VOL. xiv] NOTES. 261 



feeding upon I could not make sure, but it was neither fish 

 nor weed — probably Ancylus, Limna and other molluscs. 

 All the Gulls on the water (there were thirty-five among 

 ninety-seven ducks) pursued this, method ; the stoop was 

 obviously made with the intention of flustering the duck, 

 and the stratagem was nearly always successful. I have 

 noticed an amateurish parasitism among Lesser Black-backed 

 Gulls {Lariisfuscns) and Black-headed Gulls pursue Lapwings, 

 but this manoeuvre was orderly, professional and precisely 

 executed. In no ornithological works I have read have I 

 seen mention of this interestmg relation. H. J. Massixgh.\m. 



Abundanxe of Br.\mblings in South Oxfordshire. — 

 Mr. J. L. Hawkins writes that on December 23rd, 1920, he 

 found large numbers of Fringilla monfifringilla feeding under 

 the beech trees at Harpenden, near Henle3^ He estimated 

 their numbers at a thousand. 



Incursion of W.\xwings. — Several reports have reached 

 us of Waxwings {Bomhycilla garridus) having been seen during 

 the present winter, and they seem to be more numerous than 

 in most years, though in nothing like the numbers of 1913-14. 

 Thus, Mr. G. Tickner informs us that a male was shot at 

 Shifford in south Oxfordshire on January 20th, 1921 ; Major 

 J. Chichester reports {Field, February I2tii, 1921) one seen 

 during the last week of January near Worcester ; Mr. W. B. 

 Nichols writes that four were shot from a flock of twelve about 

 the middle of that month, at Dovercourt, Essex ; Mrs. 

 Paterson reports seeing four near Stocksfield-on-Tyne, 

 Northumberland, on the 30th ; Mr. J. L. Hawkins that one 

 was picked up dead, after fljang against wire, on February 5th, 

 near Sonning, Berkshire ; while Mr. A. McLean informs us 

 that a pair were caught at Larkhall, Lanarkshire on the 7th. 

 For occurrences in Norfolk in December 1920 reference 

 may be made to Mr. Gurney's twenty-seventh Annual 

 Report {supra, p. 246), in addition to which Mr. Farman 

 reports flocks of 10, 7 and 4 at Haddiscoe on March ist, 

 1921, the flock of 10 having been seen there during the 

 previous three weeks. 



Rf.d-throated Diver at Richmond, Surrey.— Col. R. 

 Meinertzhagen informs us that he saw a Red-throated Diver 

 {Colymbus stellafus) on the Upper Penn Pond, Richmond 

 Park, on February 13th, 1921, while Mr. J. E. S. Dallas saw 

 it there on March 13th and Mr. C. Eorrer on the 20th. 



Food of the Water-Rail. — Mr. J. F. Peters informs 

 us that another Water-Rail {Rallus aquaticus) shot on the 

 Gowan River, Westmorland, on February 24th, 1921, also 

 contained remains of crayfish (cf. antea, p. 211). 



