2522 The Zoologist — March, 1871. 



quails, it may perhaps interest you to hear that, besides those that have 

 occurred iu this county, I have heard from reUable information that they 

 also were observed and shot iu Carnarvonshire and Merionethshire. It 

 may also interest some of the readers of the ' Zoologist ' to know that we 

 have lately been visited by a large flock of siskins : they may be seen any 

 day frequenting the alders which border a stream close to the house. 

 I also twice observed a large flock on some alders about three miles off, 

 and on i-eturning immediately have still found the other flock at home, so 

 I suppose that there must be two distinct flocks within three miles of each 

 other. I have also obsen^ed several brambliiigs about. — W. J. Kerr; 

 Maesmor, Denbighshire, Januanj 17, 1871. 



Creamcolonrcd Courser in Northumberland. — I am indebted to Mr, 

 Gregson for the following interesting note : — " A creamcoloured courser 

 was shot at Low Lynn, near Beal, in Northumberland, two mouths ago, 

 and is now in the Berwick Museum." — J. H. Gurney ; Marldoit,, Totnes, 

 February, 1871. 



Bittern in Somersetshire. — The bittern has now become so much more 

 uncommon than in former times, that the occurrence of two of these birds 

 iu this county during the firet two weeks of this month, — one at Washford, 

 near Willitou, and the other near Taunton, — seems worthy of notice. — 

 Cecil Smith; Li/deard House, Taunton, February, 1871. 



Spoonbill at Scilly. — In my nephew's notes on his sport at Scilly, which 

 I sent you last month, and which appeared iu the December number of the 

 'Zoologist' (S. S. 2405), there was a reference to a small isle called 

 Hedge Rock being frequented by herons. Amongst these herons was 

 obsened a white bird, about the same size, for some considerable time, but 

 at intervals : we were all iu hopes that, if captured, it would turn out to be 

 the great white egret, but a few days since Mr. Smith wrote me word that 

 it had been shot by his relative Mr. Orlando Spencer Smith, and that it 

 proved to be a spoonbill. The spooubill has before been captured at 

 Scilly. — Edward Hcarle Eodd ; Penzance, January 30, 1871. 



Watcrhcn submerging itself. — I had the opportunity the other day, 

 under very favourable circumstances, of witnessing a waterhen submerge 

 itself. When I first saw the bird it was swimming in a small, clear and 

 swift-running ditch, but on my approach it dived, and though there was not 

 the slightest shelter on either side, yet it managed to elude detection for 

 some time. I was carefully watching for some movement on the water, 

 when a slight ripple apprised me of its whereabouts, so, walking within a 

 few yards, I halted to see what the bird would do. I had not long to wait 

 before I saw it gently put its head above the surface, but almost imme- 

 diately withdraw it again. Being now aware of its exact position, I walked 

 up and stood over the place where I had seen the head appear, and the 

 water being clear I looked amongst the weeds at the bottom, expecting to 



