SOMERSETSHIRE BIRDS. 219 



The Pigeons that fly at night have little bells fastened round 

 their feet or ankles. These bells are called khalkhae, and have 

 small shot within them to give a jingling sound and indicate the 

 whereabouts of the Pigeon in the air at night, for otherwise the 

 Kabutar-baz and the spectators can hardly distinguish in what 

 direction the Pigeon has flown. These pigeon-bells are either of 

 gold, silver, brass, or morassakar — i. e. set with jewels. 



(To be continued.) 



ADDITIONS TO THE LIST OF SOMERSETSHIRE BIRDS. 

 By the Rev. M. A. Mathew, M.A. 



The Supplemental List to his ' Birds of Somerset,' sent by 

 Mr. Cecil Smith to the last number of ' The Zoologist,' does not 

 yet include all those species whose capture within the limits of 

 his county has from time to time been recorded. On referring 

 to my notes I am able to add the following ten birds, which will 

 bring the number obtained in Somerset up to 246, counting 

 those which Mr. Smith has already mentioned : — 



1. Snowy Owl, Sumia nyctea, A very beautiful adult 

 example was trapped on Exmoor in March, 1876, as recorded 

 by me in ' The Zoologist ' for 1876, p. 4900. 



2. Twite, Linota flavirostris. Seen by me several times on 

 sandhills near Weston-super-Mare. 



3. Bee-eater, Merops apiaster. One obtained many years ago 

 near Bridgwater was in the collection of Mr. Straddling, of 

 Chilton Polden (Zool. 1881, p. 309). 



4. Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio hyacinthinus. Although the 

 authorities refuse this bird a place in the British list, it has 

 occurred so often in a wild state in all parts of the kingdom as 

 to preclude the idea that all must have been escaped birds, and 

 is as much entitled to be called "British" as any I am now 

 setting down. A very fine example, showing no signs of having 

 been in confinement, was caught by a sheep-dog in a ditch on the 

 farm of Mr. James Burrows of Badgworth, as recorded by me in 

 ' The Zoologist' for 1879, p. 128. 



5. Little Crake, Porzana parva. Mr. Straddling's collection 

 contained an adult male, which was obtained near Bridgwater 

 (Zool. 1879, p. 128). 



