The Zoologist — July, 1870. 2225 



common heron. It is now being stuffed by Mr. Glennon, of Dublin, who says that he 

 found a quantity of minnows in its stomach. I am very anxious to know more of this 

 little stranger, and of its habits, as I have never seen one before in this country, — 

 James Talbot Power, — From the '■Field' of May 14. 



Wood Sandpiper and other Birds in Norfolk. — On the 7th of May I received a 

 nice female of the wood sandpiper from Yarmouth: this is the first specimen I have 

 had the pleasure of examining in the flesh. A female (not recorded) was shot ou 

 Breydon, in June, 1869, and also recently came into my possession. The first-named 

 was very fat, and weighed nearly three ounces: the stomach was filled with the 

 remains of minute Coleoptera and other insects. I have also received from various 

 localities three specitnens of the black tern and five garganey teal, four of the latter 

 males. — T. E. Gunn. 



Egyptian Goose in Leicester-shire. — A very fine specimen of the Egyptian goose, 

 measuring two feet six inches, and weighing five pounds and three-quarters, was shot 

 by Capt. Palmer, on his ornamental waters at Withcote Hall, on Wednesday, the 

 20lh of April. This is probably the first that has been shot in Leicestershire. It has 

 been entrusted to me for preservation, and may be seen by anyone. — T. H, Potter ; 

 Billesdon.—From the' Field' of May 14, 1870. 



Shoveller in Dublin Bay. — Large flights of shovellers appear to have visited 

 Britain and Ireland during the past winter. I shot three males off this coast, 

 two splendid full-plumaged birds, the third a young bird assuming the distinctive 

 male dress : also a female came into my possession, but too long dead except for the 

 table. This is one of the best ducks, if we except the pochard, for culinary purposes. 

 It was formerly not uncommon on our eastern shores, particularly at Wexford, but is 

 now looked on as a great rarity. — H. Blake-Knox ; May, 1870. 



Sclavonian Grebes in Norfolk. — In March I received two beautiful specimens of 

 the Sclavonian grebe, male and female, the first on the 12th and the second on the 

 24th : their stomachs were filled with the remains of aquatic insects and a mass of 

 their own feathers. I received a third specimen (also a male) this day from Hoveton. 

 —T. E. Gunn; April 29, 1870. 



Black Bream and Wrinkled Swimming Crab near Penzance. — On the 24th of May 

 I took a black bream, a small specimen about 7^ inches long over all. It is worth 

 noting on account of its small size. The last time I saw so small a specimen was on 

 the 26ih of May, 1859; that one was 7 inches long over all. Both specimens were 

 taken in rocky ground within half a mile of the shore. I have since taken alire 

 a specimen of the wrinkled swimming crab (P. corrugalus), male. — Thomas Cornish; 

 Penzance, May 30, 1870. 



Habits of the Sucking Fish. — I am able to send you an observation on the habits 

 of the sucking fish, or common remora, which is, I believe, new. Its habit of 

 attaching itself to sharks and other large fish and to vessels is well known, but I do 

 not find that it has yet been observed that in doing this it is somewhat of a parasite 

 and injures the portion of the skin exposed to the action of its powerful 

 sucker. Captain Legg, of the schooner " Mary James" of this port, recently sent me 

 two specimens of the sucking fish, with this note, which I give in his own words (the 

 italics being mine): — "Whilst outward bound between Cadiz and River Plate, and 

 SECOND SERIES — VOL. V, 2 N 



