OCCASIONAL NOTES. 209 
abundant than in former years and difficult to be reached by very young 
cygnets, which are, moreover, continually killed in the fights that occur 
between rival pairs of Swans, and which frequently assume the ignoble 
phase of slaughtering each other's offspring. An additional cause of 
destruction is the invasion of foxes, which come from a distance to prey 
upon the cygnets, though they do not usually attack the old Swans, one 
of which was, however, killed by a fox during the past winter. Whilst 
watching the snowy ranks of portly Swans sedately enthroned upon their 
nests along the marshy borders of the “ fleet,” I was amused at the contrast 
exhibited by a flock of about forty nimble Stints, Tinga alpina, that, with 
rapid and agile motions, were exploring its oozy brink close upon the 
quarters of some of the downy giants; and I was, moreover, surprised 
at the Stints being absent from their own nesting places so late as the 25th 
April, but as a smaller flock which flew past me, and of which I had a 
nearer view, exhibited in its full beauty the rich breeding dress of this 
charming Sandpiper, I concluded that the good example of the Swans would 
shortly be followed by their diminutive neighbours. I may add that the 
Polish Swan appears to be unknown at Abbotsbury, as the swanherd told 
me that he had never known a white cygnet hatched there.—J. H. Gurney 
(Northrepps Hall, Norwich). 
THE SpoonBiLt In DorsetsHiRE.—This handsome bird occurs occa- 
sionally at Poole. In fact, from my own observations, coupled with the 
information elicited from old puntsmen and fishermen, it appears that few 
years pass without a visit from one or more “ Spoonbill Cranes,” as they 
are locally termed. I had an opportunity of observing one myself in the 
early summer of 1876. The first time I distinguished the bird I was 
engaged in hammering my una-boat against the prevalent sou’-wester, 
from Poole to Wareham, at a place on the Arne shore called Turner's Ford. 
A large white bird was standing on the beach, too high on the legs fora 
gull. It was very wild, and took wing a long way out of gunshot. As it. 
opened its wings I made out what it was, and, having a powerful glass with 
me, I ran the boat ashore to observe its actions more minutely. It flew 
rapidly round and round Wareham Bay, occasionally mobbed by gulls. 
After a somewhat protracted flight, during which greater powers of wing 
seemed to be displayed than those possessed by the slow-moving Heron, the 
bird approached the Heron’s nesting-place at Arne, which is situated about 
half a mile from the shore in a clump of fir trees. On these trees a 
number of Herons were quietly enjoying the pleasant sunshine. Attracted, 
however, by the unusual appearance of the Spoonbill, they all rose screaming 
into the air to have a look at the stranger. Apparently satisfied, most of 
them then returned to their post of observation on the firs. Presently the 
white bird joined them, pitching upon a tree in their company. This was 
25 
