OCCASIONAL NOTES. 459 
which that well-known ornithologist is unable to identify. This year has 
been a very barren one for many observers in Natural History, and my 
gleanings have been much fewer than in former years.—CHARLES W. BENSON 
(Rathmines School, Dublin). 
Uncommon Birps 1n NorrinaHamsatre.—A Common Buzzard was 
shot, on the 15th September last, at Rufford. Early in the same month, 
as some workmen at Nottingham were one morning proceeding to their 
work, they came across two Shags, or Crested Cormorants, flapping about in 
Cross Street, and after an exciting chase caught them both. They were 
taken to T. White, birdstufter, who tells me they dived for fish in his tank, 
eating several; he kept them alive for two days, but, finding they “did not 
look like living,” killed and stuffed them. J have purchased them for my 
collection. Another was caught in a street close by, and a fourth was shot 
on Mapperly Plains. ‘They were all young birds, possibly from the same 
nest, and haying wandered away, got lost; or they may have been driven 
inland by a gale. Two male Common Scoters were shot on Thornton 
Reservoir, near Leicester, on the 18th September, and forwarded to me. 
Thornton Reservoir is four miles from Bosworth Field, which is about the 
centre of England.—J. Wuirraker (Rainham Lodge, near Mansfield). 
DisTRiBUTION OF THE CaRRION Crow.—Allow me to point out a slight 
inaccuracy in your ‘ Handbook of British Birds.’ It is there stated that 
the Carrion Crow is rare in the HKastern Counties. I think Essex is 
certainly an exception, as it is fairly common about here; and for some 
miles round Felsted, where I was at school, there was scarcely a wood 
where the nest of this bird might not be found. My brother only left last 
year, and he always found a great many eggs of the Crow as well as of the 
Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, and the year before last found a Hobby’s nest 
with four young ones—M. Vaveuan (Finchingfield, Braintree). 
[The statement referred to was founded on the observations of several 
well-known naturalists in the Eastern Counties. See Stevenson’s ‘ Birds 
of Norfolk,’ vol. i., p. 258.—Ep.] 
IMMIGRATION oF Rooks AND OTHER Brrps at Harwicu.—On October 
16th thousands of Rooks, Hooded Crows, Jackdaws, Starlings, and Sky 
Larks were seen coming in from the sea—the first migration observed this 
season. _A Spotted Crake was picked up dead on the railway-line, having 
flown against the telegraph-wires.. On the 12th October a specimen of 
Richardson’s Skua, in immature plumage, was shot on the Dovercourt 
shore; and, at the same place, a Snow Bunting was procured on the 14th.— 
F. Kerry (Harwich). 
Grey Puatarore 1x Beprorpsutre.—A specimen of the Grey 
Phalarope was shot on October 6th by a farmer at Beeston, near Tandy, 
