342 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
secure the latter bird, though I shot three of the others; one was in the 
perfect grey plumage; and the only trace of summer shown by the other 
two was an odd red feather seen here and there on the front of the neck 
and breast, probably not more than half a dozen on each. Ten days 
afterwards, i.e. June 29th, I went down again, and saw about the same 
number of birds, probably the very same flock at the old haunt; but though 
I carefully observed them with the aid of a glass for nearly half an hour, I 
was unable to make out a single redbreasted bird. While watching the 
Godwits I was surprised to notice about twenty Knots amongst them, and 
these also were in the grey plumage. Wishing to examine these birds I 
shot a Knot and two Godwits, none of which showed any trace of summer 
dress ; and the Knot, and one of the Godwits, had even begun the autumnal 
moult, the young feathers appearing being of a very light grey colour. 
When returning with the flood-tide I observed a few birds resting on the 
opposite side of the sandbank, and paddling round to obtain a closer view I 
noticed a pair of redbreasted birds standing in the shallow water apart from 
the others; on approaching within about seventy yards, with the aid of my 
glass I made them out to be a pair of Blacktailed Godwits in the beautiful 
perfect summer plumage—and very handsome they looked at the time, with 
the sun shining full on their chestnut-coloured breasts. I was unable to 
look after them again until August 2nd, when I met with about fifty Bar- 
tailed Godwits at the same place, three showing red breasts, but of a much 
paler red than that of the Blacktailed Godwits, seen on June 29th. These 
bartailed birds were evidently part of the flock which lingered about the 
sands throughout the summer, their excessive wariness proving almost 
conclusively that they were not birds lately returned from their breeding 
haunts; the latter, both old and young, being always tamer, and more 
easily approached than those which have remained about our shores 
throughout the season. In strong contrast to the late stay of the Godwits 
and Knots, some of our other waders returned unusually early from their 
breeding grounds; as early as June 19th I saw about seventy Redshanks 
and fourteen Greenshanks, near Roserk Abbey; and by the 29th the 
numbers of the Redshanks had increased to over two hundred, and the 
Greenshanks to about twenty birds. The shores of the islands near the 
Abbey are a favourite resting place for these waders in the early part of the 
season on their return from their breeding grounds, and before they scatter 
along the adjacent coasts for the winter.— Robert Warren (Moyview, 
Ballina, Co. Mayo). 
THE CaPERcalLiie 1x Scortanp.—At page 221 allusion was made to a 
paper read by Mr. Harvie Brown, before the Natural History Society of 
Glasgow, entitled—‘“A Chapter in the History of the Capercaillie in 
Scotland.” From a report since come to hand we are enabled to supply 
