The Zoologist— July, 1873. 3599 



November 12. A drinking fountain of white marble close 

 to the quay — apt type of the geological riches of the island 

 we were quitting : the matin hymn rose in air from some unseen 

 fraternity: et sol jam surgit. Eundum est. 



F. A. Walkek. 



Notes at Sea. By John Cordeaux, Esq. 



May, 1873. 



Common Scoter. — May, second week. In small flocks from the 

 Humber to Southampton Water. One pair of velvet scoters seen 

 in Dungeness Roads. 



Guillemot. — Sparingly distributed (compared with the numbers 

 we find, at this season, north of the Humber) from Humber to 

 South Foreland, and more common from thence to the Isle of 

 Wight. Usually seen in pairs, and never exceeding six or eight 

 together. On the 8th, near the Inner Dowsing Light-vessel, I ob- 

 served a guillemot having a most remarkable turned-up bill. It was 

 close to the schooner, and we watched it both with and without the 

 glass. The beak was gradually curved upwards from its base to 

 the tip, and as greatly and perceptibly as in the godwits. 



Razorhilled Auk. — The same remarks apply as to the last, 

 but I never saw more than a pair together. Of a pair off Rye, 

 one was in summer plumage ; the other in a most curious state of 

 moult, having the back of the head, neck, part of back, and wing- 

 coverts very light brown, giving the bird a pied and most unusual 

 appearance. 



Puffin. — None seen. 



Redthroated Diver. — About five seen. One on Norfolk coast, 

 off Hasborough, was in the speckled plumage, and had no trace 

 whatever of the cochineal gular patch, the throat being pure 

 white. Another off Fairhill, Hastings, had acquired his red gular 

 patch. 



Blackthroated Diver. — A fine example in summer plumage, 

 with the black gular patch, seen off the east point of the Isle of 

 Wight. 



Gray Geese (species not identified). — Four seen flying north- 

 ward when off Rye. 



House Martin. — May 10. Straits of Dover, about midway of 

 channel, but nearest the French coast, a flight of martins passed, 



