THE ZooLocist—J UNE, 1875, 449] 
16th. A grasshopper warbler was killed to-day by a boy with a 
catapult. This species is uncommon with us. 
17th. Visited the breeding place of the herring gulls at Wem- 
bury, where I saw about two hundred standing and sitting about 
the cliffs, mostly in pairs, with as many more in a large flock 
resting on the water below. They were rather clamorous and 
tame, but not so much so as when they have eggs and young. 
A pair of ravens were breeding near the spot. Some greater and 
lesser spotted woodpeckers have been lately obtained in the neigh- 
bourhood of Plymouth: they appear more plentiful in spring and 
autumn than at any other time. 
19th. Observed some whitethroats, and on the 21st a fine hoopoe 
was killed on the Cornish side of the river Tamar, T believe near 
St. Germans. Its stomach contained several whitish grubs, 
23rd. A golden plover, in almost perfect breeding dress was 
picked up dead under the telegraph-wires of the South Devon 
Railway. I may here mention that a friend of mine saw a kestrel 
a few days since sitting on a telegraph-wire, but which, strange 
to say, did not attempt to fly off, although the train passed by it 
within a few yards. Common buzzards, sparrowhawks, and white 
and brown owls are constantly brought to our birdstuffers, I am 
Sorry to say, with their legs broken and lacerated in a most 
shocking manner, having been caught in common rat-gins, and 
perhaps left struggling and suffering for days together before the 
traps are examined. Indeed it is quite pitiable to see how the legs 
are broken and twisted, hanging only by the sinews, in their 
desperate and painful efforts to escape. 
24th. Heard several tree pipits, and on the 29th a few pied 
flycatchers were seen. 
30th. At half-past seven in the evening I observed a fine glaucous 
gull flying from the harbour into the Sound. It was in that ex- 
ceedingly light brown, “ washed-out” looking, plumage which 
appears quite white at a little distance, before the light bluish gray 
of maturity is assumed on the back and wing-coverts. I do not 
remember having seen this species on our coasts so late in the 
season before. 
JoHN GATComMBE, 
8, Lower Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth. 
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