The Zoologist— July, 1874. 4063 



they speedily alight within a hundred yards on the oozy flat 

 amongst the ringed plovers and dunlins. 



Redshank. -M^y 25. There were several redshanks on the flats 

 to-day in perfectly mature breeding dress. There was one, how- 

 ever, still in the dusky grayish brown plumage of immaturity; in 

 fact, exactly in that plumage in which we find birds of the year in 

 the autumn. 



Liltle Bittern.~\ recently examined a bird of this species shot 

 in the parish of Easington, in Holderness, not far from the Spurn 

 promontory. It was shot about the 25th of May, and, for obvious 

 reasons, the name of the person by whom it was killed did not 

 transpire. One side is very much injured-in fact, nearly shot 

 away. The sex was undetermined; I should say, however, it is 

 undoubtedly a mature male, and in very perfect plumage. 



Great Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire. ^""^^ CoRDEAUX. 



May 31, 1874. ' " 



Ornithologalic Notes. By H. Ddrnfoed, Esq. 



Conimon Buzzard. — January 3, 1874. The stomach of one 

 I examined to-day contained fur of mice. April 12.— One seen 

 to-day on the sandhills on the Lancashire side of the estuary of the 

 Mersey, near Southport. 



Whealear.—Apiil 5. Observed several pairs on rocky ground 

 near Barmouth, Merionethshire. April lO.-Pretty numerous on 

 the sandhills about Formby, but not yet arrived in full force. 



Greeti Woodpecker. —Jaxinary 3. The stomach of one I examined 

 to-day was crammed with the remains of ants. 



House Martin.~Apn\ 3. Observed a solitary bird skimming over 

 Bala lake to-day. From the numerous notices in the 'Field,' these 

 birds and swallows have evidently arrived about a fortnight earlier 

 this year than usual. Shortly before seeing this martin 1 had 

 observed two wild geese settle in the middle of the lake. It is 

 not often one can see our summer and winter visitors on the 

 same day. 



Stock Dove.-Maxch 13. Pretty numerous on the sandhills on the 

 Fhntshire coast; I observed one fly from a rabbit-hole, and on a 

 nearer examination I found it had commenced its nest. April 29.— 

 Found one egg in a rabbit-hole in the sandhills near Southport. 



