4844 THE ZooLocist—Marcu, 1876. 
at the tip of the feathers from about the same locality; anda full dressed 
male a few years before. How many moults does this bird make in attaining 
the full dress, and does it ever breed in this country, having occurred in its 
nestling dress as early as October?—Henry Nicholls, jun.; February 8, 
1876. Ces 
Glossy Ibis.—In the ‘ Zoologist’ (S. 8. 1917), Baron von Hiigel notes the 
occurrence of a glossy ibis on the river Dart; he describes the specimen 
at some length, which he states “is nearly in full plumage.” Through his 
kindness it is now in our collection. Though very good fora British one, it 
is some way off being in full plumage, being speckled with white feathers 
about the head, and lacking the rich bay which characterises the adult. 
I said some time ago (S. S. 3028) that the purple heron, squacco heron and 
night heron, though always accidental migrants in Norfolk, had been much 
more plentiful prior to 1833 than they had been since. The same remark 
seems toapply to the glossy ibis. Mr. Stevenson (‘ Birds of Norfolk,’ vol. ii., 
p. 191) enumerates eleven specimens between 1818 and 1833, as against 
two since.—J. H. Gurney, jun. 
Woodcock’s Mode of Carrying its Young.—At p. 3260 an extract is given, 
from a work on the Natural History of apart of Hampshire, in corrobora- 
tion of the breeding of the woodcock in that portion of southern England. 
The extract begins :— Many a time in the cold days of March have I seen 
the woodoock in the new plantations of Wootton, carrying their young under 
their wing, clutching them up in their large claws.” I hope I shall not be 
deemed an unreasonable critic if I say that this sentence needs amending. 
In the first place, I presume that by “claws” toes are meant. This is a 
mere slip; but how could any woodcock fly away with its young ones under 
its wing? The absurdity of the idea must strike any person on reflec- 
tion. The woodcock neither uses its wings nor its toes for this operation, 
The young bird is borne away between the tarsi or legs, next to and touching 
the bird’s belly. —Id. 
Baillon’s Crake at Braunton Burrows.—I shot a fine specimen of this 
pretty little crake by the side of one of the numerous pools on Braunton 
Burrows, on February 4th. When first observed, it was feeding out in the 
open; but as soon as it caught sight of me it scuttled off as fast as it could 
to the shelter of the thick rushes which surrounded the pool ; and as it thus 
half run, half flew, I fired and winged it; and it was only by searching each 
clump of rushes carefully with my hands that I succeeded in finding it, as 
it had crept into one of the thickest tufts, where it had crouched down and 
was completely hidden. I have on former occasions caught glimpses of a 
small crake both on the burrows and marshes, but have never been able to 
secure one, as they were invariably close to shelter, and immediately on 
being seen ran off swiftly and hid themselves; and would never afterwards 
be flushed. I have no doubt.it is not an uncommon species; but, on 
