88 The Zoologist — February, 1866. 



October; lie will probably record the occurrence of these in the 

 ' Zoologist,' with particulars. Mr. J. Gatcombe writes from Plymouth 

 (' Field,' November 25), " During the last two months they have beeu 

 unusually abundant." 



November, 1865. 



Fieldfare and Redwing. — Heard a fieldfare on the 2nd ; none seen 

 or heard since. Redwings heard a week or two earlier, but have been 

 scarce. 



Shorteared Owl. — First seen on the 2nd. Several killed in the early 

 part of the mouth. 



Spotted Crake. — A specimen of the spotted crake was shot in the 

 neighbourhood of Chichester about the 1st. 



Siskin. — Saw some on the 11th, feeding on the seeds of the alder. 

 The siskin is much more rare than the lesser redpole. 



Redthroated Diver. — Two seen on the 14th ; not yet numerous. 



Snow Bunting. — A specimen was killed at Selsey about the 12th : 

 this specimen was in the winter plumage, with the crown of the head 

 brown, as are the greater part of the Sussex-killed birds. Mr. Wells, 

 of Worthing, also had three brought hiu) to be stuffed on the 1st of 

 November ('Field' of November 25). 



Longeared Owl. — First seen on the 22nd. The longeared owl used 

 to breed in this neighbourhood, and perhaps does occasionally now, 

 but it is more frequently met with at this time of year than in the 

 summer. Possibly there is a migration southwards in the autumn. 

 On the 4th of March, 1860, 1 found ten in one yew-tree on our downs, 

 and a fortnight later four or five near the same place. 



Leaches Petrel. — On or about the 25th a specimen of the forktailed 

 petrel [Thalassidroma Leach ii) was picked up dead at Sidlosham, and 

 is now in my collection. On the 29th I had another brought me 

 which had been shot near the same place. I have also seen a third, 

 which was shot about the 26lh or 27th ; and a fourth was picked up 

 dead. Captain Knox has remarked, in his ' Systematic Catalogue of 

 the Birds of Sussex,' that whenever tliis species has been obtained in 

 Sussex it has been almost invariably after south-westerly storms ; 

 and such is the present case, — we have had a continuation of storms 

 from that quarter of late. 



Migration of Birds. — " What becomes of these flocks ? Where do 

 they — where can they halt ? If not migrating, how comes it that these 

 autumnal flights are invariably to the eastward?" Captain Hadfield 



