The Zoologist — August, 1866. 335 



vernal migration. Amongst others gray plovers, some in perfect sum- 

 mer plumage, in which state they ai'e not unfrequently met with at 

 this season ; turnstones, in flocks of fifteen to twenty ; sanderlings, 

 rather scarce (one obtained on the 25th in full summer dress) ; oyster- 

 catchers, curlews, whimbrels, redshanks, greenshanks, bartailed godwits 

 and knots : neither of the four last named were very plentiful, but 

 examples obtained in pretty good plumage. 



Terns. — Terns have also been pretty numerous : one man shot 

 thirteen lesser terns at two shots. 



Oystercalcher. — The stomach of an oystercatcher, examined on the 

 22nd of May, contained cockles out of the shells. The bill of this bird 

 seems admirably suited to its work, but whether it is strong enough to 

 entitle it to its name of "oystercatcher" I am not prepared to say. 

 The ends of the mandibles must, of course, wear away with constant 

 use, and consequently must in some way be renewed. This, I am in- 

 clined to surmise, is effected by a gradual growth, after the manner of 

 our own finger-nails. I remember having, a year or two ago, seen 

 some of these birds in the Gardens of the Zoological Society, in 

 Regent's Park, and remarking that their bills were much elongated — to 

 such an extent even that the mandibles crossed at the tips, something 

 like those of the crossbill : in their state of captivity, seemingly, these 

 birds had not sufficient work for their bills to keep them worn down as 

 Nature had intended. 



Dotterell. — Mr. Cordeaux asks (S. S. 294) for information respecting 

 the dotterell. I can only supply negative information, viz. that it is 

 not a plentiful species in West Sussex. On the 25th of May, 1859, 

 three examples were procured at Runcton, near Chichester, of which 

 I have one, a male. Since that time I am not aware of its having 

 occurred in this part of the county. It would appear to be rather 

 more common in East Sussex. Mr. Knox, in his ' Systematic Cata- 

 logue ' of Sussex birds, says, " Several are killed every year in the 

 neighbourhood of Alfriston. Is frequently met with near Hailsham 

 and Battle. Rare in the western division of the county. The line of 

 its vernal migration would appear to be north-east. Does not breed 

 in Sussex," &c. Probably since this was written it has become more 

 scarce. Mr. Button informs us (Zool. 9099) that it occurs "occa- 

 sionally" in ihe neighbourhood of Eastbourne. 



Egg-destroyers. — In the last number of the ' Zoologist' (S. S. 310) 

 an instance is given of a cuckoo sucking partridge's eggs. One would 

 have thought that the shell of the partridge's egg would have proved 



