The Zoologist— January, 1874, 3823 



ten ; and as proof that they obtain their food naturally, by opening 

 the shells of these and other bivalves, we find the bill so lengthening 

 by growth at the points of the mandibles as to be inconvenient to 

 the bird, when kept in confinement. (See Zool. S. S. 335.) 



Common Sandpiper. — August 2nd. Seen on the muds of our 

 harbours in parties of five or six. 



Sanderling. — August 2nd. Seen in flock ; some appear to have 

 remained the whole summer with us. They frequent either the 

 sand-banks which are covered at high tide, or the shingle on the 

 shore washed by the tide. 



Temminck's Stint. — I had the good fortune to obtain a pair of 

 these diminutive sandpipers, in a marsh adjoining Pagham Harbour, 

 on the 25th of August. I had scarcely a view of them when they 

 first rose; but as the "native" who went with us said they were 

 only "wagtails" (the name given to the common sandpiper there), 

 I did not follow them ; for the sake of a shot at something, my 

 companion did ; he killed one, and I saw at once that it was a 

 Temminck's stint, and on going back obtained the other without 

 much difficulty. They seem to have similar habits to those of the 

 so-called "wagtail" [Totanus hypoleucas). 



Little Bittern. — In August or September a little bittern was 

 killed at Nutbourne and sent to Chichester for preservation. I did 

 not see it, but have good authority for the statement. 



Snow Bunting. — October 29th. Had a snow bunting, in the 

 flesh, given me, which was killed at or near Sidlesham ; several 

 others were obtained about the same time. 



Goldcrest. — This species seems to have been met with in un- 

 usual numbers south of Chichester about the end of October. This 

 is a district not much frequented by them ; several were, I hear, 

 knocked down with sticks and stones, and sent to Chichester for 

 stuffing. I noticed about this time several little parties of gold- 

 crests passing through my garden. 



Richardson''s Skua. — On the 5th of November I saw a bird of 

 this species, in the flesh, at Chichester. The length of wing, from 

 carpus to tip, was fourteen inches. The neck had the hair-like 

 yellow streaks described by Yarrell appearing on the sides, and one 

 of the central pair of tail-feathers extending about three inches 

 beyond those on either side; the other was missing. 



Bi/ffon's Skua. — About the beginning of October I saw a skua, 

 also in the flesh, which had been killed at Dounington, near 



