Birds. 9809 



Knox mentions four having been obtained near Worthing, in Sep- 

 tember, 1851. This, however, is the only specimen that I have known 

 to be killed in this neighbourhood. 



Sivift. — Saw about thirty on the 20th, flying in a southerly direc- 

 tion, in the evening; none seen since this. On the 17lh I shot a very 

 light-coloured, nearly white, specimen. 



Redshank. — Has been observed on the coast throughout the month, 

 tolerably numerous. Greenshank seen about the middle of the month : 

 turnstone rather earlier. The gizzard of a redshank dissected con- 

 tained some small winged insects. 



Blacktailed Godwit. — A bird of this species was shot at Pagham 

 Harbour about the 26th. Five were seen, but only this one obtained ; 

 I believe it to have been a young female. The measurements, taken 

 before skinning, were as follows: — length 14 inches; extent of wing 

 29 inches, from carpal joint to tip of longest primary 8f inches; bill 

 along ridge 81 inches. The contents of the stomach consisted of small 

 gravels and marine shells. The two specimens that I have before 

 obtained, both in the month of August (see Zool. 9289), were killed 

 near fresh water. 



Riiff.—k specimen killed at Pagham on the 26th. I have obtained 

 the ruff on two or three former occasions in the autumn ; and in April, 

 1861, one was killed at Fishbourne, which had partially resumed the 

 long feathers which form the ruff in the adult bird. 



White Stork and Gray Wagtail. — On the I4th I saw a fine specie 

 men of each of these rare British birds at Mr. Pratt's, Ship Street, 

 Brighton. The stork had recently been killed near Hailsham, and 

 sent to him for preservation, and the wagtail was shot by his sou near 

 Shorehara in the spring of the present year. 



September, 1865. 



Gray Wagtail. — This species is pretty regular in its autumnal 

 migration, usually making its appearance during the first week in 

 September ; I first saw it this autumn on the 3rd. The gray wagtail is 

 solitary in its habits, and is never, while in the south, seen in flocks, as 

 are the others (pied and Ray's) ; indeed, if two happen to meet, one is 

 certain to chase the other away. Very frequently during these chases 

 they utter a pleasing little song, and I believe this is the only lime 

 that they are heard to sing while with us. 



Green Sandpiper. — Has been very scarce of late ; one seen on the 

 5th in the forenoon, flying northward. 



VOL. XXIII. 3 I 



