The Zoologist — August, 1874. 4103 



pressed is truly wonderful. I have known them, after having tried 

 their utmost for a long time to escape by diving in the open water, 

 to suddenly disappear in a manner the most unaccountable, espe- 

 cially to those unacquainted with their habits; but on repairing to 

 the shore and disturbing the weeds, or anything that may afford the 

 least concealment, with your paddle, you will observe something 

 suddenly dart out from under, just like a flatfish, leaving a line of 

 muddy water in its wake, should it be very shallow, and on keeping 

 your eyes in the direction it took, up will pop the dabchick, 

 perhaps just within gunshot, on the surface ; but down it goes 

 again in an instant, before you can take even a " snap-shot." On 

 some occasions I have seen them fly suddenly off" from their place 

 of concealment, and on alighting instantly dive. They make use 

 of their wings as well as their legs to propel themselves when under 

 water; and when among the weeds they must continue to sink their 

 bodies, so that only the top of their heads, or perhaps bills alone, 

 would be above, and which of course it would be almost impossible 

 for one to discern among the surrounding objects. I have some- 

 times observed dabchicks in bays on the sea-coast, especially near 

 the entrance of an estuary or large river. 



9th. The weather has suddenly become very cold, with heavy 

 snow storms, but I have observed none of the thrush and lark tribe 

 flying from east to west, as they invariably do during snow storms 

 in the earlier part of the winter. 



12th. Took a walk in the country a few miles from Plymouth, 

 and found that all the redwings and almost all the thrushes had 

 disappeared during the snow. 



13ih. Saw the first wheatear for the season, and some herring 

 gulls in perfect breeding-dress. 



14th. There was a beautiful male garganey brought to the bird- 

 stuffer's, killed in a pond near Plymouth, and I saw another in the 

 market: I understand that several others (all males) have been seen 

 and obtained in Cornwall and the north of Devon within the last few 

 days. Lesser blackbacked gulls have now become very plentiful, 

 just as they were last season ; before the breeding season they 

 appear to arrive on our coasts in great numbers. 



20th. Curlews have been moving about a great deal by night 

 lately. 



2.3rd. There were some golden plovers in the market with nearly 

 perfect black breasts. Saw a very pretty variety of the hedge- 



