2870 The Zoologist — December, 1871. 



The Whitby Ifader. — We have had here a gentleman skilled in Orni- 

 thology, Mr. S. Gardner, of ShefiSeld, and he is of opinion that our bird ia 

 Bartram's sandpiper {Totanus Bartramia). On comparing it with Montagu's 

 description (Mont. 280) and with Yarrell's, it corresponds so closely in mea- 

 surements and differs so little in colour that I do not see how it can be anything 

 else. I see you refer to Mr. F. Bond : the bird was shot by Mr. Thomas Bond. 

 A small label is attached to the bird, probably in his handwriting, " Shot 

 by Mr. Bond on Hawsker Moor, 1835, named Egyptian plover." In the 

 Society's Report for that year we find, " Egyptian plover, presented by 

 Mr. Thomas Bond," whom none of us know anything of. If we are right 

 in the species, it is a great curiosity, as our Sheffield friend believes that 

 there are only three specimens recorded as having been procured in the 

 United Kingdom. — Martin Simpson; Whitby Museum, October 17, 1871. 



Collared Pratincole at Whitby. — A beautiful specimen of this bird was 

 shot near this place on Thursday, the 19th of October, by Mr. Kitching : it 

 was described as very wild and of rapid flight: it would not have been 

 procured at all but for the tomtits wliich betrayed its presence. It agrees 

 60 well with Montagu's description (Mont. 257) that it need not be further 

 described. There are, however, two or three particulars which he does not 

 seem to have noticed. Towards the base of the upper mandible the arcuated 

 rounded margin terminates with two slight furrows, on the exterior side of 

 which is a small beak or protuberance, very like the beak of Patella laevis, 

 but minute. On either side of the upper mandible at the base there is a 

 bare impressed parabolic space, but the nostrils are covered with feathers. 

 The following particulars I had from Mr. Kitching. The bird is a male : 

 it had in its stomach ants and a few beetles. The bird was first seen in the 

 latter part of September, in a ravine near Whitby : it then appears to have 

 crossed a lofty moor, and was shot on the date above mentioned near the 

 Whitby and Pickering Railway. I have omitted to say that there is a single 

 red feather in the lower wing-coverts on either side. The reddish part of 

 the base of the upper mandible has become light yellow. — Id. ; 

 November 11, 1871. 



Woodcock, Wood Pigeon and Ring Ouzel in Gacrnscy. — We have had a 

 few woodcocks shot on the island thjs week. On Tuesday a great number 

 of wood pigeons rested, and several were shot. I have had several ring 

 ouzels brought me, and amongst them two male birds. One of the ouzels 

 was shot in a most remarkable manner : the fourth, fifth and sixth primaries 

 of left wing were cut with the shot, the right thigh broken, and the claw of 

 the middle toe of the left foot broken oflf close and carried with the shot 

 under the right ear, and lodged — shot, claw and feathers — on the bone just 

 under the right eye. In this way I discovered the shot and claw together. 

 The bird was shot on the wing. I skinned and preserved it. — James 

 Couch; Guernsey, October 21, 1871. 



