9442 Birds. 



of a large bell which is rung every day. Two years ago a curious 

 circumstance happened at a farm-house near here : a swallow's nest 

 fell down, and only one young bird survived the fall ; it was placed 

 by some good Samaritan in the nest of a gray wagtail, in a " dry- 

 stone dyke " near the house, where the little foundling was reared 

 along with the young wagtails, and was often visited by its human 

 friends. 



Common Sandpiper. — This is usually rather a shy bird, but in 

 June a pair built in a rose-bed in our garden, near the river, and 

 within two yards of a walk, along which people were daily passing. 

 The nest was very slight, merely a hollow in the ground, thinly lined 



with grass. 



Edward R. Alston. 

 Stockbriggs, Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, 

 December 26, 1864. 



Ornithological Notes from Beverley, Yorkshire. 

 By W. W. BouLTON, Esq. 



Great Bustard. — On Friday, November 11th, 1864, I received a 

 note from Mr. T. Jones, of Bridlington Quay, stating that he had just 

 obtained a specimen of the great bustard, in the 6esh, weighing thir- 

 teen pounds ; that it was still warm whilst he was writing to me, and 

 that I might have it if I would give the required price. He stated, in 

 addition, that it had been picked up in Bridlington Bay, on the 

 same day (November 11th), by a man named Welbourn, and that 

 when found floating on the water, although dead, it was quite warm. 

 I at once telegraphed to request him to forward it by the following 

 train, in the flesh. I also wrote, most particularly begging of him to 

 send it as it had been found. To my great disappointment the bird 

 arrived, the following morning (November 12lh), already skinned. 

 This operation had been performed only a very short lime previously, 

 as it was uncured, and portions of flesh and fat still adhered to the 

 skin ; whilst the skin itself, the bill, legs, joints, &c., were all of them 

 quite soft and supple. The tongue, windpipe and eyes were also 

 sent, and by their condition and appearance proved that the bird had 

 not been long dead. I again telegraphed for the body, vainly hoping 

 that it might yet present many features of interest for dissection, &c., 

 as for instance the stomach, sexual organs, &c. In due time the 

 carcass, or what was left of it, arrived, in a condition that divulged 



