50 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



separate that portion enclosed for the Swans, &c. They stood 

 all of a row, some on one leg, some on both, but evidently in 

 that position were prepared to pass the night. They are very 

 late feeders, and the whole of them were not collected together 

 till near 10.30 ; some stragglers were even later, but it appeared 

 as if a place was assigned to each. Whilst watching them the 

 "quack, quack" of the Wild Duck would be heard all around, 

 numbers coming in from other parts of the lake. The Coot is a 

 most interesting bird, and notice him diving ! the pearly hue he 

 has when under water leaving him as he comes to the sm-face. 

 Then, half paddling, half flying — 



" The wantou Coot the water skims. 

 Rocked on the bosom of the sleepless wave." 



No one should leave Lucerne without visiting the Coots. 



NOTE OF SOME RARE BRITISH BIRDS IN THE 

 COLLECTION OF MR. J. WHITAKER. 



As it is always interesting to know where rare and historical 

 specimens are preserved, I have compiled the following list of 

 uncommon birds in the collection of Mr. J. Whitaker, of Kain- 

 worth Lodge, Notts, hoping that it may be of service to other 

 ornithologists. — Oliver V. Aplin. 



Falco islandus, Gmel. — Ku'kwall, Orkney, 1876. 



F. respertinus, Linn. — Bempton Cliffs, near Bridlington, 

 Yorkshire, July Cth, 18G5. Vide ' Handbook of British Birds,' 

 p. 87, and ' Handbook of Yorkshire Yertebrata,' p. 47. 



F. cesalon, Tunstall. — A female Merlin killed at Ramsdale, 

 Notts, in November, 1870, presents a curious appearance, being 

 quite half as large again as an ordinary specimen. ' Birds of 

 Nottinghamshire,' p. 7. 



Circus cineraccus (Mont.) — Obtained near Salisbury, 1871. 



Milrus ictinus, Saviguy. — Shot by W. Wilson, at Sanday, 

 Orkney, in April, 1877. 



Scops gitt (Scop.) — Eenwick, Cumberland, May 15th, 1875. 

 Recorded in ' The Field,' 22ud May, 1875. 



