Birds. 9251 
opposed to anything like an oceanic flight, that it seems in the highest 
degree improbable that it ever made its appearance here.-—Hdward 
Newman.) 
Black Swan near Beverley—Nearly a year ago, curiously enough it fell to my lot 
to record the capture of a black swan on the River Hull. The bird shot on the Ist of 
August, 1863, was an old male, in perfect plumage, and with wings unpinioned. 
Although I subsequently found that a black swan had escaped from a private water in 
the neighbourhood, I have never been able to identify with certainty my specimen as 
the escaped bird. I have now to record a similar capture on the same river. On the 
morning of June 23rd, 1864, between four and five o’clock, a second specimen of this 
rare and elegant bird was shot on the River Hull, close to the Hull Bridge, and about 
one mile and a half from Beverley. No intelligence has been received up to the present 
date of the loss of such a bird from any water in this neighbourhood. I saw the swan 
in the flesh, and had the pleasure of dissecting it. Its length, from tip of bill to tip of 
tail, was 4 feet 2 inches; span across the wings 5 feet 8 inches. Its weight was” 
11 tbs. The condition of the bird was excellent, the body being loaded with fat. 
The sex was female (mature). The gizzard contained a quantity of vegetable matter, 
too far advanced in trituration to admit of its exact nature being recognized. It was 
mixed up with flinty gravel. By reference to my notes on the measurements and 
dissection of the black swan, shot on the Ist of August, 1863, I find that, although 
both the specimens were fully mature, the male bird was the largest. In external 
contour, plumage, bill, eye and foot, both birds were very similar, and the difference 
in size was not so great as to be readily perceived. The female was altogether a lighter 
made and more delicate-looking bird, but this is only apparent when the specimens 
are compared side by side. The following will demonstrate at a glance the exact 
difference in size between the two specimens :— 
Male, shot August 1, 1863. Female, shot June 22, 1864. 
Total length, from tip of bill Total length, from tip of bill 
fotipoftail . . . . 4f.5in. — totipoftail . . . .: 4 ft. 2in. 
Across wings . . . Hee (OG. > 2, Aerpes wigs 5). oe Oty, Sims 
Weight, 11 ibs, (very si, Weight, 11 ibs. (very fat). 
—W. W. Boulton; Beverley, July 8, 1864. 
The Bridled Guillemot at Flamborough Head.—I observe in this month's ‘ Zoolo- 
gist’ a note from Mr. Boulton (Zool. 9211), in which he mentions the capture of a 
bridled guillemot (Uria lacrymans) at Flamborough Head, and remarks that it is of 
such rare occurrence that one has not been seen there for many years. It so happens 
that I am able to record a more recent capture of another specimen at the same place. 
On the 22nd of June last, a friend of mine, whilst walking at Flamborough Head, fell 
in with a man who was returning from sea-fowl shooting, and purchased from him a 
fine specimen of the bridled guillemot, which he had shot. It appears to be known to 
the sea-fowlers by the name of “silver-eyed scout,” and is admitted by them to be a 
scarce bird. My friend, knowing the interest I take in everything relating to British 
birds, packed up the specimen and forwarded it to me. It certainly proved to be a 
bridled guillemot, but I must confess that I feel very doubtful whether the bird so 
