608 The Zoologist — February, 18(57. 



says that there is no difference in the plumage of the male and female oystercatcber. 

 Can this difference he sexual, and if so, which is the male and which the female? — 

 A. Clark- Kennedy. 



Great Snipe near Dorchester. — My brother shot a specimen of the great snipe 

 (Scolopax major) near here on ihe 2Uth of November last: it was flushed iu a reed- 

 bed, at the same time as six or seven common snipe, but was lying apart from them, 

 and at once attracted attention by its superior size and different mode of flight. The 

 dimensions of this bird (a male) are as follows : — 



Length from end of tail to base of bill - 9$ inches. 



„ from base of bill to tip 2J „ 



from carpal joint to end of wing - 5 



Extent of wings ----- 17^- „ 



Agreeing with those given by Yarrell and Montagu, but the weight seems to be less 

 than usual, as it barely weighed six ounces, although in fair, but not fat, condition. — 

 James Shorto,jun. ; High East Street, Dorchester, December 13, 1866. 



Unusual Occurrence of the Smew. — I saw to-day, at one dealer's in Leadenhall 

 Market, fourteen smews, which he informed me he had received from Holland. Never 

 having seen so many specimens of this bird in one lot before, I think the circumstance 

 worth recording, especially as 1 have only seen one specimen in the market previously 

 this winter, a female, also from Holland, on the 6th of December last. The fourteen 

 which I saw to-day were partly males and partly females, but the former were all in 

 immature plumage. — J. II. Gurney ; January 16, 1867. 



JBlachlhroaled Diver at Wickham, Hants. — On the 9 lb of January, heavy gales and 

 squally weather having prevailed during the week, a beautiful male specimen of the 

 blackthroated diver (Colymbus arcticus, Linn.), in full winter dress, was shot upon the 

 ornamental water at Rooksbury Park, Wickham, Hants, by Mr. Orred's keeper, and 

 forms a valuable addition to my collection. In the stomach was a fresh roach 4| inches 

 in length and 2\ inches in girth, together with a few small pebbles.— Arthur W. 

 Crichton; 11, Eaton Place, S.JF.; January 16, 1867. 



Sabine's Gull in Cormvatl.—A specimen of Sabine's gull, in the first year's 

 plumage, was shot in November, on the River Lyntrer, Si. German's, Cornwall, by 

 Mr. Spencer, naturalist, and is now in the possession of the Rev. A. Furoeaux, 

 St. Germans.— Alan Furncaux ; St. German's, Cornwall, January 23, 1867. 



Ornithological Notes from Stirlingshire.— Bramblings appeared here, and in still 

 greater numbers at Kilsylhe, on or about the 7th of this month (January), and dis- 

 appeared on the 9th or lOih. Various ducks are numerous on the Frith of Forth, 

 and considerable numbers of mallard, teal and widgeon come up our river (the 

 Canon) every day. Bean geese have come far inland this winter; yesterday a flock, 

 or "gaggle," alighted on a frozen pond near this, seven miles from the Frith; they 

 generally, in this part of the county, do not come further inland than Latham Moss, 

 which is only three miles from the sea. — John A. Harvie Brown; Dunipace House, 

 Fallcirlc. 



Correction of an Error.— Zool. S. S. 559, 17th line from top, for " bind throat," 

 &c., read "head, throat," &c. — N. Cooke; Liverpool, January 8, 1867. 



