9438 Birds. 



submerging every part except the bill, for in that manner alone could it 

 have so long escaped our search. No doubt many a well-worn story 

 of a wounded bird drowning itself, by holding on to the weeds at the 

 bottom of the water, may be thus accounted for. I know many ex- 

 cellent observers who would as soon deny that a duck can swim as 

 renounce their belief in this suicidal tendency, upon the part of the 

 cormorants and the shags at least ; " for," they say, " we have seen 

 Ihem grasping at the weeds with their bills ;" so have I, but I have 

 also seen them take hold of a finger or a rope, or anything within 

 reach, but never deliberately riding at anchor in the manner de- 

 scribed. It should also be borne in mind that most land birds will, 

 when wounded, cling firmly, either with bill or feet, to the herbage 

 upon which they often fall. 



Blackcap. — Another very rare visitor, a blackcap [Sylvia airica- 

 pilla), appeared in the garden on the 22nd of October, when a strong 

 east wind was blowing. It was a male in good plumage, and in the 

 stomach I found a few currants and some large flies. I was at a loss 

 to know how the currants had been procured so late in the year, but, 

 after a careful search, discovered several of a similar kind hanging 

 withered upon a half-hidden bush. 



Redhreasled Merffauser. — There are still very few mergansers to be 

 seen, but after the first really cold weather flocks are sure to arrive 

 upon all parts of the coast. Owing to their extreme watchfulness they 

 are very seldom shot. 



Snipe are already abundant in the low grounds, although there has 

 been scarcely any frost upon the hills. I frequently find them among 

 turnips, and only a few days ago saw as many as five rise almost 

 simultaneously, and so close together that all were within easy shot 

 from the spot upon which I stood. 



Rock Pipit. — According to their usual custom, rock pipits are 

 now visiting the garden, where they procure abundance of food among 

 the fallen leaves. It is not at all unusual to see them sitting in trees. 

 Sometimes they visit the house-windows, and perseveringly endeavour 

 to catch the flies through the panes ; I even observed one enter the 

 house and take a half-torpid " blue-bottle " from the angle of a wall. 



Greenfinch. — On the 28th of October a gale from N.E. brought a 

 small flock of greenfinches, and other flocks have since arrived. Only 

 one other instance of the occurrence of this species in these parts has 

 been recorded. 



The only other arrivals during the month of October occurred in 

 the following order : — 



