4746 THE ZooLoGistT—J ANUARY, 1876. 
Noles from Castle Eden. By Mr. JoHN SCLATER. 
(Continued from §. 8. 4406.) 
JANUARY, 1875. 
The first day of 1875, like the last of 1874, was a terrible day 
for the poor birds. 
Waterhen.—One found dead in a cow-byre and another in a 
covered well: both birds appear to have been seeking shelter; they 
had fed regularly with the poultry for some time, but their stomachs 
contained only a small quantity of green pulp. It seems therefore 
that vegetable food is not sufficient to sustain life in these birds in 
continued severe weather, when frosts seal up their uatural insect- 
food; for it would hardly be logical to return a verdict of “ found 
starved to death in a warm cow-byre” in one instance, or “ suicide 
by drowning” in the other. 
Redbreast.—Of several that visit the house one is particularly 
interesting: he has quartered himself in the kitchen for the last six 
weeks, seldom leaving it, his favourite perch being the top of a delf- 
rack, where he sits exactly in the centre and will sing for hours 
together. The roaring of the kitchen fire seems quite to his taste, 
and more so the small cockroaches, of which he eats a great number, 
and so intent is he in pursuit of them as to run great risk of being 
trodden on. 
Blackheaded Gull.—On the 5th 1 obtained a fine specimen on 
the beach. The plumage of this bird is identical with Yarrell’s 
description of the masked gull in winter, but I cannot believe them 
to be distinct species. 
Redwing.—Seven found dead on a ledge of clay overhung by 
grass at the side of a small stream. 
Goldeneye.—On the 16th I obtained an adult female on the coast, 
shot from a flight of four. 
17th. I heard a missel thrush singing; no song thrushes to be 
seen yet; starlings seem as happy as if they had known no storm; 
rooks at their nests as clamorous as possible. Itis surprising what 
a change a few fine days has made in these poor creatures, which 
a fortnight ago were nearly starved to death. 
Dipper.—On the 19th an adult female was shot and brought to 
me; the stomach contained the bones of a minnow and the elytra 
of a small beetle. 
