THE MARSH WARBLER NEAR TAUNTON. 333 
Great Shearwater, Puffinus major.—Has once come under my 
notice. When visiting Downpatrick Head with some friends on 
the 22nd August, 1859, we obtained a dead bird in the brown- 
mottled plumage of the first year, from a man who had fished it 
up on the shore a few minutes before we met him. He had some 
Razorbills and Guillemots which had been washed ashore dead, 
and we were much amused, when I offered him a few pence for 
the Shearwater, to hear him recommend us to take the Razorbills 
in preference, as they were “so much fatter, and better eating!” 
Common Shearwater, Puffinus anglorum.—Occasionally seen 
along the coast between Downpatrick Head and the Stags of 
Broadhaven early in August. 1 have no doubt they nest on 
some part of that coast, but I cannot be certain as I never had 
the opportunity of thoroughly exploring it. 
Storm Petrel, Thalassidroma pelagica.—Very seldom met with. 
I have been informed that they breed on some parts of the coast, 
but have not been able to discover the precise locality.* 
ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE MARSH WARBLER 
NEAR TAUNTON. 
By tHzE Rey Morray A. Marsew, M.A. 
Ever since Mr. Howard Saunders detected the Marsh Warbler, 
Acrocephalus palustris, in the collection of Dr. Woodforde, of 
Amberd House, near Taunton, and identified the nest and egg 
preserved with the birds as undoubtedly belonging to that species 
(vide ‘ Zoologist, 1875, p. 4713), I have been very anxious to 
procure more examples in the same neighbourhood, the wore so 
as Professor Newton, exercising a wise caution, has not, with the 
evidence which was then before him, felt himself justified in 
admitting the bird into the list of occasional visitants to England. 
So very closely allied is this aquatic Warbler to the Reed 
Warbler that it is very difficult indeed to separate skins or 
* The scarcity of the Storm Petrel on the Mayo coast, if such is the case, would 
be rather remarkable, inasmuch as this bird breeds on the coasts and on the islands 
off the coasts of Donegal, Galway, Clare and Kerry. We can scarcely doubt that it 
is to be met with, if searched for, on the equally favourable shore line and the 
numerous islets between Erris Head and Killary Harbour.—Ep. 
