Birds. 8891 
Its weight was eight ounces and two drachms, the bird being loaded with fat. On 
dissection it proved to be a female. Length, from tip of bill to tip of tail, 12 inches ; 
across the extended wings, 19 inches. Its gizzard contained nothing but a few seeds 
and vegetable matter: is not this remarkable? I thought that snipes lived wholly 
upon insects, larve and worms. I called the attention of two or three witnesses to 
the fact, in order to avoid mistake. I now much regret that I did not keep the 
contents of the gizzard.— W. W. Boulton; Beverley, October 23, 1863. 
Little Stint in the Isle of Wight.—A fine specimen of the little stint (Tringa 
pusilla) was shot here by Mr. S. Parry, R.A., on the 29th of October. This is a new 
addition to our list of Isle of Wight birds. I have preserved the bird.— Henry 
Rogers ; Freshwater, Isle of Wight, December 7, 1863. 
Sclavonian or Dusky Grebe near Beverley.—I have just purchased, in the flesh, a 
beautiful female specimen of the Sclavonian grebe (Podiceps cornulus). It was shot 
on the river Hull, where it flows along the eastern boundary of Figham, one of the 
common pastures of this town, and about a mile below Beverley. The bird was shot 
by William Hoggard, of Beverley, on Monday, October 12th, 1863. The eggs in the 
ovary were about the size of millet-seed.— W. W Boulton. 
Habits, §c., of the Little Grebe.—Having kept this bird alive I have had ample 
opportunities for observing its habits, which I have not seen particularly noted else- 
where. I had a very large glass globe with small living fish in il, and into this the 
bird was able to go when inclined to feed. It was so tame that in my presence it 
would dive after the fish, bring them up, and swallow its capture whole. It was very 
fondof fresh meat, which it took from my hand. When resting it does not place its 
feet upon the ground, but turns them up so as to place them under its wings, which it 
covers with its side feathers, and thus entirely hides them from view: it will also rest 
in the same manner upon the water. The grebes are generally figured as sitting erect, 
and I was anxious to see if this bird did so, but could not disvover that such was the 
case: it always sat with its breast on the ground, but when walking or running its 
posture was nearly erect, and it proceeded along with a waddling gait.—R. Reynolds ; 
10, Brownlow Street, Liverpool ; November 10, 1863.— Scrap-Book.’ 
Graylegged Goose near Penzance.—I have just seen a specimen of the graylegged 
goose (Anser ferus) sent from Scilly. It isa fine example; the shoulder part of the 
wing and greater wing-coverts bluish light gray; the bill considerably elevated at the 
base, uniform in colour with the nail, white. I scarcely need add that the large flights 
of wild geese which appear in the West of England in severe weather are, in 90 per 
cent., the bean goose, with an occasional sprinkling of the whitefronted goose.— Edward 
Hearle Rodd; Penzance, November 30, 1863. 
Little Auk in Somersetshire.—I write to record the occurrence of the little auk 
(Uria alle) in this county in two instances; the first was on the 3rd of this month, 
when Mr. Haddon, of Taunton, had one brought to him alive, which had been 
caught the day before under some loose faggots on the top of a wood-rick, in the 
parish of Kingston, near Taunton. The other was picked up dead on the mud at the 
mouth of the river Parrot, near Burnbam, by Mr. Welman: the bird was quite fresh 
when picked up, and apparently only just dead.—Cecil Smith; Lydiard House, 
November 7, 1863. 
Young Puffin in November.—I have to-day received what I believe to be a young 
puffin of this year, which was shot on this coast last Saturday. I find these birds 
generally leave this country in August; so this is no doubt a straggler which has been 
