The Zoologist — November, 1871. '2845 



different bird, which was very light-coloured and had a grayish head, flying 

 also in a different manner. I think this was probably a honey buzzard. 



Strange Thrush. — On the 5th of January, 1871, I saw a bird which, on 

 its first rising from some dead leaves in a wood, I mistook for a woodcock, 

 to which its flight, or the shape of its wings, or both, gave it a marked 

 resemblance. On my advancing to the spot the bird again rose from some 

 dead leaves farther on, and settled in a low tree near me. I then saw that 

 it was of the thrush family, and resembled the missel thrush in size, though 

 differing so remarkably from that bird in flight and habits. Disturbed from 

 this tree the bird flew off with the same rapid, low, woodcock-like flight to 

 another tree, perching on a very low branch and then dropping down among 

 the dead leaves again, from which when again flushed it flew back to its 

 original feeding-ground. I have shot, and shot at, many woodcocks, and 

 I am quite sure that there are few sportsmen who would not have raised 

 their gun at it as a woodcock. My own opinion is that this bird was 

 White's thrush, but I do not wish to force this opinion upon your readers. 

 I woiUd merely remind them that the woodcock-like flight and terrestrial 

 habits are among the characteristics noted by Mr. R. F. Tomes, in his 

 description of White's thrush, quoted by Mr. Gould in his magniiicent 

 work < The Birds of Great Britam.'— Clifton ; Cobham, September 26, 1871. 



Notes from Instow^ North Devon. — On the 14th of September, at Instow, 

 in company with Mr. Cecil Smith and Mr. Mathew, observed turnstones in 

 very large flocks, and keeping more to the mud than I should have expected. 

 Saw the gulls fly about twenty feet up with mussels, and drop them to break 

 them. The principal capture was a pair of young black terns. As we were 

 manoeuvring to approach some wigeon, they crossed our boat, beating up 

 against the wind, and were both brought to bag. A guiUemot, which led us 

 a long chase, had the quill-feathers only just coming, and could not have 

 flown ; this circumstance made it look very white in the water. Only one 

 greenshank was seen, though from Mr. Rickards' note (S. S. 2809) it would 

 appear that a larger number were about. Oystercatchers, curlews, knots, 

 ring dotterel and dunlin were in abundance, and it was very pretty to see 

 the two latter species, from the windows of the inn, as, flock after flock, 

 they passed up the river. Long after nightfall the whistle of the different 

 waders could be heard on the bleak flats. — J. H. Gurney, jun. ; 2, Beta 

 Place, N.W. 



Noetnrnal Flight of Birds at Folltestone.— In the October number of 

 the 'Zoologist' (S. S. 2803) a nocturnal flight of birds is mentioned as 

 having occurred at Plymouth on the night of the 11th of September. It 

 may be of interest to state that there was a strikingly similar occurrence 

 here on the night of the 8th : the first" I heard of the flight was at a quarter 

 before 9 p. m., and I know that it continued till past 11 p. m. It will be 

 needless for me to mention particulars, as the account given by Mr. Mathew 



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