1974 The Zoologist — January, 1870. 



Severe gales from the north-east had prevailed at the date of the 

 autiinuial migration, and icebergs had travelled further south than 

 they had ever been known to do previously. These facts must be 

 considered if we endeavour to account for the westerly direction which 

 was taken by the great body of migrants in their flight towards the 

 south. 



Since that date no similar immigration has been observed, althongh 

 several reports have been subsequently published touching ihe appear- 

 ance of this species here in autumn. 



During the latter part of September last, while shooting at Pagham 

 Harbour, on the Sussex coast, I had several opportunities of studying 

 this beautiful little bird in a state of nature, and of noting the charac- 

 ter of its food, flight and actions in the water. I saw four individuals 

 at diff'erent times and places, and shot three of ihera. My brother 

 saw a fourth. A fifth was brought to rae recently killed, and three 

 others were sent to Brighton to be preserved. The occurrence of so 

 many examples within so limited an area would lead one to expect a 

 repetition of what occurred in the autumn of 18G6; and, by way of 

 contributing, therefore, to other reports which may appear on the 

 subject, I now transcribe from my note-book an account of what I 

 myself observed. 



On the 2 1st of September, while walking between Siddlesham 

 and Selsea, at a short distance from the sea, a gray phalarope 

 suddenly rose close to me from a small dyke. It flew very slowly, 

 and, being anxious to see something of its actions, I did not shoot at 

 it, but endeavoured to mark it down in one of the numerous creeks 

 which intersect the harbour at low water. In this I was disappointed, 

 for, in spile of a long search, I could not find it again. To make 

 quite sure that I had not mistaken the species, I returned to the 

 dyke from which I had disturbed it, and searched along the soft 

 margin for the foot-prints. Surely enough there was the impression 

 of the unmistakable lobed foot, like that of the little coot, upon 

 the mud. 



On the 22nd of September my brother saw a gray phalarope at 

 Wall End, not far from the coastguard station. On the 23rd of 

 September I proceeded to the same spot, with the hope of finding the 

 same bird again, and shot one, probably the same, at a pool of 

 brackish water just inside the sea-wall. 



The following day I revisited this pool, and, while walking in the 

 neighbourhood, saw a gray phalarope flying towards me from the sea. 



