66 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
years I have had the remains of Quails’ eggs brought to me mostly smashed 
to pieces by the mowing-machine in the haymaking time, but never so late 
as August. Although unfortunately so destructive to birds and eggs, the 
general use of the mowing-machine has shown that Quails breed with us in 
Somersetshire more frequently than is supposed. My acquaintance also 
showed me at the same time three or four clutches of Red-backed Shrikes’ 
eggs taken in the neighbourhood, two I have no doubt taken in this parish 
(Bishops Lydeard), as I had previously noticed two pairs of Red-backed 
Shrikes, both of which I have no doubt had nests. I expected to hear of 
more Quails being shot about here in September than usual, but the only 
one I have seen or heard of was killed at Monkton on September 3rd. 
On the 29th of August a Greenshank was sent to me in the flesh and quite 
fresh from Huntspill, near Bridgewater. From the brown markings of the 
feathers of the back and upper parts, and the peculiar markings of the tail» 
I suppose this to have been a young bird of the year. On the 27th of 
September I received a letter from Mr. Edwards, of Wrington, in the eastern 
part of this county, informing me that he had just killed an old hen Red 
Grouse at that place. So far as I know this is the only instance of the 
occurrence of the Red Grouse in Somersetshire, the only other within a 
moderate distance of which 1 am aware being the one recorded in Montagu’s 
‘Ornithological Dictionary’ as having been shot near Wedhampton, in 
Wiltshire, in the winter of 1794. I also received from Huntspill, early in 
September, a Grey Phalarope, a young bird of the year, but rather an early 
occurrence. From the same place also, at the same time, a Richardson’s 
Skua in rather peculiar plumage. It is of the pale form and nearly adult, 
but, as usual at that time of year,in moult. ‘I'he brownish band on the 
breast is fully developed; the chin, the lower part of the breast, and the 
belly are white; the flanks, however, are much clouded with grey, and the 
under tail-coverts more or less barred. The back and upper parts are 
mostly of the usual pale grey of the adult, but mixed with this pale grey 
are many darker grey feathers rather broadly tipped with white; these, 
from their unworn appearance, are new feathers fresh grown after the 
autumn moult, the old paler feathers being a good deal worn at the tips and 
sides; the tail-feathers are new feathers after the moult, and not half- 
grown. ‘There are none of the yellow markings of the adult bird on the 
sides of the neck ; the dark cap, however, is fully developed. My last note 
is on a Little Auk, which I saw at the birdstuffer’s in Taunton on December 
1Uth. It had been sent from Lminster. and I suppose had been killed 
there, as it was in the flesh and quite fresh. ‘lhe weather had been 
stormy, with a strong gale from the west to north-west, which would 
account for its being found so far inland. — Cucis Smiru (Bishops 
Lydeard, Taunton). 
