2684 The Zoologist — Jdly, 1871. 



the month of May. The bird observed at Start Point was not shot, but 

 from the description given of it to Mr. Nichols I have no doubt of its having 

 been a genuine crane. It was observed in a field, which lies at a consider- 

 able elevation, but in which is a pond for the use of cattle. Some sheep 

 were pasturing in the field at the time. — J. H. Gurncy. 



Sqaacco Heron at the Lizard. — A beautiful example of this small heron, 

 with the dorsal and occipital plumes three parts developed, was procured 

 from the Lizard district in the month of May. — Edward Hearle Rodd. 



Spotted Sandpiper near Bary St. Edmunds. — A very rare wader was 

 killed about two years ago near Mildenhall, in this county — the spotted 

 sandpiper {Totanus macularius)^ which was stuffed by the same man who 

 obtained the stilt. I saw it soon after being mounted, when the flesh- 

 coloured legs and spotted breast were unmistakable. The rare birds which 

 have been obtained in Suffolk the last year have been somewhat remarkable, 

 as in addition to the two above mentioned, they comprise the only British 

 specimen of the gray redstart {vide ' Field,' April 15th, 1871), the white- 

 winged crossbill, the Alpine swift, the Californian quail (probably escaped 

 birds), the shore lark, the little gull, and the pectoral sandpiper. — T. O. 

 Tuck. 



Blackwinged Stilt near Bnry St. Edmunds. — In the third week of May 

 a female specimen of the blackwinged stilt {Himantopus melanopteriis) was 

 shot at Stanningfield, a village a few miles from Bury St. Edmunds, and 

 taken to one of the Bury birdstuffers. I was most unfortunately away 

 from home at the time, or I could have had the bird in the flesh ; however, 

 the birdstuffer sold it in the flesh for ten shillings, a price very low for so 

 valuable a bird. I regret that I am unable to give any particulars of the 

 circumstances under which it was obtained, whether it was alone or other- 

 wise, its condition, &c. — Id. 



Black Tern at Hcnley-on-Tliames. — A black tern was seen here several 

 times, flying over the river, during the first week of this month (June). — 

 Charles E. Stubbs. 



Terns at St. Albau's Court.— A few days ago, I think either on the 16th 

 or 17th ultimo, I observed two birds passing over this place that attracted 

 my attention. That they were terns I feel certain, both from the character 

 of their flight and from their general appearance, but their size so far 

 exceeded any of the British tems that I can only form a conjecture as to 

 their species. They were perhaps two hundred and fifty or three hundred 

 yards from me, and at an elevation of about one hundred yards. The birds 

 were travelling from S.W. to N.E., about mid-day, and nearly in the wind's- 

 eye. I was not sufi&ciently near to see the colour of the bill nor the length 

 of the tail. They appeared to me, however, so very much larger than the 

 Sandwich tern, which might reasonably be looked for here, that I could 

 only refer them to the Caspian tern, certainly a very rare visitor, though it 



