304 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
common gun-shot, whereas the Shag choses holes and clefts; and, as the 
young thus secluded are less likely to be seen, the nests are at a lower level. 
Last week I saw several old birds issue from their dark homes as we 
passed in a boat and shouted, while the Cormorant remained apparently 
unconcerned, conscious that they were out of harm’s way. The two colonies 
are separated from each other by a distance of more than a quarter of a mile, 
the Shag colony being to the westward, where an almost perpendicular fault 
has disturbed and fissured the cliff Under no circumstances do either 
species nest on Gad Cliff or St. Alban’s Head, which I attribute to the 
fact that both these high limestone headlands, resting upon a foundation of 
clay, the birds’ instinct teaches them not to trust to so precarious a tenure 
for their breeding-places. My opinion is strengthened by their breeding on 
the east side of St. Alban’s Head, where the Kimeridge clays sink below the 
sea-bed. I quite agree with the Editor that the Shag is, and always has 
been, the commonest of the two species on the Dorsetshire coast.—J. C. 
MansrL-PLiyDE.LL (Whatcombe, Blandford). 
OYSTERCATCHER IN PoRTLAND DURING THE BREEDING SEaAson—I am 
not aware that the Oystercatcher has ever before been observed during the 
breeding season so far south, in England, as the Isle of Portland. Tt seems 
therefore worth noting that I had the pleasure of watching a magnificent 
male bird of this species, for nearly an hour, on June 6th, on the Weymouth 
side of the Chesil Beach, wading about and feeding among the rocks at 
low water, no more than forty yards from me. It appeared quite uncon- 
cerned at my presence, and remained close by during the time—from 1 to 
6 p.m.—that I was at work up and down searching for insects and spiders 
near the same spot. I should conclude that the female may have been 
sitting on her nest somewhere in the neighbourhood, though probably not 
very near at hand, inasmuch as the male showed no sign of alarm or anxiety 
at my proximity.—O. P. CamBriner (Bloxworth, Dorset). 
Winter VIsITANTS AND SpRiING MicRANtTs To THE IsLE oF WicHT.— 
A Greenshank was shot on the 20th December, at Spring Vale, and a Bar- 
tailed Godwit in the neighbourhood of Bembridge. Three Goldeneye Ducks 
were also shot the same month—all females; this tallies with what Yarrell 
has remarked on the migratory habits of this species: “ visits this country 
in small flocks every winter” . . . “particularly the females,” and, 
probably, the immature males(?) A Red-breasted Merganser and a female 
- Kider Duck were procured at Sea View in February. Several Great-crested 
Grebes were seen, but none were secured. Mr. Careless, to whom I am 
indebted for these observations, tells me that the Chiffchaff was not seen at 
Sea View till the 8th of April, but I observed one on the 30th of March, 
in the trees skirting the Bonchurch pond—a favourite resort on their 
first artival, being sheltered from all winds. Though no Willow Wrens 
eee 
