The Zoologist — February, 1866. 65 



rubbed it from the legs and bill, and those parts invariably remained 

 free from it as long as they were kept from contact with the plumage. 

 As to the supposed use of the pectinated middle claw I can say but 

 little. That claw alone was used in scratching the neck and head, 

 a process which was repeated very frequently, but again, unfortunately 

 for theory, it must be observed that barn-door fowls have precisely the 

 same habit. Possibly these notes contain nothing new, but I have 

 nothing better to offer, the poor heron having wandered one dark night 

 into the garden-well, from which the stepping-board had been thought- 

 lessly removed by a servant. 



October, 1865. 



Skf/ Lark.—T>m\xig the early part of October sky larks were still 

 singing, but nearly the whole of them disappeared as soon as the cold 

 northerly winds commenced. 



Bramhlivg.—\ iew bramblings arrived on the ist of October 

 (wind S.E.), and their number constantly increased during the next 

 four days; their arrival always took place in the night, and with a 

 S.E. or S.W. wind. 



Redwing.— Redwings were first seen on the 2nd (wind S.E.) : they 

 fed almost entirely upon rowan-berries, and gradually deserted us as 

 the supply diminished. 



Snow Bunting.— On the 4th (wind S.W.) I observed the first snow- 

 buntings. They kept to the hills for about a fortnight, after which time 

 the small flocks collected and descended together to the stubble-fields, 

 where they still remain feeding upon the fallen oats. Last year snow 

 buntings appeared one day earlier. 



Goldencrested Regulus. — A number of goldcrests also visited us on 

 the 4th. Immediately after their arrival they frequented enclosures in 

 the neighbourhood of houses; but, gradually extending their wan- 

 derings, they became distributed over most part of the island. I often 

 met with them upon the stony hill-sides, and upon one occasion on a 

 high sea-cliflF. 



Wheatear.—A very ^ew wheatears remained as late as the 5th. All 

 of them seemed to be young birds of the year. 



Wild Z)«c^.— -Large numbers of wild ducks have been arriving 

 during the whole month. On fine evenings I frequently observe them 

 feeding in the stubble with the tame ducks, and upon these occasions 

 it is not very diflScult to approach them openly and obtain a long 

 shot. 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. I. K 



