1098 The Zoologist— February, 1868. 



American Bittern in Pevensey Marshes. — On the 26th of November last a strange 

 bird was flushed from one of the dykes in these marshes, and several people were soon 

 in hot pursuit. Mr. Albeit Vidler (who has contributed many rarities to the Avifauna 

 of East Sussex) came out with his gun, and soon succeeded in shooting it. It proved 

 to be a beautiful specimen of the American bittern (Ardea minor), whicb exactly 

 agrees with Morriss's fine plate ; indeed I never saw a more perfect resemblance. On 

 comparing the two birds, the common and the American bittern, there is a very great 

 difference, the former bein<r much larger and much paler than the latter, the difference 

 being perceptible at a glance, even were it not for the greater size. The cere of the 

 latter is pale green, while that of the former is flesh-colour. It was exhibited at the 

 first meeting of our newly-formed Natural History Society, and excited a great deal of 

 attention. The following are the measurements, &c, taken from the stuffed specimen : 

 length 21 inches; tarsus 3£ inches; fool 6J iuches. I may here remark that " ihe 

 descending streak of black down the arch of the neck" is peculiarly striking. — John 

 Button. 



Bittern (Ardea stellaris). — Two of these birds were obtained last week in the 

 vicinity of Slaplon Lea. The first was observed to settle on some reeds, and was 

 approached and killed without difficulty. The second was procured in the evening, 

 during flight time, at the Torcross end of the Lea. The latter is a very fine bird, and 

 has come into my possession. On skinning I found it was an old male and immensely 

 fat. — G. F. Mathew ; Barnstaple, December 21, 18(57. 



Double-yelked Hen's Eijijs. — One of our domestic fowls lately laid in six days three 

 double-yelked eggs, which together weighed close upon 14 ounces; it afterwards laid 

 two more about the size of duck's eggs: all of these five eggs were badly formed, 

 having a pinched and contracted appearance at one end. Is not the size of these eggs 

 very remarkable ? I once had one which weighed three ounces and a half, and I 

 remember thinking it very large at the lime. — John A. Harvie Brown; Dunipace 

 House, Falkirk, January 10, 1863. 



Purple Sandpiper near Beacky Head. — December 18, 1807. Four of these graceful 

 and pretty waders have been shot during last month, most of them on the rocks near 

 Beachy Head. Last year I procured three about this time. — John Dutton. 



Redcreslcd Whittling Duck near Braunlon. — I have just seen, in our birdstuffer's 

 shop, a very beautiful mallard specimen of this fine species, which was shot yesterday 

 near Brauuton. I was unable to ascertain whether it was in company with any others 

 when it was killed, or whether it was a solitary individual.— G. F. Mathew ; Barnstaple, 

 December 21, 1867. 



Great Northern Diver on the River Taw. — One of these birds was shot last week 

 on the river Taw, near Instow, by one of the local boatmen. — Id. 



Wide-awake Terns. — My friend Mr. E. R. Alston inquired what terns Dr. Colling- 

 wood referred to as breeding in such large numbers in Ascension. As no one has 

 offered to answer, I may be permitted to ask an additional question. Do sooty terns 

 breed in Ascension, and if so are those the terns which Dr. Colliugwood refers to? I 

 received a nest of eggs from Ascension this year, through Mr. Sim, naturalist in 

 Aberdeen, which were taken at the former place by Dr. Sutherland, and the birds shot 

 off the nest. From the description of the egg in Dr. Collingwood's paper (Zool. S. S. 

 983), I am inclined to think that the "wide-awake tern" is identical with the sooty 

 tern. My four eggs resemble those of the Sandwich tern, but have a creamier tint in 



