OCCASIONAL NOTES. 447 
pond close by, which, however, was not the case. When first seen it was 
in the company of a number of tame ducks and geese, with which it 
associated during the day-time; but in the evening it took flight to Clay- 
wheel Dam at Wadsley Bridge, where it was shot and afterwards taken to 
a Natural-History dealer in Sheffield to be sold, the shooter not caring to 
have it mounted for himself, as it is considered unlucky in that neighbour- 
hood to have a stuffed Swan in the house! It was purchased in the belief 
that it was an ordinary Mute Swan, by Mr. A. S. Hutchinson, now stuffer 
at this Museum, who had seen it on the dams, but when he brought it to 
the Museum I saw that it was an adult specimen of Bewick’s Swan, Cygnus 
Bewickii, and obtained the above particulars from him and from the man 
who shot it. A Canada Goose, Anser Canadensis, was shot on the same 
dam at the beginning of 1875; and in June last I was informed that an 
uncommon bird had been shot on Clay-wheel Dam at Wadsley, and on 
making enquiries I found that it had been plucked and eaten by its 
utilitarian captor, so that I was not able to identify it, but the man 
who shot it immediately recognised it as the Canada Goose on looking 
through Morris's ‘British Birds. —E, Howarru (Curator, Sheffield Public 
Museum). 
Piep Frycarcner 1n Epprne Foresr.—I bought the bird which 
accompanies this note of a dealer in Seven Dials. He told me it was 
caught im the neighbourhood of Epping Forest on the 13th September. 
I kept it for three days, and had got it to feed freely on chopped egg and 
meal-worms, when it suddenly died. I believe it to be a Pied Flycatcher, 
but am not sure. Will you kindly identify it for me? — Harry Ler (The 
Waldrons, Croydon). 
[The bird is a female Pied Flycatcher.—Ep.] 
Curious DratH or a Swattow.— When out with the Sheffield 
Naturalists’ Club at Kiveton Park, in June last, I found under an old oak 
tree a dead Swallow, Hirundo rustica, with wings and tail outspread. On 
examination, the cervical vertebre appeared to be dislocated, and as it had 
evidently been suddenly killed whilst flying, it oceurred to me that it had 
met its death by coming in contact with a branch of the tree whilst in too 
eager pursuit of its insect prey. As the Swallow is so keen of sight 
and rapid in movement, such an accident seems rather remarkable. There 
were no telegraph-wires near.— E. Howarrs (Curator, Sheffield Public 
Museum). 
Purpte Gaiinute ar Hickrine Broap.—In connexion with the 
correspondence which has been going on about the Porphyrios killed in 
this country, you will be interested in hearing that a specimen, in the most 
perfect plumage, was killed at Hickling Broad last week, viz., on September 
7th, and has been well mounted for its owner, Mr. Micklethwaite, by Mr. 
T. E. Gunn, of Norwich. I have little doubt it is one of my own, which 
