The Zoologist— March, 1867. 635 



able commodity, they set at liberty. Portions of lime adhering to the feathers of birds 

 so captured often make them the easy prey of hawks, ground vermin and boys. The 

 fact that hawks regularly hunt the ground frequented by bird-catchers shows how far 

 they find such birds to be at " liberty." If bird-fanciers — and as a class they are very 

 fond of their caged captives— will take into consideration the fearful destruction of 

 bird-life which the gratification of their fancy necessitates, and the loss to the com- 

 munity which their destruction involves, I am sure they will come to 



" envy not in aDy mood 

 The captive void of noble range." 



— W. Craibe Angus ; 130, Union Street, Aberdeen. 



Redlegged Partridge in Aberdeenshire. — At the end of last month Mr. James 

 4 Mearns shot, within t$o miles of Aberdeen, a fine specimen of the redlegged partridge. 

 ^ It was in a covey of common partridges. I am not aware of this species having been 

 previously obtained in this county or in Scotland. — Id. 



Quail in Winter— On the 16lh of January I saw, at Mr. Norman's, taxidermist, 

 of RoystoD, Hertfordshire, a quail in perfect condition and plumage, shot somewhere 

 in the neighbourhood two or three days before. Is not this a very unusual circum- 

 stance?— W. Clear; Laurel House, Meldreth.—From the ' Field' of January 26th. 



Great Bustard at Horsey, Norfolk. — As I was in my boat after wild fowl, &c, on 

 the 7th insl., on Horsey Mere, I observed a large bird flying towards me: at first I 

 mistook it for a heron, from its slow, steady flight ; but, on its nearer approach, I found 

 out my mistake. The bird was coming directly over our heads, but bent his course 

 when some sixty or seventy yards from us. We both fired, but the bird kept steadily 

 on its way till we lost sight of it. I could not then imagine what it was, never before 

 having seen the great bustard on the wing ; still, the peculiar round shape of the wing, 

 jagged also at the edge, the neck also and head so small in comparison with the body, 

 struck me much, and made me very anxious to get it. On the next two dajs it was 

 seen again stalking in the marshes, like an over-grown turkey, but it would not allow 

 any nearer approach than one hundred yards before it flew quietly away, taking, how- 

 ever, but short flights, for it seemed more careful than wild. Having now no doubt 

 that the bird was the great bustard (Otis tarda), I have been on the look out ever since, 

 but when once the snow came the bird absconded, and I fear my chance of a nearer 

 acquaintance is now at an end. — T. A. Rising ; Horsey, Yarmouth.— From the 

 1 Field ' of January 1 9th. 



■ Avpcet in the County Cork. — A very beautiful specimen of the avocet, or " cobbler," 

 as it is sometimes called from its curiously-formed bill, which is turned up like a 

 cobbler's awl, was shot by Mr. Carbery, near Yougbal, County Cork, on December 20th, 

 and has been sent to me for preservation. — W. A. Hacketts ; Patrick Street, Cork. — 

 From the ' Field ' of January 12. 



Singular Habit of the Woodcock.— A correspondent of the ' Field' inquires, " Is it 

 generally known that the woodcock possesses the power of elevating its tail and 

 spreading it over its back, exactly after the manner of a turkey cock? I witnessed 

 this performance last week; the pretty black tail-feathers, with white tips, forming a 

 beautiful fan, and the whole appearance of the bird bearing a close resemblance to an 

 enraged turkey in miniature." 



Bittern in Yorkshire.— On the 24th of January I had the good luck to shoot a fine 



