9566 Birds. 



feathers are supposed to be the bird's own, and further supposed to be swallowed 

 accidentally in the act of preening, and still further supposed to be regurgitated 

 together with fish-bones, &c. The fiift pari of the theory is, I think, correct; the 

 second is, to say the least, extremely doubtful ; it might be allowed to account for a 

 few feathers or occasional fealher-pellets aniilogous to the hair-balls of ruminants, &c. ; 

 but it would seem passing strange that so large a quantity <if feathers should he con- 

 stantly swallowed by accident — an accident occurring seldom or never to similar birds 

 with similar mandibles, i)lumage, food and habits. As to the supposition of ejectment 

 upwards, can any one supply an observation of the fact? In other divers, at least, the 

 passage of the whole of the fish-bones through the intestines can be demonstrated. In 

 a second specimen procured in the market the mass of featiiers was much less compact, 

 and mixed with it were vertebrie and cranial bones of two small dace. Two other 

 specimens have been oflFered for sale, but llicir condition precluded purchase. The 

 skeleton of the grebe affords the ornithologist many highly interesting poiuts of 

 observation. — Charles W. Devis ; Queen's Park, Manchester, March 1 1, 1865. 



Note on the Blockthroated Diver. — With the three grebes killed on the Fern Island 

 came a blackthroaled diver, also killed there. It was a male, and measured from tip 

 of bill to tip of tail 2 feet 2| inches, from tip to lip of outstretched wings 3 feet 

 9\ inches, and weighed 4 tbs. 9 ounces. — C. B. Hodgson. 



IvGTij Gull at Weston-super-Mare. — One day last month a magnificent specimen of 

 the ivory gull, in full mature plumage, was shot on the little island of Birnbeck at this 

 place. This is the second adult ivory gull which has been obtained at Weston -super- 

 Mare within the last few yca.rs.—Murrai/ A. Mathew ; April 1 1, 1865. 



Oruitholoyical Notes from Shetland. By H. L. Saxby, M.D. 

 (Continued from page 9526). 



Febkuary, 1865. 



Hooper. — It is so seldom thai hoopeis arrive here on their way 

 northwards before the middle of March, that the appearance of a 

 small flock so early as the 8th of February can only be considered as 

 accidental. They alighted upon the voe at Baltasound about an hour 

 after sunset, and on being disturbed early next morning flew oil' to a 

 loch about a couple of miles distant, and settled upon the ice. Some 

 people who happened to be passing that way very nearly succeeded 

 in catching them in their hands, for the hoopers, being either unwilling 

 or unable to rise from the frozen surface, shuffled awkwardly to the 

 shore before attempting to take wing, but once clear of the ground 

 they flew away with their accustomed vigour. Although it was dark 

 when they arrived their peculiar cry at once betrayed their presence. 

 So far as I am aware they always rise facing the wind ; therefore, in 

 shooting them from the land, one can often obtain a fair shot by 

 running in from the windward side and waiting until they pass over- 



