492 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
and was sent to Mr. Max, taxidermist, of that town, for preservation; the 
bird when first seen was apparently digging for a wasp’s nest; a trap was 
set by the gamekeeper, and the bird was secured. A Great Grey Shrike, 
Lanius excubitor, was caught at Patcham, near Brighton, on October 15th, 
and was brought alive to Mr. Pratt, who also received a few days after- 
wards a fine specimen of the Crested Lark, Alauda cristata [recorded by 
Mr. Borrer, p. 494], and on October 25th, a mature specimen of the 
Lapland Bunting, E’mberiza lapponica. Mr. C.J. Ebden, of Coghurst 
Hall, near Hastings, informs me that towards the latter end of October he 
flushed a Great Snipe, Gallinago major, in a stubble-field on the Coghurst 
Hall estate. On the last day but one of October, when shooting in the 
Walling Marsh, near Rye, in company with Mr. H. V. Chapman, I was told 
by that gentleman that on the 16th of the same month, when out for a walk 
in the marsh with his setter, he flushed a Heron from a dyke, and the bird, 
instead of making off, as is usual, flew round and round his dog, repeatedly 
striking at its head; the bird, he further added, seemed devoid of all fear, 
and followed himself and dog for some little distance, frequently coming 
within a few yards of where he was. Strange conduct, surely, in a bird 
usually so wild and wary as the Heron; and at this time of the year anxiety 
for its young could certainly not be pleaded as an excuse for its audacity — 
Tuomas Parkin (Halton, Hastings). [Not unprecedented. See ‘ Hints on 
Shore Shooting,’ p. 67.—Eb.} . 
Sone or tHE WoopcoHat Sarike.—On the 1st of November I first 
heard the song of the Woodchat Shrike, as uttered by a caged male bird in 
my possession. The servants, who keep him by the kitchen fire, reported 
on October 24th or 25th that he was then singing loudly, and continued 
to report the fact daily until on November Ist I myself heard his well- 
sustained melody. It is for the most part guttural, but contains some very 
sweet notes. He has not heard any other bird singing since I purchased 
him in August last at Geneva. About August J2th he commenced to 
moult, now three parts completed. His sister nestling died in September 
without having cast a feather. Her voice did not possess the harsh chuckle 
or alarm-note of her brother; but rather resembled the wail of a kitten in 
difficulties, especially if she was hungry, or saw a grasshopper. It may be 
worth adding that the throat of the Woodchat vibrates very visibly during 
the performance of the song. At present the bird sings about four times 
a-day, warbling on each occasion for some minutes. He often holds up 
beetles in his feet, using those extremities almost as hands.—Huen A. 
Macpuerson (Westbourne Terrace, W.). 
Birps anp TeLeGRaPs-wires.—Mr. Corbin’s note on this subject 
brings to remembrance a few instances which have come within my own 
experience from time to time. Although there is no doubt that migratory 
