50 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
On May 22nd heard Whimbrel passing N. or N.E. at 5 p.m. ; 
wind strong N.W. 
On the 22nd August I saw Wheatears and Whinchats at 
Bosham, on their autumn migration. Yellow Wagtails and Tree 
Pipits also passing during the previous week. 
On the 24th November I examined, in the flesh, two Hen 
Harriers, Circus cyaneus, in the possession of the Rev. A. Fuller, 
which had been killed on some marshy ground near Sidlesham 
on the 22nd. The male was in the pure grey dress of adult 
plumage, and I take the female to be adult also, as I believe it 
never assumes the grey garb. 
ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM DEVON AND CORNWALL. 
By Joun GarcomBE. 
On May 8rd I observed the first Common Sandpiper on the 
coast, and two large flocks of Whimbrel flying up the River 
Tamar. On the 5th a Swift flew in from the sea at a great height 
early in the morning. By the 7th several Puffins had been sent 
to Plymouth from Instow, North Devon, for preservation, as also 
some Cuckoos from our immediate neighbourhood. Great 
numbers of Whimbrel were nightly heard passing over the town. 
Swifts were soon pretty plentiful, flying in pairs. A remarkable 
variety of the Rook was obtained about this time; it was a young 
bird, with the head, part of the neck, and quill-feathers of the 
wings pure white; tarsi shining black, but the bill and toes of a 
beautiful chrome-yellow, with here and there a few black spots ; 
claws white. Young Rooks are often more or less marked with 
white, but I do not remember having seen one before with such 
bright chrome-yellow on the bill and feet.* 
On May 20th continuous flocks of Martins were observed 
coming in from the sea, flying against a strong north wind until 
dusk, and the next day many were to be seen in the town. 
Several Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were obtained in the neigh- 
bourhood of Plymouth. Up to the end of June, large flocks of 
the Common Curlew were still to be seen frequenting the mud- 
* For some remarks on a Magpie with a yellow beak, see ‘ Zoologist,’ 1867, 
pp. 706, 757, 826, 877, 918, 1016.—Eb. 
