7420 Birds. 



few minute insects, and a quantity of fine gravel. F. canescens may roughly be said 

 to differ from F. liuavia in tlie following particulars: it is nearly an inch longer; the 

 breast is lighter in colour ; the rump is white, or nearly so ; the bill is larger, and is dull 

 yellow instead of light brown. 



Emberiza schceniclus. I saw one last weels feeding with a small flock of common 

 buntings. 



Rallus aquaticus. This bird was unknown as a visitor to Shetland until it was 

 observed here last November by my brother-in-law, Mr. Thomas Edmondston. During 

 the heavy snow which prevailed at that time, the bird obtained the greater part of its 

 food among dead leaves, brushing them away with its wings, and laying bare the 

 ground beneath. 



Cygnus Bewickii visits these islands regularly in spring and autumn, resting upon 

 the lochs, and seldom remaining many hours. Two were shot from a small flock last 

 week, during a strong southerly gale, but were so exhausted that when the first was 

 killed the survivors merely waded a short distance further in the shallow water, remain- 

 ing there until the second shot was fired, when they at length look wing and wearily 

 resumed their northward flight. The cry of this species very much resembles the 

 trumpet-like note of the domestic goose. 



Anas nigra. A female specimen was obtained by me last November. The olive- 

 green legs and feet enabled me immediately to recognise the species. The stomach 

 contained nothing but two small white stones. 



Larus Sabini. I have met with but one example of this rare bird. It sailed round 

 me repeatedly as I stood loading my gun, thus affording me an excellent opportunity 

 of observing its plumage and general appearance. Its black feet first attracted my 

 attention. Unfortunately it was long out of shot before I was ready to tire. 



Larus capistralus has been shot here upon several occasions, one of which has been 

 recorded by Yarrell. 



The supposed example of L. Rossii mentioned by Mr. Crotch was shot by me seven 

 years ago, but, under the impression that it was merely a variety of some other species, 

 I foolishly suffered it to be lost. However, I made a few rough observations upon the 

 singularity of its plumage, but having left my note-books in England I am at present 

 unable to throw further light upon the subject. — Henry L. Saxby ; Bulla Sound, 

 Shetland, February 27, 1861. 



Rare Birds observed duriny the late Severe Weather. — If your correspondents from 

 all parts of the country could be induced to send notices of such rarities as have 

 appeared in their several districts, a vast amount of excellent information would be 

 obtained. In my own locality a few rare visitants appeared. During the severity of 

 the frost about Cliristmas, a fine flock of hoopers came to the Trent, and settled for 

 the night upon the ice, but next morning they departed. Their grand trumpet-like 

 notes could be heard at an immense distance. Another rather rare visitant— the tufted 

 duck — came to the Trent, and, so long as some parts of the river were free of ice, con- 

 tinued with us. This duck only appears here in hard winters. Small flocks of from 

 two to eight or nine came to the Trent, continued for some weeks, and were almost 

 the only living beings about tiie river. It is somewhat singular that these flocks 

 consist almost entirely of male birds ; a female rarely occurs. Their deeply-marked 

 plumage of black and white renders them very pretty objects as they ride at anchor 

 upon the bosom of the water, or dive, as they occasionally do, and then reappear. 

 Near the village of Swarkeston a mountain finch was shot out of a little flock. This 



