The Zoologist — January, 1874. 3827 



Nov, 4th. Several swallows passed close by uie on the coast at 

 Pljmouth, flying due west. Observed a common redshank in the 

 market — rather late for it in this neighbourhood. 



5th. There was a large quantity of curlews, dunlins and ring 

 dotterels on the West Mud this morning, which I watched with a 

 telescope, and observed a great blackbacked gull, in adult plumage, 

 the first I had seen since the spring. Blackbirds and thrushes are 

 now very plentiful in the county, and I am sorry to say also in the 

 markets. 



8th. Observed a fine old male black redstart on the rocks of the 

 coast close to Plymouth, which was very shy, and constantly hid 

 itself in caverns: it was in fully adult plumage. 



12lh. Wind east, very cold and raw. Observed for some time a 

 house martin flying to and fro under the lee of the houses in Durn- 

 ford-street, Stonehouse, hawking for insects, but its flight was very 

 feeble and slow. 



15th. Wind still east. Remarked three house martins flying up 

 and down under the lee of some houses at Millbay, Plymouth. 



16th. Found kingfishers very plentiful on the coast and up the 

 estuaries, and many are almost daily brought to the birdstuffers' 

 shops. One man boasted of having killed thirteen during the last 

 few weeks, but, finding that they were not worth much for stuffing, 

 said he thought he should not kill any more. I have observed 

 kingfishers, lately, when flying along the coast suddenly stop and 

 hover, kestrel-like, over the pools among the rocks, and on one 

 occasion over the sea, but close to the shore : this habit is, of 

 course, commonly observed on fresh-water rivers and ponds. 



17th. Watched a flock of twelve longtailed tits on some trees 

 quite in the town, and have seen others lately on the cliffs along 

 the coast, especially those covered with small trees and furze- 

 brake. I am glad to hear that there are some black grouse still 

 on Dartmoor, having seen one this morning, at a birdstuffer's 

 shop, which had been killed by a friend of mine on the moor, not 

 far from Plymouth. 



18th. Saw the old male black redstart again. This morning a 

 martin was observed flying near the Plymouth Hoe. 



20th. Some gray plovers were seen on the Plymouth Breakwater, 

 and one killed. Some fieldfares were also observed by me near 

 the town— no doubt driven in from the moors by the strong north 

 winds. 



