NOTES FROM DEVON AND CORNWALL. 63 



stomach of which contained three small flatfish, and from its 

 gullet were taken several large prawns. On March 24th a 

 Garganey was obtained. 



I saw a large immature Glaucous Gull on the coast on 

 April 9th, rather a late date for that species in this locality. 

 Whimbrels I heard and saw on the 24th, and by the 28th, with 

 the wind S.W., Swifts had also arrived. 



On May 2nd I examined a Swallow which had been picked up 

 on the rocks at the base of the new Eddystone Lighthouse, 

 against which no doubt it had flown during the night. By the 

 21st the Herring Gulls at WembUry had many nests with eggs in 

 them; and I observed some Shags in their beautiful shining 

 bronze-green plumage, but which had already lost the peculiar 

 erect and curved crest of early spring. 



At the end of June a young Jackdaw (pure white) was 

 captured alive on the cliffs near Mount Batten, Plymouth ; it had 

 pink eyes, showing it to be a true albino, and was altogether the 

 handsomest variety of the species I ever saw. Several young 

 and a few adult Greater Spotted Woodpeckers were obtained 

 about this date, I am sorry to say ; for the species is by no 

 means common in this locality. 



Many Whimbrels returned from their breeding places about 

 July 21st, and I was told of some having been heard several days 

 previously. 



Young Herring Gulls made their appearance in the Sound 

 and harbour on August 7th, and I remarked that their flight was 

 very different from that of the old ones, being lighter and more 

 buoyant. On the 10th an adult Common Tern was seen hovering 

 over a school of mackerel, reminding me that "Mackerel-bird" is 

 a common name for this species on some parts of the coast of 

 Devon ; it was rather early for its appearance in this neighbour- 

 hood, for we seldom see any before September. On the 23rd 

 I noticed the last Swifts for the season, and the same day a 

 young Puffin was brought to one of our birdstuffers, which had 

 been caught with a hook and line. About the same time some 

 Manx Shearwaters, Common and Sandwich Terns were sent 

 from Carbis Bay, near St. Ives, Cornwall, to be preserved : the 

 Shearwaters were adult, but in full moult after the breeding 

 season, and their plumage very dull ; the leg of one specimen 

 had been shot off just below the tarsal joint apparently some 



