248 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
On January 28th, during hard frost, the mud-banks of the 
Laira, near Plymouth, were covered with hundreds of Gulls, 
chiefly Larus ridibundus, with a sprinkling of Herring Gulls, 
Common Mews, and a dozen Herons; but there seemed to be an 
entire absence of the Sandpiper and Plover tribe. Rooks and 
Starlings were in abundance, eagerly searching among and turning 
over the seaweed all along the shore. A fine old male Cornish 
Chough was brought to a Stonehouse birdstuffer ; a great pity it 
should have been killed, but some of these scarce birds are, I 
am sorry to say, destroyed every season. A curious light variety 
of the common Wild Duck was sent up from Scilly, and con- 
sidered a great rarity. It was almost white, with the brown 
markings showing very faintly, and the front of the neck and 
lower parts of a beautiful buff, similar to that of the male 
Goosander, but the speculum on the wings was of the usual 
dark violet or purplish blue, forming a marked contrast to the 
rest of the plumage. I had great difficulty in persuading the 
birdstuffer that it was only a variety, although certainly a very 
pretty one. 
On February 17th two Red-necked Grebes were bought in the 
market, and, on examination, I found their stomachs to contain 
small fish, portions of crabs, sand, and a great quantity of 
feathers; but I am sorry to add that the skins of these scarce 
birds were cut up for the purpose of decorating ladies’ hats. 
A Little Auk was taken inland, near Mevagissey, on the Cornish 
coast, and an immense flock of Gannets were observed in the 
channel. The markets at this date were unusually full of Lap- 
wings and Wood Pigeons ; some of the Lapwings were beginning 
to assume the black throat. The harbour and sound were also 
full of Kittiwakes, and many Great Black-backed Gulls were 
in full summer plumage. 
On February 20th I watched a fine old Cormorant close in 
shore, and noticed that it was in full breeding-dress, with good 
crest, hoary neck, and a white spot on each thigh. Shags were in 
the same forward state. On the same day I examined the largest 
Guillemot I think I ever saw. It weighed two pounds eleven 
ounces. 
My friend Mr. Clogg, of Looe, has kindly furnished me 
with the following interesting notes:—‘‘ When standing on 
the bridge, during the cold weather of February, I saw on one 
