The Zoologist— April, 1866. 173 



Redthroated Diver. — December 19th. Three or four divers were shot 

 off'Shanklin yesterday, and five to-day, but three only were secured, 

 the rest having escaped by diving. The one I saw had no appearance 

 of red about the throat, which was white, as well as the neck and whole 

 under parts ; and I am informed by the man who shot them that all 

 had white throats ; he .knows the species well, having long been in the 

 habit of shooting them, but never saw one with a red throat. ^Glh. A 

 hazy and rather windy day. Some hundreds of divers were found at 

 8 A. M., about a mile from the coast; but though frequently flying past 

 the boat, they seldom ventured within shot, and but two were secured : 

 one, a remarkably fine bird (proved to be a male), has the throat and 

 neck white, but the former has some minute gray spots, and there is 

 a slight tinge of the same extending to the neck, but this is only dis- 

 cernible on a close inspection ; the other, a somewhat smaller bird, 

 has considerably more of the gray on the throat and neck. A third 

 specimen examined has some of the feathers of the throat and neck 

 slightly edged and tipped with grayish brown, apparently iu a transition 

 state. My attention having been called to the subject, 1 have endea- 

 voured, by inspection and inquiry, to assist in clearing up the point ; 

 and after what has been stated, too, by more than one correspondent, 

 there is reason to believe that the redthroated birds referred to by 

 Montagu and other writers were procured ere the autumnal moult was 

 completed. Moreover, late observations lead me to think that the 

 moulting of birds may in some degree be influenced by the prevailing 

 temperature of the season, and it is much to be desired that the atten- 

 tion of ornithologists should be directed to this subject. 



p„^rt._Though Macgillivray says, " Puffins are not found on our 

 coasts in winter," I have frequently heard of their being seen, and an 

 old fowler— who knows the bird well — tells me that he fell iu with 

 some off'Shanklin on the 18lh or 19th. 



Kestrel.— December 19th. Though one was seen to-day they are 

 seldom met with now. In a long walk over the downs not one 

 was observed, where, late in the autumn, I heard of six being seen 

 together; but whether they merely change their hunting-ground or 

 cross the Channel 1 have yet to learn ; but that they, for the most 

 part, quit our downs and cliffs at the approach of winter there can be 

 no doubt. 



'Rook. — December 24th. Observed to-day a number of rooks flying 

 about their nesting-trees at Bonchurch, having been attracted by their 

 clamorous cawing. Had also heard and noticed a hw on a previous 



