OCCASIONAL NOTES. 343 
Prep FLycaTcHER AND OTHER Birps IN THE IsLu or WicgutT.—On 
the 30th April, when at Sea View, I was asked to identify a strange bird 
shot in the neighbourhood on the 28th. It proved to be a male Pied 
Flycatcher, in perfect plumage. This species is of rare occurrence here. 
Yarrell refers to a specimen shot in the island, and I believe one was killed 
near Freshwater a few years since. I was shown a Thick-kneed Plover, 
shot in the island on March 12th, 1876. Mr. Careless has had the 
following birds brought to him in the flesh, all killed in the island :—Cross- 
bill (in January), Black-throated Diver (during the winter), Velvet Scoter, 
Great Black-backed Gull, Fulmar Petrel, Crested Lark, Short-eared Owl, 
Sheldrake, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (a rare visitant), also a Hooded 
Crow—seldom met with in the island.—Henry Hapriexp (Ventnor, Isle 
of Wight). 
[We should like to know something more about the Crested Lark. 
When, where, and by whom shot, and by whom identified? We have 
seen many a Sky Lark with a good crest fondly regarded by its owner as a 
veritable Crested Lark.—Eb.] 
SincuLaR VaRieTyY oF THE House Marrin.—I have lately obtained 
from a birdstuffer at Worthing, in this county, a very beautiful variety of 
the House Martin, the whole of the quills of the wings and the bastard 
wings being of a pure white, while the rest of the plumage is of the usual 
colour. It is a bird of the year, and was shot near Worthing in the 
autumn of last year.—Witt1amM Borrer (Cowfold, Sussex). 
SPOONBILLS 1N SUFFOLK 1N JunE.—During the early part of June a 
flock of nine Spoonbills frequented the marshes adjoining the coast near 
Aldborough, and to the credit of the resident gunners,—who, I am glad to 
say, respect the Wild Fowl Protection Act,—they were allowed to remain 
unmolested. It is to be hoped that continued protection may beget suffi- 
cient confidence in these beautiful birds to induce them again to take up 
their quarters, as of old, in this country during the breeding season.— 
F. Kerry (Harwich). 
SpoonBILL NEAR Exy.—A spoonbill has been seen in the neighbourhood - 
of Ely for some days, but has now (July 9th) departed. I am glad to say 
it escaped the snare of the fowler—H. M. Upcuer (Feltwell). 
Wines acatnst Sream.—On July 13th there was a race from Dover to 
London between the continental mail express train and a carrier pigeon 
conveying a document of an urgent nature from the French police. The 
pigeon, which was bred by Messrs. Hartley and Sons, of Woolwich, and 
“homed” when a few weeks old to a building in Cannon-street, City, was of 
the best breed of homing pigeons, known as “ Belgian voyageurs.” The 
bird was tossed through the railway carriage window by a French official as 
the train moved from the Admiralty Pier, the wind being west and the 
atmosphere hazy, but with the sun shining. For upwards of a minute the 
