176 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
at the time, but this fortunately escaped. The rough winds of the past 
winter would doubtless account in some measure for the unusual number 
of this species and that of the Short-horned Owl which have visited us this 
season.—A. P. Morrzs. 
Rovcu-Leccep Buzzards 1x Easr Yorxsuire.—These birds appear 
to have been uncommonly numerous in different parts of the country 
during the past autumn and winter months, and this district has also been 
visited by them in some numbers. Four to my knowledge have fallen 
victims to the gun, and I have heard of others having been seen. The 
last obtained was a very fine old male, shot at Patrington on the 24th 
January last. This bird was very fat, and in its stomach was a quantity of 
fur and the remains of one or more field voles. A Rough-legged Buzzard 
frequented our low grounds all the winter, and was at length shot. It 
proved to be an immature female. The stomach contained mouse’s fur, 
and the bird was very fat. This low-lying country has been inundated for 
many miles, with here and there little islands studded about, on which the 
rats, mice and moles were driven to take shelter, and on these there is little 
doubt the Buzzards fared sumptuously. I quite endorse what Mr. Sclater 
says about second-hand information. I have had so much of it, and found it 
so wholly unreliable, that in a very great majority of cases it certainly is not 
worth printing. The so-called “eagle” sent to Beverley has come under 
my observation, and Mr. Sclater is quite correct in his surmises. It is 
an immature Rough-legged Buzzard, and is at present alive and well.— 
I’. Borns (Beverley). 
Mertins 1x Kent.—On February 4th I saw a magnificent old male 
Merlin here, with bright blue back and orange breast. Since that I have 
seen another blue male rather paler in colour, and a female. As mentioned 
in my note in February's ‘ Zoologist,’ this is somewhat earlier than I usually 
see male Merlins here. As a general rule, females predominate in autumn 
and males in spring about here.—Cxirron (Cobham Hall). 
Late Assumption or Aputt Pirumace sy tae Marr Kesrret.— 
About the second week in J anuary a male Kestrel was shot here, which was 
hardly distinguishable from an old female, except in slightly smaller size and 
a warmer tone of rufous on the back. ‘The tail was slightly washed with 
blue, but not so much as in some old females. Even the upper tail-coverts 
were rufous, and the feathers on the nape were whitish, forming a rather 
merlin-like collar. I took it at first for a small female.—In. 
Trencmatm’s Owr in Essex.—One day towards the end of January last 
some boys noticed a bird in a tree near the iron bridge in the Barking 
Road, Poplar. They frightened it out, and as the poor Owl was not used 
to flying by day it soon paid the penalty for its rashness in venturing out. 
It was brought to my office in the flesh, but as I was away the person who 
had it thought best to make a skin of it for me. It is a very nicely marked 
