156-2 The Zoologist— February, 1869 



Great. Black Woodpecker in Hantx, unaulhenlicalcd. — The information sent to Mr. 

 Gould as to tlie black woodpecker having been shot in Hampshire proves on iuvestiga- 

 tion to be based on a wilful, bare-fiiced falsehood, showing how necessary it is to 

 ascertain the real truih of what at fir^t sijrht may appear unworihy of a doubt. Mr. 

 Gould promised to investigate the fact before he admitted the Picus martins into the 

 British Avifauna, as our readers will observe in my note in the last number of the 

 'Zoologist' (S. S. 1516). His doing so resulted in ihe following letter being sent to 

 Lim by his former correspondent conveying the notice of the capture: — " Dec. 26, 



1868. Sir, — I regret writing to you about the black woodpecker as Mr. told 



me he bought it in London Market, but being so fresh he said, out of a joke, lie shot il 

 at Binslead. I will be more careful for the future," &c.,&c. — Edward Ilearle Rodd ; 

 Penzance, January 11, 1869. 



Great Spotted Woodpeckernear Faversham. — I received an adult male specimen of 

 the great woodpecker, in ihe summer, shot a mile from Faversham. I received a female 

 specimen on the 2nd of November, shot by a man iu Faversham churchyard. — 

 A, Skinner. 



Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Faversham. — On the 13lh of January I received an 

 adult female specimen of the lesser spotted woodpecker, shot by a man iu Faversham 

 churchyard. — Id. 



Late Swallou'. — During yesterday and to-day a swallow has been constantly flying 

 round and about my house and garden, as though with the intention of slaying here. 

 It has lost the right fork of its tail, suggesting to my mind the idea that it may have 

 been shot at by some enthusiastic naturalist on its passage hither. Here at least it 

 shall be safe. — Philip O. Papillon; Lexden Manor, Colchester, December 23, 1868. — 

 From Ihe ' Field.' 



Variety of the Common Pheasant. — I have received two curious male specimens of 

 this pheasant from a game-dealer in Faversham : they have a general ])lumage of 

 cream-colour, besides the ordinary black markings. — A. Skinner. 



Spoonbill at Benacre. — A specimen of the spoonbill was shot during the present 

 January, at Benacie, in Suffolk, and will shortly be added to the rich collection of the 

 Earl of Malmesbury.— W. Hart and Son ; West End, Christchurch. 



Bittern near Epivorth. — I have just had a fine specimen of the bittern brought to 

 me for preservation : it was shot on our marsh land near Epworth. Two or three have 

 been shot iu our neighbourhood during the last three or four years. About thirty 

 years since this magnificent species was very abundant here, but the improved drainage 

 has caused their visits to be few and far between. The bittern, in fact, I ani sorry to 

 say, is fast disappearing from araong^t us. — J. T. Gravil,jun. 



Bittern at Looe. — A bittern was seen in this neighbourhood last week. — Stephen 

 Clogg ; East Looe, December 26, 1868. 



Avocel at Portsmouth. — During the present month of January a specimen of the 

 avocet has been shot at Portsmouth, and is in the possession of Major Breton. — 

 W. Hart and Son; West End, Christchurch. 



Correction of an error : Parasite of Sabine's Snipe. — I have committed a signal 

 mistake iu stating the parasites of Sabine's aud the common snipe to be distinct 

 (Zool. S. S. 1511). They are precisely the same — an additional argument that 

 Sabine's snipe is only a dark variety of the common species. It is a curious circum- 

 stance that out of about sixty parasites of various species examined by Mr. Cordeaux, 



