NOTES FKOM DEVON AND COENWALL. 167 



Frost set in during the night of February 1st, changing by 

 the morning to a strong south-east gale. I observed a Northern 

 Diver and several Eazorbills, together with a few Guillemots 

 and a great number of Kittiwakes, which latter had become very 

 plentiful after the recent gales; and by the 11th I remarked that 

 many Shags had assumed fine crests, with the yellow-spotted 

 gular pouch, and were apparently in full nuptial dress. 



On the morning of the 14th, after a tremendous storm during 

 the previous night, some fine old Cormorants, with hoary necks, 

 fine crests, and oval white spot on thighs, were seen constantly 

 diving, and bringing up such large fish as seemed almost im- 

 possible for them to swallow, but which with much apparent 

 difficulty they at length managed to get down. The struggles, 

 twistings, and turnings of these big fish in the distended gullet 

 of the half-choked Cormorant actually gave them the appearance 

 of going down at the back of the neck. The following day I saw 

 one of these birds, which had alighted perfectly exhausted on a 

 heap of stones on the quay of the Great Western Docks. It had 

 an immense Mullet in its throat, which I was told it could neither 

 get up nor down, allowing itself to be captured with the greatest 

 ease. The fish, however, was at length disgorged, but the poor 

 bird did not long survive. 



About this time a Common Guillemot, in perfect breeding 

 plumage, was knocked down by a boatman with a paddle, and 

 a fine Gannet was shot on the rocks of Drake's Island in the 

 Sound. Gannets are seldom seen so near the harbour. 



On February 18th, wind north, I saw another Black Redstart. 

 A Shag, with very fine crest and beautiful bottle-green plumage, 

 had just been killed ; and by the 25th, a very fine day, the Herring 

 Gulls were uttering their spring or breeding cry, and many of the 

 Black-headed Gulls had assumed tolerably dark heads. About 

 this date flocks of Greenfinches appeared on the coast. 



My friend Mr. Thomas Wolferstan, informs me that not long 

 since his brother shot a Partridge, which on being brought to 

 table was found to have been wounded at some time, by a large 

 piece of wood which had entered the chest and pierced the breast- 

 bone, where it broke short off and still remained, the flesh-wound 

 being so perfectly healed as not to be perceived. The bird seemed 

 to have entirely recovered, and was in first-rate condition. 



