598 The Zoologist— February, 18(57. 



for " trimmings." The " dabchick," as it is here culled, is fast 

 becoming a scarce bird. 



Dunlin and Ringed Plover. — November 26. For about a fortnight 

 after this date flocks of dunlins and ringed plovers have frequented open 

 fields inland. This has, perhaps, occurred principally during the 

 times of high tide, but I have never known them come inland so much 

 before. 



Spotted Redshank. — November 28th. An example of this species 

 was sent from Selsey to Chichester for preservation. It had nearly 

 attained the full winter plumage. 



Fork-tailed Petrel. — December 6th. Again with south-westerly gales 

 the forktailed petrel has occurred, a bird of this species having been 

 shot in Bosham Harbour, and brought me on the above-named day. 

 Excepting that the ends of the primaries and tail-feathers were stubbed, 

 it was in excellent plumage. It has been frequently stated that the 

 petrel, when excited or enraged, has a habit of spurting oil from the 

 curiously formed bitubular nostril. In skinning the present example 

 I discovered a cavity in the skull situated in front of the brain and 

 between it and the bill, connected with the nostrils and the mouth : 

 this cell contained a thick oily matter, having a peculiar smell — a 

 smell which one cannot help noticing in skinning or even handling 

 one of these birds. What the object of this oil-cell can be is to me a 

 mystery. Can it be a means of offence or defence ? Perhaps it may 

 be of service in water-proofing the plumage of a bird, which one 

 would imagine must require something of the sort, being so constantly 

 on the water; yet, does the petrel spend more time on the water than 

 some other of our Natatores that it should require this extra provision ? 

 Mr. Yarrell slates that the storm petrel on being taken from the nest 

 vomits a quantity of pure oil, which is carefully preserved by the 

 fowlers, aud the bird allowed to escape. Another specimen of the 

 forktailed petrel is recorded in the 'Field' of December loth, by Mr. 

 G. Dawson Rowley, as having been captured in a "ham and beef shop" 

 in Brighton. 



Power of Imitation in Birds. — Dr. Saxby mentions (Zool. S. S. 

 447) the wheatear as possessing the power of imitation to an aston- 

 ishing degree. Not living in their breeding haunts I have never 

 noticed this in the wheatear, but in other birds I have. Mr. Legge 

 observes of the sedge warbler (Zool. 9836) " In its curious little warble 

 it imitates, in quick succession, the sparrow, the lark, and the swallow, 

 but seems to have a decided preference to the twitter of the first-named 



