NOTES FROM DEVON AND CORNWALL. 377 
This reminds me of the extraordinary number of Greenfinches 
which made their appearance in this neighbourhood at the begin- 
ning of the winter, remaining until the end of March. Indeed, 
places in the Docks, where ships discharged their cargoes of 
grain, actually swarmed with them, and when on the ground, 
although mingled with the usual vast flocks of Sparrows fre- 
quenting the locality, their plumage gave a strong green tint to 
the assembled flock. Hundreds were caught by the birdcatchers, 
who, I was informed, sent the wings or skins to London to be 
used as ornaments for ladies’ hats; but for the truth of this 
statement I cannot vouch. At the beginning of the close season 
I took steps to put a stop to such wholesale destruction. About 
the same time Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., remarked the appearance 
of a similar multitude of Green Linnets in the neighbourhood 
of Norwich (Zool. 1885, p. 150). By April 23rd Razorbills were 
in full breeding plumage. 
On May 9th observed the first Swifts. The stomach of a 
Cuckoo examined was filled with the larve of the fox-moth. 
Several Tawny Owls and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were 
brought to our birdstuffer within the last few days, and I saw at 
his shop a large and very old tame Duck, which had assumed the 
plumage of the drake, even to the curled feathers in the tail. 
He had also a singular variety of the male Blackbird, the whole 
plumage of which was pure white, with the exception of the tail, 
which was of a deep black, although, strange to say, the upper 
tail-coverts were as white as the rest of the body. 
For the month of June there is little to record, except that 
the birdstuffer received several Tawny and Barn Owls. 
On July 4th I visited the breeding-place of the Herring 
Gulls at Wembury, and found about the usual number of old and 
young, some of the latter having grown to a large size, although 
not yet able to fly. Ona shelf close toa nest and two young 
birds lay a large piece of conger eel, which appeared not to have 
been touched. 
At the beginning of August, whilst fishing in the Cattewater, 
Plymouth, I observed some Kittiwakes, which seemed to fly in a 
most extraordinary and unusual manner, with very quick beats 
of the wings. I afterwards ascertained (on examining one killed) 
that this was owing to the quill-feathers of both wing and tail 
being so worn and abraded by picking and exposure to the 
ZOOLOGIST.— ocT. 1885. 26 
