The Zoologist— December, 1873. 3803 



Note on the Cirl Bunting.— The cirl bunting is a common Lird generally 

 in Cornwall, and particularly so in the neighbourhood of Penzance. Its 

 nest has often been found, and I think that the localities chosen are pretty 

 similar to its congener, the yellow bunting. The markings of the eggs are 

 very similar in character to the other bird, but the colour of the markings 

 is very different ; those in the yellowhammer are always, as far as I have 

 observed, purplish red, but in the cirl buntings they are almost, if not quite, 

 black. The cirl bunting, in the late summer and early autumnal mouths, 

 remains concealed in the large trees, amidst the foliage ; there its song may 

 be constantly heard. In fact, its habits generally are far more recluse than 

 those of the yellowhammer, but it every now and then may be seen on the open 

 sprays. Its most usual song is the jabber of the yellowhammer, but without 

 the prolonged note at the end ; when concealed in the foliage of trees its 

 song is often more sibilous and rapid in delivery, and at a distance sounds 



not unlike that of the wood wren (S. sihilatrix), but stronger in expression. 



Edward Hearle Eodd. 



Curlew Sandpiper, Ruffs and Reeves, &c.— Noticing Mr. Cordeaux's 

 account of the curlew sandpiper and its habits on the Great Cotes marshes 

 in the last number of the ' Zoologist,' I may mention that that species has 

 appeared here also (on the shores of the Firth of Forth) in unusual numbers 

 this autumn. So also have ruffs and reeves, both adult and young, which 

 are generally scarce here at the time of the autumn migration. Little 

 stints have also been procured, though not in any number, and we hear of 

 Tringa Temmiuckii having been obtained at Don mouth, in Aberdeenshire ; 

 also specimens of green and wood sandpipers. — J. A. Harvie Brown; 

 Dunipace House, Falkirk, October 1, 1873. 



Greensliauk and Common Tern in Oxfordshire.— On the 15th of August, 

 when rowing up the Thames from Oxford to Eynsham, I put up a green- 

 shank which was feeding with eight or nine common sandpipers in a 

 shallow. The same afternoon I flushed a couple of snipe, and on the 

 following Sunday I saw a young tern fishing and dashing itself into the 

 river. — A. H. Smee. 



Large Sturgeon in the Ouse. — It may interest some of your readers to 

 know that a fine sturgeon was caught on the 10th of September in the 

 river Ouse, which runs through this parish. It had been known to have 

 taken up its abode in a deep pool in one of the back-waters for some time 

 before any attempt was made to net it. Captain Douglas, the Lord of the 

 Manor, gave orders for its capture, and after two attempts it was secured ; the 

 first time it succeeded in jumping over the net. Its extreme length was seven 

 feet two inches and a half; length, from tip of snout to fork of tail, six feet 

 five inches and a half; greatest girth, twenty-six inches. Weight, niuetj'- 



