46 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
appearance of having been eaten by moths, the shafts of some of 
the feathers alone remaining. On the 2lst an immature Black- 
throated Diver was killed in the Sound. Although so similar to 
the Great Northern Diver in both its immature and winter 
plumage, I think this species may always be distinguished by its 
smaller size and the form of its bill, which is more slender and has 
less of an angle on the lower mandible. The ridge of the upper 
mandible also is slightly more curved or arched, while the top of 
the head and back of the neck is of a more pure and uniform gray, 
without any indication of the dusky band always more or less 
observable on that of the Northern Diver, even in its immature and 
winter dress. 
The-severe and long-continued gales in December brought an 
unusual number of Great Northern Divers to our coasts, and 
during that month I examined no less than twelve speci- 
mens, in the flesh, which had been sent to the Plymouth and 
Stonehouse birdstuffers for preservation: I also observed as 
many more in our bays and estuaries. The local papers, too, 
recorded the capture of several on various parts of the coast. 
Some Redthroated Divers were also obtained, but they were not 
nearly so plentiful as the Great Northern. During a heavy gale 
on December 5th a Gray Phalarope was seen by myself and others 
swimming close to the rocks near the Devil’s Point, Stonehouse: 
it was in perfect winter plumage, and very tame, but being 
constantly persecuted and pelted with stones, it frequently rose 
and flew a short distance, each time uttering a feeble note or cry, 
described by the bystanders as a kind of squeak or whistle: 
this sound I am sorry to say I did not myself hear, being unfor- 
tunately slightly deaf, nor was I so close to the bird as some others 
were. I may here mention that the Gray Phalarope is rarely seen 
on the coast of Devon so late in the year. Cormorants and Shags 
were very numerous in December, frequenting the bays and 
estuaries during the day, and returning, singly, or in small parties, 
to the cliffs and high rocks towards dusk. One day I watched a 
Shag struggling with a large “ Father-lasher” (Coltus scorpius), 
which it did not contrive to swallow for a quarter of an hour: 
Divers and Cormorants generally seem to have much trouble with 
this kind of fish, on account, I suspect, of its large and well-armed 
head. Strange to say, whilst writing this, I laid down my pen to 
watch with my glass a large Northern Diver in difficulties with a 
