2536 The Zoologist — April, 1871. 



several weeks, feasting so luxuriously and becoming so fat that, 

 perhaps from some degree of envy, though certainly no less from 

 downright hunger, — the weather having delayed the vessels with 

 provisions, — I, and certain individuals whose disgrace need not 

 here be augmented by the publication of their names, devoured 

 whole flocks of these beautiful and harmless birds. It was easy to 

 procure them ; a single raking shot at a rising flock was sure to 

 cause a long white line of twenty or thirty birds among the stubble. 

 I think of all this with regret now — hut the provision vessels have 

 arrived very regularli/ of late. 



Golden Plover. — Although large additions were made to the 

 native flocks in autumn, the number was considerably less than 

 that of the three preceding seasons. I saw one bird with a great 

 many white feathers upon the upper parts, and with pure white 

 quills and wing-coverts, but such variations in plumage are by no 

 means uncommon. 



Ring Ouzel. — On the 3rd of October a moderate breeze from 

 N.W. brought three ring ouzels — au adult female and two young 

 birds of the year. They remained for several days, only taking 

 their departure when they had finished the last rowan-berry in the 

 garden. 



Goldencrested Wren. — Considerable numbers of goldencrested 

 wrens arrived with the ouzels, remaining in the garden for about a 

 fortnight. 



Finches and Redtvings. — On the 5th of October, the wind still 

 continuing to blow steadily from N.W., chaflinches (both male and 

 female), bramblings, greenfinches and redwings arrived. I easily 

 caught as many as I required, — sometimes as many as thirty in a 

 night, — simply by means of a common lantern, of course setting 

 them all free as soon as I had copied or taken down descriptions 

 of some of the most perfect. Even when the night is not very 

 dark it is easy for one person alone to take them by hand from the 

 branches where they are roosting. It is only necessary to turn the 

 light of the lantern among the trees, walk up briskly when a bird 

 is seen, keeping the light full upon it, and then, as soon as within 

 arm's reach, suddenly lower the lantern with one hand, and with the 

 other snatch the dazzled and bewildered bird from its perch. The 

 finches and redwings submit very quietly, but the impudent sparrows 

 try hard to revenge themselves upon the fingers of their captors. 

 One drawback to this method of procuring specimens is that when 



