2646 The Zoologist — June, 1871. 



away, and were seen no more that niglit. On the morning of the 6th, 

 hearing that they were still there, I started off with rifle as well as gun, 

 hoping to get a specimen somehow ; but when I arrived I heard, to my 

 dismay, that they had just left, and they have not been seen there since. 

 Tliougli I know the chances are against it, I am inclined to think, from 

 their size, that they were the blackthroated species. A sporting publican 

 living on the edge of the reservoir informs me that they have frequented 

 that water, off and on, throughout the winter, but have always been too 

 wary to admit of an approach within gunshot. — C. Bygrare Wharton; 

 Bushcy, Herts, April, 1871. 



Eared Grebe in DeTOiishire.— On the 23rd of March a beautiful adult 

 specimen of the eared grebe (Podiceps auritus), in its perfect breeding 

 plumage, was killed in the Plymouth Sound. I dissected the body after its 

 having been skinned, and examined the contents of the stomach, which 

 consisted only of a little fine sand or gravel and some feathers plucked from 

 its own body. A few immature examples are occasionally obtained on our 

 coast during the autumn and winter, but many years have elapsed since 

 I examined a previous adult specimen. — J. Gatcomhe. 



liUlc Gull in Dublin Bay and in Londonderry.— A first winter example 

 in December in Dublin Bay, and another at Lough Foyle, Londonderry. — 

 H. Bloke-Kiiox. 



M'bolcsale DostrncUon of Manx Shearwaters. — Can anything be done to 

 stop the destruction of these harmless creatures? This morning (31st of 

 March) I counted ninety-nine in Leadenhall Market. In 1867, on the same 

 day of this month, Mr. Gatcombc saw fifty at the same shop, and I have 

 little doubt that a consignment or two is sent up annually. Had they been 

 one day later they might have been seized under the new Act for the 

 preservation of sea-birds. With them was a chough, wdiich indicated their 

 Cornish origin. On inquiry I learned that they were from the Land's End, 

 but I think it more probable that they were killed at Annet, one of the 

 Scilly Isles, where, according to Yarrell, they betake themselves in great 

 numbers at this time of the year for the purpose of nidification. If my 

 surmise be correct, I apprehend they were killed without the knowledge of 

 the " lord proprietor," Mr. Smith, who I cannot think would tolerate such 

 wholesale raids. The Manx shearwater, hke the common puffin, is a 

 summer migrant, and is quite unknown on the east coast, except as an 

 accidental straggler. — J. H. Gurncy,jun. 



Por(unns corrugatns near Penzance. — I took the wrinkled swimming 

 crab [Fortnnus corruyntns) alive in my nets this morning, in shallow ground 

 with rocky bottom. The specimen was a small male. — Thomas Cornish ; 

 Fenaance, May 5, 1871. 



