364 THE ZOOLOGISY. 
Discovery of the Prelate’s Tyranny’ (Lond. 1641, p. 90), which is interesting 
to ornithologists, bearing as it does on the migration of the Redbreast. 
Dr. John Bastwick landed as a prisoner “at the Islands of Scylles [Scilly], 
when many thousands of Robin Redbreasts (none of which birds were seen 
in those Islands before or since) newly arrived at the Castle there the 
evening before [Oct. 15th, 1637] welcommed him with their melody, and 
within one day or two after tooke their flight from thence, no man*knowes 
whither.” Dr. Bastwick was an English physician in the time of Charles I., 
and a furious writer against the Church.—Joun Corpravux (Great Cotes, 
Ulceby). 
{The Redbreast is now known to be resident in Scilly. See Rodd’s 
‘ Birds of Cornwall and the Scilly Islands,’ p. 300.—Ep.] 
Brrp-Lire 1x Tcnusxt-Lanp.—When Prof. Nordenskiold was in this 
country on his return from his extraordinary voyage round the eastern 
hemisphere, Mr. Seebohm had the opportunity of having half an hour's 
chat with him, and learnt a few interesting particulars of his ornithological 
discoveries on the coast of Tchuski-land, about 150 miles west of Behring’s 
Straits, where the ‘ Vega’ was compelled to winter. The most interesting 
species which he mentioned was the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Hurynorhynchus 
pygmeus, of which a figure will be found in ‘The Ibis’ for 1869, p. 482. 
This bird, which in size is about equal to the Little Stint, and has a rufous 
plumage in the breeding season, has hitherto been considered so rare that 
a list was given in the paper referred to of all the specimens then known 
(1869) to be in existence. Prof. Nordenskiold stated that this remarkable 
species was so common after the arrival of the spring migrants that a 
dishful frequently appeared on his breakfast-table! Another interesting 
bird which has not hitherto been recorded from the palearctic region, and 
which also formed an important addition to the flesh-diet of Prof. Nordens- 
kiold and his fellow-travellers, was the Emperor Goose, Cloephaga canagica, 
a well-known Alaskan species. ‘The Pacific Eider, Somateria v-nigra, also 
appeared in great numbers, as did likewise the Grey Phalarope, Phalaropus 
lobatus. Amongst the smaller passerine birds the most conspicuous was 
the insignificant Arctic Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus borealis (Blasius), 
which appeared on migration not by thousands, but by millions. We 
understand that a large number of skins were prepared during the voyage 
(amongst them one specimen of Ross’s Gull), which have been sent to 
Stockholm, where in due course they will be examined and reported upon. 
SIsKIN NESTING IN BEDFORDSHIRE.—Seeing, at p.257, a communication 
rom the Rev, H. Burney, of Wavendon Rectory, near Woburn, to the 
effect that the Siskin had bred in his parish last year, and knowing him 
intimately, | have been in correspondence lately to get at the facts of the 
