THE ZooLoGist—DECEMBER, 1875. 4719 
autumn. Mr. Rowe, of Barnstaple, had a fine specimen sent to 
him for preservation, which was killed in that neighbourhood, and 
he told me that another had been seen. On my arrival at Plymouth 
I saw a beautiful one at the shop of Mr. Peacock, animal preserver, 
which was obtained on the 26th of September, at Millbrook, just 
opposite Devonport, and close to Mount Edgecumbe. The person 
who shot it has since informed him that there were two more in 
company with it, which remained in the locality for ten or twelve 
days after the first had been killed, and that every one who 
possessed a gun in the neighbourhood did his utmost to get a shot 
at them, but (I am happy to add) without success. Another was 
observed on the River Avon, not many miles from Plymouth. 
Hobby, Shorteared Owl and Gray Phalarope.— Mr. Peacock 
has lately received two hobbies for preservation and a shorteared 
owl, which latter was caught on board a ship three hundred miles 
from the nearest land. Some gray phalaropes, killed during the 
October gales, were likewise brought to him. 
Peregrine Falcon and Kentish Plower—At the shop of Mr. 
Luckraft, in Stonehouse, I saw a magnificent peregrine falcon, 
which had been recently obtained near Saltash, on the Tamar. 
I was also shown a very pretty immature specimen of the Kentish 
plover, a species rarely met with in Devon or Cornwall. The 
gentleman who shot it said that it was flying at the “tail end” of 
a flock of other small waders, thereby attracting his notice. I have 
never heard but of two others having been seen in the neighbour- 
hood of Plymouth, one of which was killed by a friend of mine on 
the Plymouth Breakwater, and was identified by me. 
American Bittern.—Since my return from North Devon I have 
heard from my friend the Rey. W.S. Hore, of Barnstaple, that 
Mr. Rowe had received an American bittern, in the flesh, I believe 
killed in the neighbourhood of Ilfracombe. 
Greenshank and Purple Sandpiper.—A greenshank and several 
purple sandpipers have lately been brought to the Plymouth bird- 
stuffers—the latter species being rather plentiful on our rocky 
coasts just now. 
Late Martin.—The last member of the swallow family seen by 
me this season was a solitary martin flying round the Railway 
Station at Braunton on the 25th of October. 
JOHN GATCOMBE, 
8, Lower Durnford Street, Stonehouse, Plymouth, 
November 10, 1875. 
