Birds 



8005 



Occcurrmce of the Crane at ffartlepool.-Mr. Abbott, a birdstuffer, of Cl.urch Street 

 Hanlepool, has just received for preservation a fine and perfect specimen of the crane' 

 It was seen in an open field near th.t pl.ce and was killed at a distance of ei-hty yards' 

 Ih.s ma!,rn,ficent, ornamental and most docile bird is in all respects adapt''ed for the 

 climate of England, and was formerly so abundant here that Archbishop Neville as 

 reported .„ Inland's ' Collectanea,' served up two hundred and four cranes at a single 

 least. VVnboui asking why an archbishop should have exceeded Hcliogabalus in the 

 extent and lavish prodigality of his banquets, we may ask why such a magnificent bird 

 .s killed whenever it sets foot on our inhospitable shore. Why should we perpetually 

 seek to verify the satirical remarks of our acerb but truthful poet Kogers, who has said 

 that whenever the sun happens to shine of a morning an Englishman exclaims, " See 

 here s a hue morning ! let us kill something."— i^rfj^arf/ Newman. 



Occurrence of the Eyyptian Goose at ^/to«.-About a month ago, I am not sure of 

 the exact date, as I only heard of the fact yesterday, three Egyptian geese were killed 

 at one shot, on Frensham Pond, about nine miles f.om here. The one I sent yon an 

 account of before was shot at Oakbanger Pond, which is only about four or five nnles 

 rom Frensham. I know of no one near here who keeps any Egyptian geese, as from 

 lour being shot so nearly together one would almost suppose they must have escaped. 

 I have only known of two shot in this neighbourhood before these four, and that was 

 some years ago.-P. Crowley; Alton, March 26, 1862 



Occurrence of the Sclavonian Grebe at Halifax.-^ female specimen of the Scla- 

 vontan grebe was shot on the 17th ult. by Mr. Marcbant, at the Victoria Reservoir, 

 Hal.fax.-Geor^. H. Parke ; Stanway Old Hall, Halifax, April 1 , 1862. 



Occurrence of the Blackthroated Diver near Scarborough.- \ yuung female bird of 

 th,s species was found dead, washed ashore on the north beach here, a few mornings 

 since, by a fisherman, having evidently perished from exhaustion. Several litile auks 

 and young of the great glaucous gull have been taken on the coast. A few common 

 ci^ssb.lls were noticed in a small plantation here near the sea, and one killed by a boy 

 wuh a stone ; another a fine old male bird, was shot on alighting in the Castle Holmes. 

 Birds, on the whole, though, have been scarcer here than usual this winter.-^/«,i« S 

 Jiell; !^ car borough, March 15, 1862. 



Occurrence of the Manx Shearrvater, Thickknee and Crossbills in the Neighbour, 

 hood 0/ Huddersfeld.-U the month of September last a fine male specimen of the 

 Manx shearwater (/'.i^,.^, Anglorun.) was taken by a boy in a mill-dam, where it had 

 been seen for many weeks; the dam abounded with gold fish. On January 17th a 

 very fine specimen of the thickknee (CEdicnemus crepitans) was caught at To-.thiU in 

 an exhausted state: it has been pie.e.ved by Mr. Williamson. ^In December last 

 the gamekeeper of Mr. Taylor, Almondbu.y, shot fourteen crossbills (Loxia curvi- 

 rostra) o., Storthes Hall Moor, all in a fine state of plumage: these have been pre- 

 1862 "■ *^"'''^— ^""'" ^'"■^^^' ^t'r'ondbury Bank, Huddersfield, March 15, 



Birds of Paradise at the Zoological Gardens.-One of the most beautiful and inte- 

 resting additions to the menagerie of the Zoological Society has just been made, by 

 the safe arnva m the Regents Park of two living birds of paradise {Paradisea papuana). 

 The restricted habitat of these birds, and the dangers and difficulties attending an 

 exp oration of their haunts in the unhealthy climate of New Guinea, have hitherto 

 rendered almost hopeless any attempt to procure living specimens of these lovely birds 

 1 here are but few instances kuown of birds of paradise having been kept in confinement' 



