b4 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
determine the sex, but believe it to be a female. ‘The stomach contained 
the remains of numerous small beetles.—Wixuiams & Son (Taxidermists, 
2, Dame Street, Dublin). 
{In Thompson’s ‘ Natural History of Ireland’ (i., p. 366), three instances 
of the reported occurrence of the Roller in Ireland are mentioned, but the 
author states that, at the date of the publication of his work, “no example 
of the bird, unquestionably killed in this island, had to his knowledge come 
under the inspection of the naturalist.” —EDb. ] 
Mieration oF tHE Pinp FiycatcHur.—The individuals of this species 
which occur on our east coast during the autumnal migration are invariably 
described as being immature birds only. I think it very likely that observers 
may have been mistaken in this matter, as at this season the sexes, both 
mature and immature, are scarcely distinguishable. In his ‘Birds of 
Northumberland and Durham’ (p. 79), Mr. Hancock has very clearly pointed 
out the close resemblance in the plumage of the sexes in both the young 
and old birds. ‘They are,” he says, “after the autumnal moult, all of the 
same obscure brown tint above; the males, however, may be known by the 
white band on the front of the head, by the white bar on the wing being 
broader than in the female, and by the basal portion of the tail being a little 
darker, and consequently by the white of this part being more conspicuous.” 
The subject of the immigration of this species on the N.E. coast in the 
autumn is worth looking into by ornithologists and observers living in these 
districts—Joun Corpravux (Great Cotes, Ulceby). 
Prep FrycarcuEer 1x YorksHire.—Until the summer of 1874 I was 
quite unacquainted with the Pied Flycatcher, never having seen or heard of 
this bird in Airedale. In that year, however, I happened to go into Wharfe- 
dale, which is separated from Airedale by three or four miles only of hilly 
moorland, ‘ wildly majestic,” and there to my surprise I found it breeding 
plentifully. In fact, it was commoner there than the Spotted Flycatcher. 
I saw no less than six pairs. ‘This local distribution of the species strikes 
me as being somewhat remarkable—E. P. Burrerrizxp (Wilsden). 
ReporteD OccurRRENCE OF THE GoLDEN Eacte 1n Durnam.—The 
following note from a friend at West Hartlepool is dated November 15th, 
1876 :—“ On Friday last a Golden Eagle was seen hovering about Seaton 
Carew, and was shot at by several persons. It afterwards went over in the 
direction of Throston Cars, aud may have found its way to the Dene, as it 
was going in that direction.” Now although the date is earlier, it is in all 
probability the same bird as that mentioned by Mr. Cordeaux (p. 9). I had 
almost resolved not to send you this note, for I am convinced that second- 
hand information is of very little value—at least, it will nearly always be 
found to be misleading. As an instance of this, I may mention that a young 
Eagle was said to have been shot at Seaton, near Seaham Harbour, about 
the 1st of November, and a paragraph relating the circumstance appeared 
