196 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
of the Red-necked species, too, I find vary considerably both in 
length and thickness. 
Herons and Curlews suffered much from the severe weather 
in January, many having been brought to the markets. Bramblings 
and Hawfinches (rare birds in this district), have also visited us, 
some of the former having been noticed in the middle of the 
town. Some Stock Doves in the market were obtained in the 
neighbourhood, and the first, the market people said, they had 
ever received; they certainly are but rarely met with in this 
locality, although I am aware that large flocks annually visit the 
more eastern parts of Devon in November to feed on the beech- 
mast. Immense quantities of Lapwings were killed; and one 
fine old male which came under my inspection, having the longest 
crest I ever saw, had already nearly acquired the black chin and 
throat of the breeding season. Many Brent Geese and a few 
Bean Geese made their appearance, and one Wild Swan was killed 
on the River Yealm, near Plymouth. Woodcocks and Snipe 
arrived in great abundance, and among the former I examined a 
very pretty pied variety sent from Cornwall, having a pure white 
patch on the top of its head, a ring round the neck taking in part 
of the chest, and white wing-coverts, the bases of the primaries 
also being tinged with the same ; the other parts were of the usual 
colour, or perhaps a shade lighter, the whole plumage strongly 
reminding one of that of the Snow Bunting in winter; its legs 
appeared to have been nearly of the usual tint, with the exception 
of a pure white claw on one toe of each foot. 
Strange to say Fieldfares and Redwings were exceedingly 
scarce during the heavy fall of snow; hardly any were to be seen 
in or around the town, although our gardens were swarming with 
Starlings, Blackbirds, and Thrushes in the most distressed con- 
dition ; yet, I am happy to add, that notwithstanding hundreds 
were trapped, shot, and killed in various ways, the*sufferings of a 
great number were greatly alleviated by their-being daily and 
liberally fed by the more humane portion of the population. 
Missel Thrushes almost entirely disappeared from the neighbour- 
hood, and I remarked that there was not the usual migration 
of Larks, Starlings, Fieldfares, Thrushes, Redwings, &c., along 
the coast from east to west, which has particularly attracted 
my attention in previous years during the first heavy fall of snow. 
But I think I cannot do better than give a few extracts from 
