48 : THE ZOOLOGIsST. 
stalls :—Scaups, Scoters, Tufted Ducks, and a large number of 
Mallard, Widgeon, and Teal. 
Two Pomatorhine Skuas were killed outside the Breakwater 
on November 10th, and another found dead in a ditch far inland 
greatly decomposed, but I am glad to say not too bad to be 
preserved. On the 20th I observed a flock of eight Brent Geese 
flying across the Sound in the direction of the Laira Estuary ; 
and a friend told me that he had lately seen a very large flock 
of wild-fowl flying up one of our rivers in the form of a V, but 
they were too high for him to be certain of the species.. On 
November 20th I noticed in the market two immature Goosanders, 
five Shovellers, and a Sheldrake. As for Snipes, I never saw 
them in such numbers, and fear that most of them must have 
been wasted. Our harbours for the previous two months were 
full of young Herring Gulls; and I have often becn amused with 
their habit of chasing the old ones and each other, like Skuas, for 
what they may have picked up. The Common Mew, too, I am 
glad to say, seems to be becoming more plentiful than it has 
been of late years; but I have always thought “ Common” a 
misnomer for this species, as it certainly is not nearly so common 
as some other Gulls. 
During the month of December the following birds were 
obtained on our rivers and estuaries:—several Sheldrakes, 
Goldeneyes, Pochards, Pintails, one Bean Goose, and two Smews 
in immature plumage. On examination I found the stomachs of 
the Shelldrakes to contain very minute shells and fine sea sand, 
and those of the Golden-eyes mostly shrimps. 
A Grey Phalarope was killed on the St. Germains River by a 
friend of mine, who reported having seen more than a hundred 
Oystercatchers on the river-bank, but that they were too wary to 
let him get within shot, and by their cries alarmed every other 
bird on the river. The Phalarope was not in the usual plumage 
of winter, but the grey of the back was intermixed with several 
dark feathers similar to that of a young bird in autumn. A 
Great Crested Grebe was brought to one of our birdstuffers, and 
its stomach contained a quantity of feathers plucked from its’ 
own body. I have always remarked that the appearance of 
Sheldrakes and Grebes in this locality betokens very severe 
weather; but, strange to say, during the whole continuance of 
the frost I did not observe a single Fieldfare or even Redwing in 
