The Zoologist — December, 1870. 2407 



attention: it seems to Lave been attracted by the fluttering of a decoj-bird. In 

 captivity it occasionally utters its clear ringing monotone or call-uole, but makes no 

 other attempt at a song, and I observe its wings are constantly in motion, as though 

 it were just going to fly. — Edtvard Newman. 



Shore Larks and Gray Phalaropes near Brighton. — Yesterday two shore larks 

 (Alauda alpestris) were caught near Brighton, and upwards of twenty gray phalaropes 

 {Phalaropus platyrhynchus) have come into Mr. Swaysland, the naturalist. These last 

 we have been expecting for some weeks. They appear to have spread along the 

 south coast in some nnmhexs.— Geo. Dawson Rowley ; Chichester Home, Brighton, 

 November 3, \S70.— From the 'Field' of November \2lh. 



Snow Bunting in Middlesex. — A snow bunting was shot in one of the brick-fields 

 here last Tuesday, the Isl instant. It was brought to me before it was quite dead. It 

 was a male, and the skin is now in my possession. — C. F. JV., jun. ; Soulhall, 

 Middlesex, November 7, 1870. [We have already received from South Wales a snow 

 bunting, shot on Plinlimmon on the 5lh instant. — Editor of ' Field.'}— Id. 



Common Wren at Spurn Point. — The common wren was this year more than 

 usually numerous on the Spurn sand-hills early in October. I am informed by 

 persons living at the Point that they appear annually in this month, usually preceding 

 the woodcocks, and their "pilots," the goldcresls: they only remain for a few days. 

 This coincides with what I have observed of their movements on the opposite coast of 

 Lincolnshire. — John Cordeaiix. [Received too late for insertion in Mr. Cordeaux's 

 " Notes."— ii'. Newman.'] 



Hooded Crow at Scilly. — Two of these birds were observed at Scilly during the 

 past week. — Edivard Hearle Rodd ; November 5, 1870. 



Yellotvbilled American Cuckoo and Gray Phalaropes near Aberyslwith. — A specimen 

 of the yellowbilled American cuckoo was found dead in a wood near Aberystwith, 

 on the sea coast, on the 26th of October. It was a male, in good plumage, but very 

 emaciated, and had been dead about ten days, but fortunately was not too far gone for 

 preservation. Great numbers of gray phalaropes have been driven to these coasts by 

 the late gales: I have seen as many as ten or twelve together within the last week. — 

 George Weir Cosens ; Ynyshir House. — ' Field' of November V2th. 



Habits of the Coran Bustard (Eupodotis afra). — The coran is about the size of a 

 small guinea-fowl, and from practical experience I must refute what is meniioned of 

 its habits in Wood's ' Illustrated Natural History,' the account there given (nt p. 661) 

 being derived from Captain Drayson, R.A. I have seen it often in flocks, sometimes 

 as many as twenty together: the flight is certainly slow, but often very long, and 

 though it is seldom molested, not being much esteemed for the table, it is one of the 

 most cautious birds in South Africa, being almost impossible to approach within shot, 

 and when it flies up screams so that every bird within hearing gets up also. I have 

 very often in this way been deprived of a shot at a buck. The only chunce of shooting 

 the coran is before it takes the first flight, then you sometimes ride near one asleep ; 

 but they require a very heavy charge of shot to kill them, often getting up again after 

 having been knocked down. After the first flight you ride up to the spot the bird has 

 pitched on and look about for it, and in a second you see it rise about a hundred 

 yards off", as it always runs away from the place where it has alighted. They are to 

 be found in great numbers all along the Great Fish River, on each side of it, for two 

 or three miles from the water's edge, in the short bush that grows in that particular 



