68 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Storm Perret near WenDover.—A specimen of the Storm Petrel 
was picked up near Wendover, and brought to me about the middle of 
November last. It had been dead for some time, and was quite dried up.— 
H. Harpur Crewe (Drayton-Beauchamp Rectory, Tring). 
Great NorraerN Diver near BarnstapLe.—About the end of the 
last week of November two very large examples of the Great Northern Diver 
were shot on the River Taw, near Barnstaple. These birds are nearly in 
full summer plumage, only a few grey feathers appearing on the head and 
throat.—Gerrvasge F. Maruew (Instow, North Devon). 
Nicut Heron at Dovercourt.—A female Night Heron, now in my 
collection, was shot at Dovercourt, near Harwich, on the 29th November 
last. It is in the immature or spotted plumage, and weighed one pound 
eleven ounces. It has its middle claw serrated—F. Kerry (Harwich). 
GotpeN Eacie 1x Co, Donncat.—We are sorry to have to record 
the death of a Golden Eagle, which was shot at Killibegs, Co. Donegal, on 
November 22nd.—Wit.iams & Son (Naturalists, Dublin). 
Tu Cuckoo Ray.—I have more than once expressed my belief that 
the Cuckoo Ray is nothing more than an accidental, and very handsome, 
variety of the Homelyn Ray. On November 27th I obtained a specimen 
of a Ray with the most distinct markings of “ Cuckoo” Ray that I have 
ever seen. The distinguishing spot of the “ Cuckoo” on each wing was 
most distinct. ‘The spots of the Homelyn (usually faintly seen in the 
“ Cuckoos” which I have observed) were not to be seen at all in this 
specimen, but in all other respects the similarity between this specimen 
and the acknowledged Homelyn is so great that I cannot abandon my 
belief that the Cuckoo and the Homelyn are “the pretty one” and “ the 
plain one” of the same family —Tnomas Cornisu (Penzance). 
On THE Fricut or THE FiyinG-F1sH.—Having been much in tropical 
seas, and crossed the equator twelve times, and seen thousands and tens of 
thousands of Flying-fish, I may perhaps be allowed to offer a few remarks 
on an article upon this subject in ‘The Zoologist’ for November last (Zool. 
1880, p. 471). The writer, after ten days’ experience, claims to have 
settled the somewhat vexed question as to whether this fish actually flies or 
is “carried parachute-like” before the wind; and another point has been 
determined to his own satisfaction, that of its flying against the wind, for 
he says, “In case of a breeze, the direction of flight, as a rule, was either 
against that of the wind, or formed a more or less angle with it.” But 
T have no recollection of ever seeing one fly against the wind. To enable 
it to do so the muscular power of the pectoral fins must be great indeed, 
exceeding that of the wing of a Storm Petrel, considering the body to be 
