OCCASIONAL NOTES. 257 
Woodpeckers being killed in Somersetshire may indicate a migratory 
movement towards the south-west. In the May number Mr. Cecil Smith 
“eannot agree with the editorial remark” above quoted, but accounts for 
their destruction by the additional number of shooters caused by the late 
hard winter. Both causes, it seems to me, may have brought this about. 
Anyone who has closely watched the effects of the late severe winter of 
1878-79, and carefully recorded the numerical decrease of certain species 
in Scotland, cannot fail, in my opinion, to be convinced of the fact that 
unusual migration took place, and that there was during the following 
summer a crowding down upon more southern latitudes of many species, 
and a dearth perfectly saddening to see in more northern ones. No doubt 
winter killed a great number, but the late spring and short summer delayed 
the spring migration of 1879, until the birds found themselves obliged to 
breed further south. ‘This year (1880), I am glad to say, our copses 
and coverts, gardens and shrubberies, appear to be as full of bird-life as 
formerly.—J. A. Harvis Brown (Dunipace House, Stirlingshire). 
Correction or Error,—In the fifth line of the foot-note on the first 
page of “ Report on the Migration of Birds in the Autumn of 1879” (Zool. 
May, 1880), for “winter of 1879-80” read “ winter of 1878-79.” In 
‘Nature,’ May 13th, it is said, “ The Manxmen were silent.” From Point 
of Ayr we received a very able and full report. The Isle of Man stations 
are included under “‘ Commission of N. Lighthouse,” Section W. of Scotland. 
—J.A.H. B. 
Rep-LeGGED ParrripGe tx Guernsey.—tIn Mr. Cecil Smith’s recently 
published book on the ‘ Birds of Guernsey,’ no mention is made of the Red- 
legged Partridge, from which it is to be inferred that this bird is unknown 
there. It is worthy of note that in Willughby’s day (two centuries ago) it 
was believed to exist both in Guernsey and Jersey, for at p. 23 of that 
author’s ‘Ornithology’ we find this remark :—‘‘ We have been informed 
that the Red-leg’d Partridge, Perdia rufa, is found in the Isles of Jersey 
and Guernsey”; and further on (p. 167), “This kind is a stranger to 
England: howbeit they say it is found in the Isles of Jersey and Guernsey, 
which are subject to our King.”—J. E. Harvine. 
Cuckoos DrenuDeD oF Fraruurs.—In ‘ The Zoologist,’ April, 1866, 
appears a reference to the tradition of Cuckoos being sometimes found 
denuded of feathers. Ihave not met with any later notice of this; but 
having recently discovered a similar tradition to obtain in the Isle of Man, 
and hearing of one instance that occurred here about thirty years ago, 
when a Cuckoo was found in this state by a farmer in the midst of his peat 
stack, was induced to make inquiries, and sent a short notice to ‘ Science 
Gossip,’ January, 1880. In the April number of that magazine is given 
another instance, which occurred in Somersetshire about ten years ago. As 
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