2382 The Zoologist — November, 1870. 



know whether they have been noticed by other persons or elsewhere on their migration 

 further south. In former times the golden and sea eagle were probably not very 

 scarce in the mountainous districts of Wales, but I believe tliey are very rarely seen 

 there at the present day. Willughby tells us that the golden eagle was supposed lo 

 breed about Snowdon in 1678, but I have not succeeded in finding any other direct 

 record of an eyrie in North Wales, and I should feel much interested to hear whether 

 any such record exists in the old topographical works or county histories of Wales.— 

 A. G. More; Glasnevin, October 12, 1870. 



Osprey at Poole.— We have just received a fine specimen of the osprey {Falco 

 haliaetus), shot on the 27lh of September at Poole, and it is being preserved by us.— 

 W. Hart ^ Son ; West End, Christchurch, Hants. 



Harriers in Norfolk.— On the 23rd of July I had brought me a nest of young, in 

 the down, of the hen harrier: they were four in number, and as they were strong 

 healthy birds I succeeded in rearing ihem very easily. On the 3rd of August three 

 young birds of the asbcoloured harrier, just killed, were brought me, and on the 6th 

 another, making four— all no doubt from one nest. These two nests of harriers were 

 taken in the neighbourhood of one of our broads. On the 30lh of August a female 

 marsh harrier was shot at Hickling: au examination of the stomach proved it had 

 been feeding on a coot. — T. E. Gunn ; 5, Upper St. Giles, Norwich. 



Supposed Occurrence of Strix asio in Kent. — Lord Clifton, " undeterred by 

 adverse opinion" (Zool. S. S. 2343), returns to the charge, though admitting having 

 been mistaken in the size of the nondescript owl, which he is now convinced was eight, 

 not eleven, inches long, — i. e. nearly a third less in size (a wide difference), — whereas, 

 in the original note (S. S. 2138) he says, lo prove the size of his owl, that " it seemed 

 a little larger than a partridge," that is, upwards of twelve inches and a half long — 

 fully a third bigger than the Strix asio. As like in size as a giant of seven feet one 

 inch and a half would be to a dwarf of four feet nine inches. Lord Clifton says, " By 

 careful examination of birds of known length, I conclude that its length was about 

 eleven inches ;" and this, too, after telling us that it was larger tiian a partridge. May 

 he not also, in the excitement of the moment, have been mistaken with regard to colour 

 and other points? He remarks, " I know an eared from an earless owl," but in the 

 previous note he says, " I can hardly call them ears." Though it may have been 

 Strix asio observed at Cobham, I cannot but think that Lord Clifton has failed lo 

 prove n.—Henrt/ H ad field ; High Cliff, Venlnor, Lie of Wight, October II, 1870. 



[I think it will be belter that this discussion should end here: it is now impossible 

 to obtain any precise information either from the memory of Lord Clifton or the sur- 

 mises of his critics: we must wait for a second advent of the owl, and then we shall all 

 be ready to welcome the little stranger. — E. Newman.'] 



Pied Flycatcher at Scilly. — This small bird, so little known in Great Britain, 

 except in a fesv couuties, and which never appears in the western counties as a summer 

 visitor, makes the Scilly Irsles its residence for some days in its southern retreat in the 

 autumn : such is the case at present, a pair having occupied the Abbey Gardens up to 

 the present time. — Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, October 13, 1870. 



Grayheaded Wagtail at Gateshead. — Assuming that the wagtail shot by Mr. Watson 

 (Zool. S. S. 2343) is the true grayheaded, it is difficult to understand that this bird 

 should have bred three tiines at Gateshead, and I shall be much obliged if he will 

 further investigate the matter, as I cannot help thinking that he has ^confounded the 



