OCCASIONAL NOTES. 389 
in very good condition, the intestines being loaded with fat. The ovary 
contained eggs, some of them as large as BB shot. The stomach was filled 
with the wing-cases of small beetles and the remains of small caterpillars.— 
Wituiams & Son (2, Dame Street, Dublin). 
[The Squacco Heron is a very rare bird in Ireland. Thompson, in his 
‘Natural History of Ireland’ (vol. ii. p. 158), states that one was shot in 
Killeagh Bay, near Youghal, in May, 1849, and another, also obtained near 
Youghal, is preserved in the Royal Dublin Society’s Museum. A third, 
shot at the mouth of the Laune river, County Kerry, on June 10th, 1875, 
will be found recorded in ‘ The Zoologist’ for February last (p. 57). It is 
somewhat remarkable that these specimens, as well as a score of others 
procured in different parts of England, were nearly all obtained in the 
summer months. Asa rule, the grallatorial birds which visit this country 
but do not breed here, come to us in spring and autumn. The Squacco 
Heron seems to be an irregular summer visitant.—Ep. | 
Opp Marerrats 1n a Cormorant’s Nest.—Cormorants breed not only 
on high rocks and cliffs, but also at times on low islands, where their nests 
~ are elevated only a few feet above high-water mark. Amongst the sticks 
and other litter which they make use of for building, I have seen children’s 
whips and spades, a gentleman’s light cane, and part of the handle of a 
parasol, all of which I suppose the birds had picked up floating at sea.— 
E. T. Boorn (Dyke Road, Brighton). 
Prep Frycarcarr Nestinc near Matvern.—This beautiful little bird 
has been seen in and around Malvern on several occasions during the 
present summer. A pair nested at the Rhidd, but fell victims to the raids 
of the village lads. Another pair is evidently intending to nest, and is 
being closely watched by Mr. Edwards, a local naturalist. With the ex- 
ception of one in my possession, shot two years since, | am not aware 
that there has been a recorded appearance of the Pied Flycatcher in this 
part of Worcestershire before——Isaac Harpine (10, Lansdown Crescent, 
Malvern). 
Barrram’s SANDPIPER IN SOMERSETSHIRE.—In the collection of birds 
belonging to Dr. Woodforde, of Amberd House, near Taunton, and chiefly 
obtained in the county of Somerset, is a very perfect example of Bartram’s 
Sandpiper, which was shot at least thirty years ago on the banks of the 
River Parret, in the parish of Combwitch. It was shot in one of the 
winter months, and appears to be in complete winter plumage, being more 
ashy in its coloration than any other example of this Sandpiper which 
Ihave seen. So far as I am aware, this specimen has not hitherto been 
recorded—M urray A. Maruew (Bishop’s Lydeard, Taunton). 
OspPREY NEAR BripLtineron.—On June 30th an Osprey was captured 
near here, at a place called Gransmoor, the property of Mr. Robert Med- 
forth. It was found by his keeper caught in a pole-trap by one claw, and 
