OCCASIONAL NOTES. 67 
happens that one gets so good an opportunity of inspecting Rough-legged 
Buzzards as Norfolk naturalists have had this year. Among all the 
specimens reported to me there has only been one which in plumage 
approached the adult state.—J. H. Gurney, Jun. (Northrepps, Norwich). 
Harty ARRIVAL OF THE CarrrcHarr IN IRrLanD.—When driving from 
Killarney to Kenmare, on the 20th of March last, I heard a good many 
Chiffchaffs., There are, however, many records of its song being heard at 
an earlier date. The following extract from a letter lately received from 
a good observer living near Cork may be worth record. He says:— 
“T think I mentioned in the beginning of this year that I had shot a 
specimen of the Chiffchaff on the 22nd of February. The little creature 
made me aware of its presence one frosty morning by repeating its well- 
known call three or four times in an alder bush, when I killed it.” Could it 
be possible that the bird had remained all the year in the country? I suppose 
so. See Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds,’ 4th ed., p. 439.—Wutttam W. FLemyna 
(18, Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin). 
SHOVELLER IN OxrorDsHIRE.—In March last, or perhaps rather later 
in the year, a pair of Shovellers were seen on Otmoor, in this county; the 
male, I am sorry to say, was shot. It is possible that they might have 
bred there if undisturbed. A bird of the year was killed in the same place 
in October. The Rev. J. W. Falcon (to whom I am indebted for the 
information) says of the former, ‘It was killed in the middle of Otmoor, a 
habitat just suited to it... .. Otmoor is in winter, and often all summer, 
a swamp of from 2000 to 3000 acres.” He adds that the bird is sufficiently 
well known there (as a winter visitor) to have the local name of ‘ Spoon- 
bill.”"—Oniver V. ApLin (Bodicote, near Banbury). 
Burr Variety oF THE Common Snipe.—A pretty variety of the 
Common Snipe was shot early in December at Omagh, and forwarded 
to us for preservation. The prevailing colour is buff, with traces of the 
characteristic markings which are seen in normal specimens of the Common 
Snipe.—Wrtiams & Son (Naturalists, Dublin). 
Grey PHALAROPE IN SussEX.—I have to record the occurrence of a 
bird of this species, which was shot in “The Nook,” at Rye, on the 
16th November last. It has been preserved, and is now in possession 
of Mr. Bristowe, naturalist, of the Norman Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea.— 
Tomas Parkin (Halton, Hastings). 
Siskin in CornwaLt.—On November 10th a specimen of the Siskin, 
Fringilla spinus, was shot at the Lizard by Mr. J. H. Drage. As this bird . 
is seldom met with in Cornwall, except sometimes in winter, its occurrence 
may be worth recording in ‘The Zoologist..—H, Passincuam Harr 
(Polbrean, The Lizard), 
