9538 Birds. 



unable to say to what species it belonged : I was told it was a young 

 bird and in very poor condition. I saw a wild swan which had been 

 shot in the marsh hanging up in a game-shop in Grimsby the other 

 day : it showed a large admixture of brown in the plumage : from its 

 small size, black bill, and the small porf ion of dirty gray (not yellow) 

 at the base of the bill and running up to the eye, I have no doubt it 

 was an immature specimen of Cyguus Bewickii. 



Great Blackbacked Gull. — This bird is not of unfrequent occurrence 

 on the Huraber flats. There is one particular point in this parish, 

 where a small stream empties itself into the Humber, often flowing for 

 some distance across the mud flat, where I seldom miss seeing a mag- 

 nificent specimen of this gull, and I hare had many a long look at him 

 through my telescope. Either this bird or one of the same species 

 has frequented this same spot daring the winter months for several 

 years, where its wild harsh cry or bark is quite in keeping with the 

 lonely prospect. Owing to its extreme shyness the great blackbacked 

 gull is rarely shot ; the young birds are, however, not nearly so diffi- 

 cult to approach. 1 have frequently seen this bird give chase to and 

 drive away the blackhcaded gulls when in the vicinity of its favourite 

 haunt. The other day, however, I saw the great blackbacked, herring, 

 common and blackhcaded gulls all feeding quietly within a few yards 

 of each other. One of the blackhcaded gulls had already (25th of 

 February) resumed the black plumage on the head, while others were 

 in the transition state. 



John Cordeadx. 



Great Cotes, March 2, 1865. 



Peregrine Falcon and Merlin at Epworth. — On the 27th of February, 1865, 

 I received a splendid and unusually large peregrine falcon, in the flesh : it was 

 trapped in the nein^libourhood of Epworth. Dissection proved it to be an immature 

 female: the stomach contained the remains of a duck. Another bird, which had 

 probably been paired to my specimen, has been seen in the neighbourhood since mine 

 was trapped, but has hitherto escaped capture. On the 2nd of March a beautiful 

 specimen of the merlin was shot in the vicinity of Epworth: it proved to be a mature 

 female : I have never seen but one specimen of this falcon shot in this part of Lincoln- 

 shire. — Henri/ Gravil ; Epworlh, Baivlry. 



Merlin near Salisburi/. —A few weeks ago I saw, in the flesh, a beautiful specimen 

 of the merlin: it was a male bird in exceedingly fine plumage, and was shot near 

 Amesbury, eight miles from Salisbury. I recollect seeing a female bird of the same 

 species that was killed at Amesbury last season. I have also seen at different times 

 some very nice specimens of the hobby from the same locality: these birds are 

 rarely met with about here except in that district. — Henry Blachnore ; Salisbury, 

 February 25, 1865. 



