946 The Zoologist — October, 1867. 



Snipe. — First seen on the 22nd of July. I have now for some years 

 put up snipe, the first arrivals of the season, near the same place, the 

 side of a reed-covered drain. It is curious we never find them in this 

 likely-looking drain during any other month in the year. 



Golden Plover. — August 3rd. Put up a single golden plover, black- 

 breasted, in the marsh to-day. 



Linnet. — August 3rd, Have already congregated in small flocks. 



Fern Owl. — The fern owl is a rare bird in North Lincolnshire ; I 

 never heard it. The rector of a neighbouring parish informs me that 

 he heard one calling, at eleven o'clock at night, on the 19th of July, in 

 some wood lands near his house. One of these birds was shot on our 

 "fitties" by a Grimsby " gunner" during the last week in November, 

 1864. 



Shieldrake. — Have on several occasions observed a pair or two of 

 this beautiful species flying about the flats during the summer months. 

 Some years since several pairs bred in the Humber district. I have 

 only heard of one pair doing so this season, in private grounds, to 

 which circumstance they doubtless owe their safety. 



Swift. — Last seen on the Clh of September. 



John Coudeaux. 



Great Cotes, Ulccby, Lincolnshire, 

 September 10, 18(17. 



Occurrence of Sylvia aquatica for the Second Time, so far as is 

 known, in England. 13y J. E. Harting, Esq., F.L.S. 



The occurrence of Sylvia aquatica in England was for the first time 

 made known by Professor Newton, who, at a Meeting of the Zoological 

 Society in May, 1866, exhibited a specimen from the collection of Mr. 

 Borrer, of Cowfold, Sussex, which had been obtained near Brighton 

 in October, 1853. 1 was unfortunately prevented from attending this 

 Meeting, but in November last, while on a visit to Mr. Borrer, I had 

 ample opportunity of examining this specimen. 



I was at once struck with its similarity to a bird in my own collec- 

 tion, which I had received from the neighbourhood of Loughborough 

 two years previously, and which I had put aside to be named, not 

 being acquainted with the species. 



On my return home I carefully re-examined this specimen and 

 compared it with the plate in Dr. Bree's ' Birds of Europe,' and felt 



