The Zoologist— January, 1868. 1059 



bank of clay, flanked and surmounted by faggots. Thrushes and sparrows yearly nest 

 and bring up their young in the faggots, in company with rabbits, although all day 

 the bullets are crashing on the target and bank within a few feet of their nests, and 

 sometimes even into the faggots. The six hundred yards firing point is an open 

 wooden shed, about twelve feet square, built on the embankment of a mill-stream, ihe 

 floor of the shed on the oue side resting on the bank and the other supported by piles 

 and rafters: on these rafters, immediately under the floor, a thrush built and reared 

 its brood, and on a ledge under the roof, not more than seven feel from the floor, and 

 quite visible, two swallows' nests were formed ; one was deserted after a time; the other 

 reared the young and departed. This little shed was in daily use, yet, notwithstanding 

 the trampling of the men and firing of the rifles, these birds showed no fear. — 

 J. Hunter ; Faversham. 



Ornithological Notes from Stilly.— The shooting party left Trescoe Abbey at the 

 latter part of November with no very great success in their snipe and woodcock bag. 

 The following are some observations made during the month:— A female or young 

 surf scoter was obtained, a low latitude for this arctic duck: I reported an adult male, 

 with its brilliant-coloured bill, had been obtained some time since. A young firecrest 

 was also obtained, with the distinct white mark over the eye, but without any coloured 

 crest. Flocks of stock cloves had arrived, and the usual migration of redwings, chaf- 

 finches and bramble finches. Siskins had also appeared in considerable numbers, and 

 a male redbacked shrike was observed. It may be remarked that this shrike has been 

 lost sight of in the county for some years, except an occasional specimen.— Edtvard 

 Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, December 2, 1867. 



Virginian Colin at St. Mary's Cray, Kenl.— l beg to inform you that, through the 

 kindness of Mr. W. L. Buster, of St. Mary's Cray, I have a male specimen of the 

 Virginian colin, which was shot by him, on the 25th of last June, in the nursery of 

 Messrs. G. and J. Lane. It was first seen by their foreman on the 23rd of June, and 

 was killed by Mr. Buster two days afterwards, whilst perched in an apple-tree. It 

 was preserved by Mr. Packman, of Orpington, but did not come into my possession 

 until September last, and pressure of business has prevented my sending you a notice 

 of it sooner.— /. W. Stephenson; 2, Loudoun Place, Brixton Road, November 23, 

 1867. 



Flight of Bitterns. — We have had a large number of these birds in our district, 

 extending, in fact, to the Scilly Isles, during the week. Some seasons consecutively 

 we never see a single example. — Edward Hearle Rodd ; December 16, 1867. 



Jack Snipe in August.— la the December number of the 'Zoologist' (S. S. 1016), 

 I see September noted as an early date for the appearance of this bird. This year, on 

 the 24th of August, I flushed a jack snipe in some water-meadows close to the town 

 here. When first disturbed it flew lazily for about thirty yards, and then dropped: 

 on putting it up a second time it flew strong and well: it was apparently an adult 

 bird.'— James Shorto,jun.; High East Street, Dorchester, December 14, 1867. 



Longlailed Duck at Exmouih. — During my recent visit to Teignmouth I was 

 fortunate enough to get a specimen of this duck for my collection : it was killed by 

 one of the boatmen at Exmouth, as he was on his way from that place to meet me at 

 Starcross, on the 18th of November. He had seen a small flock of six or seven of the 

 same birds about for a day or two before, and he afterwards told me he had seen one 

 since. The oue procured is a young bird of the year. — Cecil Smith. 



