THE ZooLocist—May, 1875. 4451 
to see how much the quill-feathers of the raven’s wings curved 
upwards in flight. Stonechats very numerous on the coast. 
30th. A gannet was brought in to-day by some fishermen. 
JoHN GATCOMBE. 
8, Lower Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth, 
April 10, 1875. 
Notes of a Cruise at the Mouths of the Thames and Blackwater 
Rivers. By A. H. Sez, Esq. 
THE following notes may be interesting to your readers. The 
extracts were taken from the log of the cutter “ Wave,” a small 
yacht of ten tons, which has been cruising all the winter at the 
mouths of the Thames and Blackwater rivers. 
DECEMBER, 1874. 
4th. Blackwater River. A good many flocks of black geese 
about, much too wild to get near. 
10th. Mersea Quarters, Blackwater. A small flock of pintail 
ducks seen. Brent geese plentiful, but very wild. 
17th. Strong northerly winds; Mersea Quarters. A few divers 
about. Very few flocks of geese seen. No ducks came in at the 
eveuing flight. 
18th. Sailed across the main to Burnham River. Scarcely a bird 
seen. Brought up at the lower part of Foulness Island. A large 
flock of godwits crossed the river, but out of range. No ducks at 
evening flight. 
19th. Went on shore at Foulness Island. Large flocks of golden . 
plover in the marshes. The curlews and godwits very wild. Strong 
wind blowing and freezing sharp. 
20th. Sailed through Wakering Haven, at the mouth of Haven- 
gore Gut. Large flocks of dunlins and plovers. Shot a solitary 
brent goose near the West Shoebury buoy. Very dense fog and 
white frost at night. 
2Ist. Canvey Island. Shot a duck, the only one seen, and a few 
dunlins. Weather still thick and frosty. 
JANUARY, 1875. 
Ist. Wind S.E. Hadleigh Ray full of ice. One scaup shot, 
also a wigeon floating down on the ice. Had to nail boards on 
stem to prevent the ice cutting through the yacht. 
