3258 THE ZooLocist—OcToBER, 1872. 
Ornithological Notes made in Devon and Cornwall during July 
and August, 1872. By Joun Gatcomse, Esq. 
Spotted Woodpecker, Nightjar, Swift, Spotted Flycatcher, &c. 
—July 6th. A great spotted woodpecker was killed near Plymouth, 
and others seen in the same locality. 9th. Nearly put my foot on 
a nightjar, lying among some ferns in Bickleigh Vale, and a short 
time before saw one asleep on some faggots of wood in bright 
sunshine. These birds have been very plentiful during the present 
summer in our ueighbourhood, and their churring notes might be 
heard in various localities almost every night. Swifts have been 
and still are very numerous, but I cannot say the same concerning 
other members of the swallow tribe. Spotted flycatchers have now 
brought out their young families, and it is a pretty and interesting 
sight to watch the young birds in their conspicuously spotted 
plumage, darting from their perches on trees, rails, posts and 
telegraph-wires, after flies, in imitation of their parents, who never- 
* theless constantly supply them with food. The telegraph-wire 
seems a favourite perch for the flycatchers, especially when it runs 
by the side of a wood. I have often observed wood larks, too, 
perched for a length of time on these wires, the long spurs sticking 
out from the hinder toe producing a rather singular effect. 
Observed several families of young gray wagtails, also apparently 
as large as the old ones, but with somewhat shorter tails, running 
about by the river. 
Heron, Crow, Kingfisher, Iceland Gull, §c.—July 11th. Again 
went down the river Dart from Totnes, and remarked a great many 
old herons on its banks, with but only one young one among 
them. Crows were very numerous, and now and then a kingfisher 
would be seen darting out from under the woods by the river side. — 
Near Torquay I saw some redbacked shrikes, and in the museum 
of that place a nice young specimen of the Iceland gull, which had 
been killed in Torbay during last autumn. This specimen was 
rather prettily marked, and, I thought, showed more brown on its 
plumage than is usually the case. 
Water Ouzel, Peregrine Falcon, Raven, §c.—July 13th. Saw 
several water ouzels on the river Plym, one of which was moving 
about and turning over stones and tufts of moss and weeds. ‘The 
beak of the water ouzel bears a resemblance to that of the turn- 
stone, by being slightly curved upwards, Kingfishers having now 
