2008 The Zoologist— March, J 870. 



as wiih our own common A. pratensis, I saw immediately that the bird was not an 

 Ameiican species, and that for the following reasons: — 



J. The bird was altogether larger, being 0.50 longer than the largest specimen of 

 A. liidovicianus I have ever seen ; but some of this may be owing to want of exactness 

 ill selling up. 



2. It stood higher on its legs, from the fact of being 0.10 longer in the tarsi than 

 the largest specimens in the Smithsonian Institution, or any examined by myself. 



8. The bill, feet and legs differed entirely from those of Ambus ludovicianus in 

 colour. The tail, and almost entirely unspotted breast, distinguished it again from 

 the American bird. 



The claw of the hind toe evidently deceived Dr. Bree; but I can assure that 

 learned author that too much reliance should not be placed on this part. Dr. Bree 

 will see the force of ihis remark if he compares a quantity of skins of A. pratensis. 

 I have by me while writing two of the latter species in the flesh : one has the claw the 

 same length as the hind toe; the other 0.12 longer. Professor Baird would seem to 

 have noticed this discrepancy in the American species, as he does not even allude to 

 the hind loe or its claw in the various measurements given by him in 'Birds of North 

 America.' Alihougli, on examination, I >.oon saw that Mr. Buynton's bird was not 

 A. ludovicianus I could not, fur want of a belter knowledge of European species, be 

 certain to which species it really did belong, but certainly thought it should be 

 A. rufescens. However, to settle this point, I sent the specimen to Mr. Gould, who 

 writes me that "The bird you have submitted to my inspection is unquestionably the 

 tiiwny pipit in abraded and dirty plumage." It is figured in part 9 of Mr. Gould's 

 magnificent work on the ■ Birds of Great Britain,' under the name of Anthus campes- 

 iris, with Anthus rufescens as part of its synonymy. — IJcnry Recks; T/iruxlon, 

 February 18, 18(!9. 



Curious Anecdote of a Heron. — Mr. T. H. Edwarl?, when shooting by the river at 

 Keswick, near Norwich, on the 7ih of December, 18(59, mortally wounded a water-hen, 

 which ffll close lo a heron that was standing by a drain in an adjoining meadow. 

 The henm instantly rushed at the water-Iien, and first striking it with its beak, seized 

 and carried it off to another field, wliere it was seen to place its feet on llie bird and 

 endeavour to tear it to pieces with its bill. In order to scare it from its prey, Mr. 

 Edwards approached as near as he could and fired off his gun, when the heron again 

 seized the carcase, and this time flew off with it to a considerable distance, so that 

 further observation was impossible. In the act of flying with the water-hen in its bill, 

 the heron had a most unnatural a4)pearance, the neck seemed too weak to support such 

 a weight, and was consequently directed forwards, and downwards, instead of being 

 ibriiwn back as usual between the shoulders. The weather up to that time had been 

 mild and open, so that extreme hunger could scarcely account for this unusual pro- 

 ceedii g. — Henry Slevensnn ; Norivich, February 15, 1870. 



Winter Visitants in West Cormvall. — The lale severe frost has given us a fair 

 influx of various species of birds otherwise of not frequent occurrence. We have had 

 scaup, tufted ducks, g(ddeneyes, sheldrakes, pochards, besides wild duck, wigeon and 

 teal. The only wild geese that have made their appearance were some brent geese, 

 L.UI 1 have not heard of the other wild geese, as the bean and white-fronted, nor any 

 wild swans. J observed yesterday at Mr. Vingoe's a »ery fine adult-plumaged red- 



