RECORD OF A HAWK CARRYING A LETTER. 



To the Editors of British Birds. 



Sirs, — Making researches into nautical history, I came across the 

 following ornithological observation, which greatly interested and 

 amused me. I fancy it has not previously been noted in ornithological 

 publications. 



