9418 Birds. 



been feeding immediately before its capture. The iris in both these birds was very 

 dark brown or huzel. — JV. W. RoiiUon ; Beverlej/, November I, 1864. 



Great Gray Shrike near Beverley. — On October 7tl), 1864, a splendid old male 

 specimeu of lliis species, in full plumag^e, was shot by one of the farm-servants 

 in the employ of Mr. Cressey, of Frodingham, on Mr. Cressey's farm. Frodinghara 

 is a village fourteen miles from Beverley. I am informed that the bird was extremely 

 shy and wary, and vvas only shot at last by cart-ful stalking. I have secured the 

 specimen for my own collection. It is the fourth I have seen that had been shot in 

 this neighbourhood, three of which are in my own collection. — Id, 



Great Gray Shrike at Preston. — A fine female was shot near here last month, in the 

 same district that one was shot three years ago. — J. B. Hodgkinson ; 31, Christ 

 Church Street, Preston. 



Parli-cnioured Blackbird. — My attention has been drawn by a farmer, a neigh- 

 bour of mine, to a blackbird, whose haunt is a low hedge in a cow-pasture and close 

 to the pond. It is beautifully marked with white. On the breast there are several 

 white feathers, which are in shape like a crescent. The wings are also barred with 

 while, and two of the tail-feathers are of the same colour. I have had several oppor- 

 tunities of seeing this pretty bird. — J. Ranson ; Linton-on-Ouse, York. 



The Roller in Lincolnshire. — A S|iecimen, evidently in immature plumage, was 

 shot at Loulh, in North Lincolnshire, iu October, 1863, and is now in my possession. 



— Thomas H. Allis ; York, November, 1864. 



Late Slny of Siralloios. — On Saturday morning, November 5th, about 11 o'clock, 

 I observed three swallows hawking for insects, and apparently as active on the wing 

 as in the summer lime. There had been a frost on the pn'vioiis night: the morning 

 was bright, and temperature about 42° in the shade, when I noticed the birds. Per- 

 haps there is nothing very unusual in the appearance of these birds so late in the sea- 

 son, but it seemed to me so contrary to their usual habits that, while performing my 

 daily avocations, I could not help stopping for a few minutes to witness the evolutions 

 of these interesting little creatures. — James Dutlon ; llammersmilh, November II. 



Late Sivallow. — On the I lib of this month a swallow flew within four or five feet 

 of me: a friend standing with me saw it as well. As this is very late for this species, 

 I thought it might be worthy of mention. — E. D. Hamel ; Bole Hall, November 21. 



Note on the lale Nesting of the Wood Pigeon near Worthing. — A pair of young 

 wood pigeons were taken from the nest, in the neighbourhood of Worthing, on the 

 10th of November, 1864. — J. H. Gurney ; November, 1864. 



Creamcoloured Courser in Cumberland. — .\ specimen of this very rare British bird 

 was killed at Allonby, near Maryport, in October, 1864, and is now in my possession. 



— Thomas H. Allis ; York, November, 1864. 



Purple Gallinule in Hampshire. — A specimen of the purple gallinule was shot by 

 Mr. Charles Stares, on the 10th of August, 1863, in the marshes of The Grange, in the 

 parish of Rowner, Hants, while shooting flappers. — William Stares ; December 1. 



Spoonbill on the Coast of Norfolk. — About the 27th of Octuber last an immature 

 specimen of this species was killed at Hickling. It was purchased by a gentleman 

 and presented to the Norwich Museum. It is now in the hands of Mr. T. Knights, 

 birdstuffer, of this city, for preservaticm. A second individual was seen about the 

 s;ime time in the neighbourhood of Burgh St. Peter, near Great Yarmouth : it was 

 shot at, but not hit, as the bird succeeded in making its escape. An immature male 

 (in all probability the same individual) was shot a short lime afterwards by a young 



