3786 The Zoologist — December, 1873. 



fist and take food from the hand in the most gentle manner. Their 

 pUiraage on the upper parts is of a very dark brownish slate, each 

 feather being edged with rufous, but there is as yet no sign of red 

 on the thighs or under tail-coverts ; the base of the bill and legs 

 are orange; the claws the same, but lighter; and the tail much 

 barred. These birds were observed to alight on the rigging or 

 yard of the vessel, I believe, by day, and when it was dark one of 

 the crew went aloft with a lantern, the full glare of which he threw 

 for a few seconds on the poor birds eyes, and then, suddenly 

 removing the light, left the bewildered creatures in such intense 

 darkness that they were easily captured. After this they were kept 

 in the fore cabin and fed .by the sailors on bits of flesh or small 

 birds, which were constantly caught at roost in the rigging, and on 

 these being let go in the cabin the hawks would instantly dart 

 after and catch them, much to the amusement of the men. 



4lh. I was pleased to find goldfinches in large flocks, feeding in 

 elegant attitudes, on the thistles at Moorland, near Bridgwater, I 

 think these birds have been rather plentiful during the autumn, as 

 I have observed more than usual lately in the vicinity of Plymouth, 

 but I am sorry to add that birdcatchers have been numerous too. 



From Bridgwater I visited London for a few days, and on the 

 8th had a peep at Leadenhall Market, where I found wild birds 

 scarce, with the exception of gray plovers, many of which had still 

 black feathers on their breasts, the remains of the nuptial plumage. 



At Plymouth, on the 13lh, after my return, I found a few wheat- 

 ears still on the coast, and some kingfishers ; also many titlarks, in 

 their pretty winter dress. In the Market I observed some bartailed 

 godwits and a spotted rail, a species rarely met with in our neigh- 

 bourhood. 



15th. I counted, with the aid of a telescope, above two hundred " 

 gulls resting on the West^Mud, opposite Devonport Dockyard, and 

 a great number flying in the harbour at the same time, and I have 

 no doubt that as many more might have been found on the mud- 

 banks of several other rivers and estuaries in the neighbourhood. 

 This I feel assured is in a great measure the result of the Sea Birds 

 Preservation Act. 



IGlh. A large number of golden plovers in the Plymouth Market, 

 all obtained from the Devon and Cornish moors, and judging from 

 the quantity killed I think great flights of these birds must have 

 made their appearance in the western counties j there were many 



