134 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
they are the desperate characters that they are generally described. Those 
which I have seen in the south were usually in pursuit of small birds, and 
while seeking this sort of prey they are frequently captured in the clap-nets 
that abound near Brighton. On the grouse moors in the north, I have 
examined the remains of the victims that they have consumed near their 
nests, and never found anything larger than a Dunlin, which bird, with 
larks, pipits, and large moths (principally of the Eggar species), seemed to 
make up their bill of fare. Though frequenting most of the wild, rocky 
glens in the Highlands, they seem to have a partiality for the more open 
moors, being particularly numerous in the flat parts of Sutherland and 
Caithness. The nest is generally placed amongst the heather on the 
ground in the open moor. In one case, however, I took the eggs from the 
face of a rock overhanging a hill loch in Ross-shire. The female was shot, 
but, being a good deal injured, was not retained; while the male, falling 
winged among large stones, managed to make good his escape into some 
hole before I could reach the spot. While searching for him, I stumbled on 
one of the best concealed whiskey-stills I ever met with. It will certainly 
be a particularly ‘cute exciseman that discovers its whereabouts without the 
help of previous information —E. T. Boorn (Dyke Road, Brighton), 
PomMaToRHINE SkUA AND Purrin in BerxsHrre.—In a bird-stuffer’s 
shop in Newbury, I lately saw the remains of a Pomatorhine Skua in nearly 
full plumage. This bird was killed in a wood near Newbury, by a farmer, 
on or about October 25th last, and was brought to its present possessor to 
make into a fan; and as now mounted wants the plumage of the back and 
both legs. The centre feathers of the tail were shot away, which accounts 
for its capture having attracted so little attention, it being mistaken for a 
Black-backed Gull; though judging from the colour of its wings, tail, and 
head, its back must have been of a dark brown colour. It proved on 
dissection to be a male, and was in very poor condition. In the same shop 
was a Puffin, which, on December 21st last, was seen by a man, named 
Harris, to rise from a ditch, near Newbury, and was knocked down with a 
whip.—H. M. Wats (Dorset Villa, Reading). 
Grey PHatarorpe tn Hants.—I have to record the occurrence of two 
specimens of this pretty little species. One on October 15th, shot upon a 
pond in the New Forest, which it had frequented for some days previously ; 
and the man who shot it said he could not but admire the graceful deport- 
ment of this elegant bird as it moved about upon the water, almost like a 
miniature Swan. It is a pity his admiration had not prompted a better 
feeling than killing the interesting little creature. The other specimen was 
killed, November 17th, somewhere upon the River Avon.—G. B. Corsin 
(Ringwood, Hants). 
