1668 The Zoologist— May, 1869. 



the agriculturist, but doubtless, as it will some day or other be found, 

 to the disadvantage of the game preserver. 



Stock Dove. — This species is of very rare occurrence in North 

 Lincolnshire : I have on several occasions lately seen five feeding in 

 the stubble-fields in the marshes ; they are excessively wild and wary, 

 much more so than the ring dove. On the wing their flight and ap- 

 pearance is much the same as in the common domestic bird. 



Goldeneye.~- J anusiTy 26. There was a beautiful old male goldeneye 

 off the mouth of the creek to-day; I watched him for nearly an hour 

 through the telescope ; this duck swims rather high in the water : it 

 was constantly diving, keeping beneath, on the average, till I could 

 count slowly to forty-eight, and not remaining on the surface between 

 each dive longer than counting to twelve — consequently spent four- 

 fifths of its time under water. 



Ice Duck (Fuligula glacialis). — The stomach of this duck, sent to 

 me by Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., contains a considerable quantity of 

 small shells of the genus Buccinum, and a few Patella pellucida, also 

 the remains of shrimps. 



February. 



February I. Chaffinch, yellow bunting and greenfinch paired. 



February 2. Spring note of blue tit. 



Scan/) Duck (Fuligula marila). — February 10. Have lately noticed 

 small flocks of these ducks on the coast: one to-day, off" the mouth of 

 the creek, numbered fourteen birds — seven males and seven females, 

 all in mature plumage. These ducks swim high in the water, are ex- 

 pert divers, remaining underneath longer even than the goldeneye, 

 and I have frequently counted fifty to fifty-four from the dive to the 

 reappearance. Lately, on several occasions, I have seen three come 

 at high-water close in shore, diving in very shallow water ; they daily 

 come up with the tide near the same place; one is in the plumage of 

 the mature female, the others are young males in the transition dress, 

 changing from the female garb of the first summer to the male of the 

 second : they have a curious mottled and nondescript appearance. 



Dunlin. — February 15. An immense flock of dunlin on the "Flats" 

 thi» afternoon, probably not less than ten thousand birds. 



Brcumheuded Gull. — February 25. Have in a iev/ instances ac- 

 quired the brown summer cap. 



