THE ZooLocist—MarcH, 1876. 4827 
it was a single tusk, no fellow to it being known, and that it weighed 360 Ibs. 
It was reserved, and specially set aside to be sent to Mecca. I judged its 
length to have been about nine feet, and its girth was prodigious. Probably 
the elephant had but this one; the other being destroyed by some disease, 
the whole vital force had gone to form this mighty mass.—H. L. Layard. 
(‘ Field, February 5, 1876.) 
Rare Birds in Essex.—The following rare birds have come into my 
possession this winter (1875-76) :— 
Great Gray Shrike-—A male, in full plumage, was shot at Ramsey, near 
Harwich, on the 9th of November: its stomach contained a house sparrow. 
* Gray Phalarope-—A specimen, in full winter plumage, was shot at 
Harwich on the 24th of November. 
Sanderling.—Seven were shot on the beach at Dovercourt in November. 
Great Crested Grebe.—A specimen was shot at Dovercourt on the 26th of 
November. 
Rednecked Grebe-—One was caught by a dog in a pool of water on the 
sea-shore at Dovercourt on the 26th of November. 
Eared Grebe.—Two specimens of this pretty little grebe were shot on 
the river Stour, at Harwich, on the 3rd and 10th of December. 
Blackthroated Diver —Two specimens (male and female) of this rare bird 
were shot in Harwich Harbour on the 20th of December. 
Tufted Duck.—A pair were shot in the harbour on the 12th of January. 
Redbreasted Merganser.—Twelve of these birds (all females and immature) 
were sent me from Dovercourt. One killed itself by flying against the 
lighthouse. 
Goosander.—A female was shot in the harbour on the 17th of January. 
Gull with Black Head—On Sunday, January 9th, whilst walking on the 
Esplanade at Harwich, I saw a gull with a black head as far as the eyes. 
The bird came quite close to me, soI am not mistaken. Could it have 
been the blackheaded gull? I never saw one have a black head before 
March.—F’. Kerry ; Harwich. 
Small Birds and Reed Beds.—It is well known how attractive a bed of 
reeds is to several species of birds; for instance, who living in a favourable 
locality has not seen the countless numbers of the swallow tribe which 
frequent and roost in such situations in the latter days of summer? or of an 
evening who has not watched the large flocks of starlings which resort to 
the same roosting-place? or seen the whole reed-bed almost alive with a 
host of the sprightly wagtails as they flit and dance, with a merry note, 
from one part to another? Doubtless the insects found amongst the rushes 
are the great attraction during the day time or evening; but why is such a 
locality chosen to roost in? Is the temperature of such a situation more 
