The Zoologist — July, IStiG. 291 



possible, under tlie belief that the particulars may be of use to those 

 ornithologists who feel interested as to the distinctions between Falco 

 islandicus and F. groenlandicns. My own experience in the matter is 

 so slight as to be unworthy of notice, but I cannot avoid looking with 

 some doubt upon the disposition of the bars as a guide, seeing that in 

 the present example they are both continuous and alternate, not only 

 in the same group of feaihers, but even upon the same feather. 

 I should be glad to learn more respecting the usual colours, at different 

 ages, of the bill, feet and bare parts about the head. A much darker 

 bird of the same species remained in this neighbourhood for some days, 

 and I also saw a third, closely resembling the one above described, 

 flying above some pigeons as they sat upon the corn stacks at Buness. 

 It wheeled about them for some time, as if endeavouring to make them 

 take wing, occasionally making a sudden stoop, but never attempting 

 to strike. The flight was exceedingly rapid; a few quickly repeated 

 beats with the wings seemed to be all thai was required to create an 

 impetus sufficient to carry it for several hundred yards. 



Golden Eagle. — Various reports, all more or less exaggerated, have 

 reached me concerning an enormous bird which has been seen in the 

 island of Balta during the last few weeks. Unfortunately I have been 

 unable to visit the spot, but there can be no doubt that the bird is a 

 golden eagle. It is said to have killed a great number of rabbits. 



Tw/vis-^oz/e.— Turnstones are now abundant. A few days ago I 

 watched them pushing over with their bills large pieces of sea- weed, 

 which had been left by the tide, and also removing pieces of shells and 

 stones, in order to procure anything in the shape of food lying 

 beneath. 



Woodcock. — On the 14th I saw a woodcock crouching among the 

 deep snow upon the Hill of Colvidale : 1 was within two paces of it 

 before it took wing. 



Ringed Plover. — On the same day I first heard the spring note of 

 ringed plovers, and observed that the birds were pairing. 



Wild Duck. — A male of this species, shot on the 16th, already had 

 a few pale brownish feathers about the head and neck ; hitherto I have 

 never observed the commencement of the change of plumage earlier 

 than the middle of May. The stomach contained sand, shells, sea- 

 weed and potatoes ; some of the latter were still whole, and one of 

 them was a little more than an inch in diameter. 



Redbreasied Merganser. — The flocks of redbreasted mergansers are 

 slowly breaking up. At this season I very often observe solitary males 



