162 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
we had no doubt that the flock we had observed was migrating 
from that country. 
Amongst a lot of gulls seen flying along the coast on December 
15th, I observed several immature specimens of Larus glaucus. 
From the number of Short-eared Owls which were brought to 
a birdstuffer in the town for preservation during the month of 
December, it would seem as if this species had visited us in 
unusual numbers this winter. 
During the last week of December three Whoopers visited the 
estuary of the Eden. I did not see them myself, but heard of 
them from several persons, one of whom, a famous wildfowl-shooter 
and good field ornithologist, informed me that a wild swan which 
passed within eighty yards, and which he shot at, whooped several 
times a note with which he is familiar from having often heard it 
in the Solway Firth. 
ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM DEVON. 
By JoHn GaAtTcomBE. 
In consequence of the severe and long-continued gales during 
the month of January, Kittiwakes became exceedingly tame and 
very numerous in our harbours, and I am sorry to add that hundreds 
were wantonly shot. Northern Divers were plentiful and almost 
daily brought to our birdstuffers; but it seems remarkable that 
among so many specimens a really adult bird was rarely found, ~ 
and I have lately been much struck with the great difference which 
is observable in the plumage of the fully adult bird in winter and 
that of the young bird of the year. Although all the upper 
plumage of the old bird is more or less tipped and edged with 
gray, yet the general markings have not that wavy appearance 
so observable in the young, but show a great resemblance in form 
to the white spots and oblong square patches of the summer 
dress: the dark band on the neck, too, is much more conspicuous. 
The adult bird in winter may also be distinguished by the shape 
of the larger feathers of the back and scapulars, which are nearly 
square at the tips, instead of rounded as in immature specimens. 
For some time I daily watched a large Northern Diver with 
my telescope, and could easily distinguish it from others, at any 
reasonable distance, by its plumage alone, and on visiting a 
