NOTES. 339 



GOOSANDERS IN SURREY. 



On February 14th, 1909, owing no doubt to the severe weather 

 which then prevailed, an adult female or immature Goosander 

 (Mergus merganser) appeared amongst the wild-duck frequent- 

 ing Frensham Ponds. I had an excellent view of this bird from 

 a distance of not more than one hundred yards, for although 

 the majority of duck rose on my approach, the Goosander 

 remained standing near the edge of the ice surrounding the 

 half-acre of water which was still unfrozen. 



When again in the locality on March 13th, 1909, I observed 

 another example of this species, and this also was either an 

 adult female or immature bird. On this occasion, although 

 the weather was cold, the ponds were not frozen to any extent, 

 and the Goosander was so excessively wary that I experienced 

 the greatest difficulty in getting within observation distance. 



The most recent previous record of the occurrence of 

 M . merganser in Surrey appears to be that of an example now 

 in the Frensham Pond Hotel, which was shot in that locality 

 about the year 1885 (c/. Bucknill's Birds of Surrey, p. 245). 



Howard Bentham. 



LINE OF MIGRATION OF THE SPOTTED CRAKE. 



Your correspondent's note (p. 266) on two Spotted Crakes 

 being picked up in the same place, presumably at the same 

 time of year, October 10th, within three years, is interesting, 

 in that it shows how well-defined is their line of migration, 

 which is verified in my own experience within a radius of 

 twenty yards on a railway line near Lancaster, as follows : — 

 On October 20th, 1906, an adult ; on October 18th, 1899, a 

 complete wing ; and in mid-October in a year between 1899 

 and 1906, another adult bird. 



H. W. Robinson. 



PECTORAL SANDPIPERS IN SUSSEX. 



A male Pectoral Sandpiper (Tringa maculata) was shot near 

 the Ship Inn, Winchelsea, Sussex, on April 14th, 1909. I 

 examined it in the flesh two days afterwards. A female 

 example of the same species was shot on April 17th, 1909, at 

 the same place, and was seen in the flesh by Mr. L. A. Curtis 

 Edwards. 



J. B. Nichols. 



