636 The Zoologist— March, 1867. 



specimen of the bittern within a mile and a half of Ripon, and close to the River 

 Ure. — From the ' Field ' of February 2nd. 



Landrail in January. — During the late severe weather a man working in a garden 

 here caught a landrail; the bird was in very good condition, and seemed none the 

 worse for the severity of the weather. — J. W. D. Harrison ; Frocester Court, Gloucester- 

 shire. — From the 'Field' of January 19/A. 



Egyptian Goose in Yorkshire. — On Monday, the 14th of January, I obtained in the 

 neighbourhood of Beverley an Egyptian goose, which had beeu picked up exhausted 

 after a tremendous gale. Dissection proved it to be an adult female: it had been 

 struck by several shots, which quite accounts for the condition in which it was found. 

 — W. Slepherison, in the ' Field ' of January 26th. 



Redheaded Pochard in Kent.— Three pochards, two drakes and a duck, made their 

 appearance lately on a fish-pond here, where the pearly whiteness of their plumage 

 excited much admiration : they disappeared at the approach of frost. The curious 

 thing was that they never took to flight, but swam about iu the middle of the pond. — 

 Clifton ; Cobham Hall, Kent, January 24, 1867. 



Goldeneye, Shore Lark and Little Gull at Eastbourne. — On the 27lh of December 

 a fine male goldeneye duck was shot by Mr. Sumner, jun., on the Grumble Pond, 

 Eastbourne. On the 8th of January a shore lark was shot by a fisherman on the 

 beach near Eastbourne, and is now being preserved for my collection. I am also in- 

 formed that an immature specimen of the little gull has been obtained here ibis week, 

 and was purchased by the birdstuffer in the town : another was also seen at the same 

 lime. — N. Taylor, in the 'Field' of January 19th. 



Smews from Holland. — To the notice of Mr. J. H. Gurney, in the 'Zoologist' for 

 January (S. S. 608), of the presence of several specimens of the smew, I can add that 

 last week nearly a dozen of these birds were also exposed for sale at a game-dealer's 

 in Hull, which had similarly been imported from Holland. In the same shop were 

 ten goosanders, sent also from Holland. — N. F. Dobrie ; Hornsea, February 2, 

 1867. 



Redbreasted Merganser on the Bandon River. — On the 9th of January, Mr. Abbott, 

 of Kiusale, shot near Castle White, on the Bandon River, a very fine male specimen 

 of this beautiful bird, which has been sent to me for preservation. The severity of the 

 weather has driven an unusual number of wild fowl to our coasts near Youghal. — 

 W. A. Hackett; 38, Patrick Street, Cork. —From the ' Field ' of January 26lh. 



Goosander and other Birds on the Firth. — Yesterday (January 18th) I received 

 from Mr. Singer, of Kincardine, a most magnificent specimen of a male goosander, 

 without spot or blemibh : in writing to me he says, " During my long experience I have 

 never met with one here before." However, I believe that the goosander is not un- 

 common in the Firth in severe seasons. One was shot on our river two winters ago, 

 but its plumage was not nearly so rich as that of this specimen. Mr. Singer also sent 

 me two male specimens of the pochard and two goldeneye ducks, both of which birds 

 are very plentiful at present in the Firth. — John A. Harvie Brown; Dunipace House, 

 Falkirk. 



Little Grebe affected by the Cold. — As an evidence of the intensity of the frost 

 which occurred at the beginning of this month, I may mention that a pair of the little 

 grebe allowed themselves to be picked up by the hand. Mr. William Buck, of King's 

 Newton, found them sitting under a willow-bush, and bad no difficulty in taking them : 



