62 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Swattows 1n Decemper.—The appearance of Swallows in this country 
in December, although by no means unprecedented (for several such 
instances have been recorded), is nevertheless sufficiently unusual to deserve 
notice. During the past autumn the late stay of Swallows was the subject 
of general remark, and it may be as well therefore to place on record, for 
future reference and comparison, some of the latest dates at which these 
birds were observed in 1880, together with such remarks concerning wind 
and weather as were noted at the time by the observer in each case. 
I accordingly append the following reports which have reached me :— 
Lymington, Hants . Nov.22. 11 degrees of frost. 
Dublin. . . . . 4, 22. Snow on ground. 
Penzance . . . . 4, 28. Stormy and cold. 
A bitter cold and stormy day. During 
Walmowihy 5 °is)434 ca. 259 «BY previous 14 days high N. and N.E. 
winds, with hard frost and ice } in. thick. 
Portscatho, Cornwall »» 29. Seen for 8 days previously, 
Bournemouth . . Dec. 7. One seen, middle of day; no sun. 
Eastbourne... » Ll. Two seen. 
Walmer . . . . 4, 11. One seen; light N.W. wind. 
Henley-on-Thames. ,, 18. A Martin seen; sun shining. 
The above facts speak for themselves. It will be observed that, with 
one exception, all the birds were seen in the South of England. In the 
Isle of Wight, as I am informed by Capt. Hadfield, the last Swallows in 1880 
were observed at Ventnor on November 17th.—J. E. Harriva. 
Kine Erper at tae Farne Istanps.—The note on the King Eider 
at the Farnes (Zool. 1880, p. 514) leaves it open to doubt whether the birds 
mentioned by the light-keeper really were King Hiders, and Mr. Cordeaux 
has asked me to supplement his remarks with the following notes of: my 
own taken while at Bamburgh last summer. On June 7th I went out to 
the Farnes with a North Sunderland boatman, who told me that he had 
seen a King Eider and duck near the islands a few days before. I asked 
him to keep a look out, and to let me know if they remained in the neigh- 
bourhood. On the 9th we were again at the islands, and when about 
half a mile past the Inner Farne the boatman pointed out a light-coloured 
duck swimming with several common Eiders, and said, ‘ That is the duck 
the King Eider is generally with.” We could not distinguish at the distance 
whether the male King Hider was in the flock, and at our approach they all 
made off in an opposite direction. Isaw the boatman a few days afterwards, 
and he assured me that on one or two occasions he had been quite near to 
the King Eider, and immediately recognised it as being similar to one he 
had shot seven years ago, mentioned by Mr. Hancock in his ‘ Catalogue,’ 
and referred to by Mr. Cordeaux. Is it not possible that the “cream- 
coloured duck” may be a variety ? I believe my informant to be a thoroughly 
