The Zoologist — June, 1871. 2629 



Ornithological Notes from the Vicinity of Torquay during the 

 Winter of 1870-71. By J. H. Gurney, Esq. 



In transmitting the following notes, I desire to premise that 

 I am indebted for most of them to the obliging attention of 

 Mr. Shopland, bird-preserver, at Torquay, and an intelligent 

 observer of the birds occurring in that neighbourhood. 



November 3, 1870. Snow bunting first observed, a specimen 

 having been obtained at Widdecombe. 



November 26. A forktailed petrel obtained at Paignton. 



December 10. During a hard frost I observed about twenty 

 redwings, in company with a few blackbirds and a single starling, 

 all busily engaged in feeding on a heap of cyder-apples which had 

 been allowed to remain on the ground in an orchard at Compton. 



December 11. Tufted ducks, mallard and wigeon obtained on 

 the River Dart. 



December 29. Mallard, teal, tufted duck, scaup and curlew 

 obtained on the River Teign. 



December 30. Brent geese observed in Torbay, and nine shot. 

 Bramblings unusually numerous about Torquay, several having 

 been sent to be stuffed. 



January 3, 1871. A cormorant skinned by Mr. Shopland, in the 

 throat of which was found a fish weighing a pound and a half. 



January 4. A gentleman who was shooting brownheaded gulls 

 in Torbay observed three gulls sitting on the water by themselves, 

 one of which he shot, and from its small dimensions I think it 

 must be referable to that small race of Larus ridibundus (if it be a 

 distinct race) to which Temminck gave the name of Larus capis- 

 tratus — the "masked gull" of Yarrell. The specimen appeared 

 to be a bird of the year, and as compared with an ordinary 

 specimen of Larus ridibundus of like age, its measurements are as 

 follows : — 



