2410 The Zoologist — December, 1870. 



Ruff in Dublin. — It would appear that a flight of ruffs have visited this coast. 

 A female, in immature plumage, fell to my gun early in September on the north strand 

 of the bay; and another, apparently a young male, was killed by Mr. Williams, of 

 Dame Street, in the same locality, and about the same time. It may be worlh 

 recording that the blacktailed godwit, though not a rare bird, has occurred both on 

 this coast and in the neighbourhood of Belfast this autumn. — H. Blake-Knox. 



Gray Phularope in Wales. — On ihe 22nd of October I received for preservation two 

 fine female specimens of this beautiful little migrant: they were shot at Aberyslwith 

 a day or two previously. They were in perfect winter plumage, and their stomachs 

 contained hardly any food. — yl. M. Browne. 



Abundance of the Gray Phalarope. — I hear of phalaropes occurring plentifully in 

 many places. The birdsluffer at Barnstaple speaks of upwards of sixty having been 

 brought to him for preservation. — Murray A. Mathew ; Bishop's Lydeard, Taunton, 

 November ^i 1870. 



Gray Phalaropes in Somerset. — In addition to the one already mentioned by me 

 (S. S. 2385) I have seen lately eleven other specimens of ihe gray phalarope, namely, 

 one shot while swimming on the river near Taunton, and brought to Mr. Bidgood, at 

 the Museum ; four shot by Mr. Haddon at Slolford ; and six which were brought to 

 a birdsluffer at Taunton ; one of them he told me had been caught in a bird batting- 

 net [Query. — E. iV.], whilst swimming on a small pool of water near the town. In 

 the neighbouring county of Devon I hear they have been very much more plentiful. — 

 Cecil Smith; November 7, 1870. 



Gray Phalaropes in County Dublin.— The gray phalarope made its appearance 

 along the east coast of Ireland in some numbers during October. In this county 

 I have seen several, but am happy in recording but one example as being killed, and 

 that by a friend who struck it with a stone in Kingstown Harbour. — H. Blake-Knox. 



Black Swans in Lincolnshire. — On Wednesday last, the 2ud instant, my son, 

 H. J. Sutton, shot on the lake here a fine specimen of the black Australian swan: 

 C Ingram, gamekeeper, shot its companion. The birds were perfectly wild, in fine 

 plumage, and bore no traces of having been reared in confinement. They have been 

 forwarded for preservation to Mr. E. Ward, Wigmore Street. — Robert Sutton ; Scawby 

 Hall, Brigy, Lincolnshire, November 7, 1870. [Although the birds showed no signs 

 of having been in confinement, there can be little doubt as to their having made their 

 escape from some private grounds. — Editor of^ Field.'j 



Boar-fish at the Scilly Isles. — If the packet does not go to the bottom to-morrow 

 you will receive a specimen of the boar-fish (C. aper), which I found in an exhausted 

 stale on the Trescoe shore after one of the late \ii\\es. I was obliged to put it in spirits 

 to preserve it, and the superb colour has completely faded. I cannot describe the 

 beautiful colour of the living fish : the most beaulilul carmine above, fading below to 

 the blush rose of the roseate tern. Yarrell only mentions two occurrences, one of 

 which was in Mount's Bay. None of the fishermen here have ever seen the fish, so 

 I may consider myself lucky in having made the capture. The peculiar power it has 

 (if elongating the snout is must curious. — F. R. R. [Communicated by Edward 

 IJ carle Rodd, Esq.] 



