THe ZooLocist—May, 1875. 4459 
which they preyed. I know of few species of birds which are more 
clamorous than the coot in the pairing season; night and day seem alike 
agreeable to their vociferous business of “choosing a mate,” and many are 
the gestures, chasings and fierce struggles which seem to take place before 
this important object is so far matured that nest-building may be com- 
menced, and even then the mated are often annoyed by those who are less 
fortunate than themselves; for, like the rooks, they seem to delight in 
tormenting each other during the all-important business of nidification. 
I have often found the nest and young, and their shrill note—something 
resembling that of the little grebe—is pleasant to listen to, as their parent 
takes them out on a short excursive swim alongside the flags which hitherto 
have been their home. In Scotland the coot is said to be migratory during 
the winter, but here I believe it is a decided resident, although perhaps its 
numbers are increased during winter by arrivals from the north; for not- 
withstanding the numbers which are killed every spring and autumn, it 
seems as abundant as ever if unmolested for a time. There is one difficulty 
in the preservation of the coot which I would thank any reader of the 
‘ Zoologist’ to assist me in meeting,—viz. the preservation of the fleshy 
protuberance above the bill—so conspicuous in the breeding season—which 
gives such a marked character to the bird.—G. B. Corbin. 
Graylag Goose near Penzance.—I saw just now a fine plumaged bird of 
this species at Mr. Vingoe’s for preservation, and I understand he received 
it fiom the neighbourhood of Hayle, a few miles to the north of Mount’s 
Bay. This is the second specimen that has come under my notice of the 
Anser ferus over many years, consequently it may be regarded as a rara 
avis in the West of England. I have seen one garganey duck this spring 
so far, but it is early for them as yet. This beautiful little duck is always 
at this season of the year in the most perfect state of developed plumage; 
they never visit us except in the spring months.—Hdward Hearle Rodd; 
Penzance, March 28, 1875. 
Little Gull in Summer Plumage in February.—A fine specimen of the 
little gull was shot last week in nearly full summer plumage. It was 
killed by Mr. H. Smither, of Churt, near Frensham, whilst out snipe 
shooting.—W. H. Legg; Farnham, Surrey, February 24, 1875. 
Fulmar Petrel in Mount’s Bay.—The fulmar very rarely visits us in 
the south. I note, however, one which was picked up dead on our beach 
in high adult typical plumage, viz., with the upper parts bright bluish gray 
and the under parts unsullied white. In comparing it with a specimen I 
have which was procured from Mount’s Bay, it appears to be about half the 
size only of mine, which has the upper plumage mixed with white, and 
bluish brown striated markings. Whether this latter plumage is indicative 
of greater age than the blue back birds I am unable to say, but the differ- 
ence in the size of the birds is very remarkable, and I was unaware of this 
