NOTES FROM DEVON AND CORNWALL. 118 
many for about two hours, but without any satisfactory result. 
Their cry is very melancholy, especially when wounded or hard 
pressed. Many writers assert that the action of this bird in going 
under water cannot be easily explained in words. The numbers 
that I have closely watched seem to me, when quietly fishing in 
bays, to first sink the body and then to give a simple plunge 
forwards, with the neck a little arched and the bill pointing 
downwards; but if unexpectedly disturbed or closely pursued, 
there is, of course, more of a sudden start and splash. Mr. Saxby, 
in his excellent work on the ‘ Birds of Shetland,’ says that ‘the 
Northern Diver can, in smooth water, see a boat and its moving 
shadow from beneath the surface for a considerable distance, and 
hence the bird is more frequently dodged and shot during a 
breeze.” But I have met with several instances in which the 
bird when pursued—and in very calm water, too—has come up 
close to the boat, and, on one memorable occasion, right under 
the angle formed by the oar from the gunwhale to the water, and 
this being the first and only adult in full summer plumage I had 
ever pursued, quite took away my breath. We lost it after all. 
A fine Common Buzzard and several Herons were received by 
the birdstuffers during the second week in October. The latter 
were plentiful in our estuaries and rivers, and I have always 
remarked that severe cold weather has a great effect on Herons, 
and on Kingfishers as well. Shortly afterwards there were many 
Widgeon and two young Red-breasted Mergansers in our market, 
and three Grosbeaks from different localities near Plymouth, 
and one from Milton Abbot. This species is certainly not at all 
common in the county. I observed some Oystercatchers flying 
up the harbour, uttering their peculiar cry, which Mr. Saxby says 
the Shetlanders liken to the words “my feet.” On the 22nd 
I observed the last Wheatears—not very late. I may here 
mention that a correspondent in the October number of ‘Science 
Gossip’ sends a note on the occurrence of the Russet Wheatear, 
Saxicola stapazina, in Lancashire—a species the occurrence of 
which I have for years anticipated, and longed to hear of on our 
side of the channel, wondering why a straggler, at least, should 
not occasionally appear at the same time with its near relation, 
S. enanthe. Many Short-eared Owls, and one Long-eared, were 
killed about this date near Plymouth, and a Reeve on Dartmoor. 
A Brent Goose, some Redshanks, Herons and Curlews were 
Q 
