3566 The Zoologist— June, 1873. 



which was a fine old bird that appeared to be altogether of a 

 beautiful glossy black, without any spots even on the back. Saw a 

 female redbreasted merganser, in the flesh, which had been killed 

 a few days before in VVhitsand Bay, Cornwall : it was in strong 

 moult. 



April 17. Heard the cuckoo in Bickleigh Vale, near Plymouth, 

 and on the 18th the blackcap and tree pipit j wind north, but 

 mild. 



April 19. Wind N.E., mild and fine. More blackcaps and a 

 whitethroat. 



April 23. Examined a puffin which had been taken in an ex- 

 hausted state on the coast : it was very emaciated and the stomach 

 quite empty. 



April 26. Wind N.E., very cold. Saw a flock of whimbrels 

 flying up the river, apparently just arrived from sea. Had 

 one given to me the "same day, in the flesh, which flew on 

 board a ship in the channel about a week before, and was kept 

 alive for some days. I found this bird in a dreadfully emaciated 

 state. 



April 30. There were about three hundred lesser blackbacked 



and herring gulls on the Laira mud-banks, and a great many 



also in the harbour; indeed I never knew the former species 



80 plentiful as it is just now, and their constant cry when 



circling high in the air, even over the town, is remarked by 



everyone. 



John Gatcombe. 

 8, Lower Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth. 

 May 7, 1873. 



large Otter near Plymouth. — Ou the 8th of March I was much inte- 

 rested in watching a very large otter fishing iu the sea, about a hundred 

 and fifty yards from the rocks, diving about just as a cormorant would do, 

 and bringing up a fish every minute, although the sea was rather rough. 

 By and by a large northern diver ranged up alongside, and for a short time 

 otter and diver seemed to be fishing in concert, but I must say that the otter 

 appeared to catch four or five fish to the diver's one. This otter was the 

 largest I ever saw, and I think it must have been the same described in ray 

 note in the ' Zoologist' for January (S. S. 3365). — John Gatcombe. 



