220 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
BULLFINCHES EATING PRrivetT-BERRIES.— Your correspondent, Mr. 
Briggs, wishes to know if any ove has seen the Bullfinch feeding upon 
privet-berries. I beg to say that I have repeatedly seen them doing s0, 
both in this neighbourhood and elsewhere.—F’. Bonn (Staines). 
MERLIN AND OTHER Birps tn Mripioratan.—On the 24th December 
last, whilst watching for Wood Pigeons, I shot a hawk which proved to be 
a hen Merlin. This bird is very rare in Midlothian. About the same time 
two Kingfishers were shot by some miners on Brimstone Burn. In the 
same montha friend of mine in Eastlothian, whilst walking through a field 
deep with snow, picked up a Snow Bunting, which was unable to fly; 
he carried it home alive, and it is now doing well in a cage with other birds. 
—Joun M. Smita (11, Wemys’ Place, Edinburgh). 
Montacu’s HarRIER NESTING IN YorKsHIRE. — Mr. Dalton, of 
Bingley, has shown me a pair of Montagu’s Harriers and young, which 
were taken from a nest built on Burden Moor, in Upper Wharfedale. 
Although it is now some time since this nest was taken (I think in 1860), 
the fact seems worth recording, as Iam not aware of another instance of 
its breeding in this Riding, although several individuals have been met 
with here at different times.—E. P. P. Burrerrrip (Wilsden). 
WaiteE-TAILED Eacte tn tHe Lewrs.—On February 22nd I purchased 
in the flesh an adult female specimen of this bird, which was procured near 
Stornoway, Lewes. The weight was sixteen pounds and a half; extent of 
wings, eight feet five inches; the tail white, except a few of the outside 
feathers, which are slightly marked with brown.—R. W. Cuasr (Birchfield, 
near Birmingham). 
Scorer on THE THAmMES.—On March 22nd, I received for preservation 
an adult male Scoter (Oidemia nigra), killed at Clewer Point, near here. 
I have always supposed the Scoter to be a salt-water species, and think the 
fact of its occurring so far inland is rather curious —Epwarp Curtis 
(45, Thames Street, Windsor). . 
GoosaNDER IN Yor«sH1RE.—A pair of Goosanders were shot in 
Upper Wharfedale during the sharp weather in the early part of March. 
This is a somewhat rare species, only making its appearance in these 
valleys in exceptionally severe winters.—K. P, P. Burrerrretp (Wilsden). 
OccuRRENcE OF THE DrAL-FisH oN THE BANnFFSHIRE CoAst.— 
A specimen of the Vaagmiir, or Deal-fish (Tvachypterus arcticus), a fish 
little known and seldom seen on our coasts, was found during the first week 
of April, at a place called Buckie, a fishing village about twenty miles west 
from the town of Banff. It is said to have been taken in a land-locked 
creek, or narrow inlet amongst the rocks. It was quite unknown to the 
fishermen and other inhabitauts of the place. Having heard before I saw 
