226 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Motacllla flava, a brightly coloured male, was also caught here, on the 

 Downs, on April 20th. Both have been preserved, and are now in my 

 possession.— F. H. Barclay (Brighton). 



Bee-eater in Co. Cork.— I received the other day a specimen of the 

 Bee-eater, Merops apiaster, L., for our collection of Irish birds. It was 

 shot at Whitegate, Co. Cork, during the first week of May. This bird is 

 a very rare visitor to Ireland, having only occurred here about half-a-dozen 

 times.— Robert P. Scharf (Science and Art Museum, Dublin). 



Hoopoe and Turtle Dove in Co. Waterford. — Some of the immigrant 

 Hoopoes observed in England have found their way over here. On the 

 15th April one was shot at Seaview, on the coast of this county, and sent 

 to me. I have presented it to the Science and Art Museum, Dublin. 

 Another Hoopoe (evidently the mate of the preceding) has frequently been 

 seen about Seaview and along the neighbouring cliff-tops since. I have 

 requested that it may not be shot. I had previously received the wing of 

 a Hoopoe which had been killed by a cat, close to Seaview, in February or 

 the beginning of March, 1836. The species is a rare visitant to Waterford, 

 Cork, and Kerry. I know of some occurrences in each of these counties. 

 Smith records a Hoopoe killed in Co. Waterford "during the great frost of 

 1739." The Turtle Dove, which is rare in Ireland, has in several years 

 been observed at Seaview. — R. J. Ussher (Cappagh, Co. Waterford). 



Starling mimicking other Birds' Notes.— On May 5th, while resting 

 after climbing to a Kestrel's nest, I heard, as I thought, the note of a 

 Kestrel just behind me, but on turning round I saw that the note was 

 produced by a Starling. The bird then began whistling the ordinary notes 

 of its own species, but soon these were changed for the twitter of the 

 Swallow, then for the call of the Partridge. The reproduction of the 

 different birds' notes was perfect. The Starling was close to me the whole 

 time, so that I could easily see that it was the author. I have many times 

 noticed a Starling imitate the notes of one single other species, but never 

 before heard it "take off" so many birds in such quick succession. — ■ 

 E. W. H. Blagg (Cheadle, Staffordshire). 



Magpies attacking a weakly Donkey. — The incident described on 

 p. 184 certainly does not strike me as being " well authenticated." The 

 donkey, when found dead, had one wound, and one wound only, according 

 to the accouut given. Now this "old donkey " must have been very differeut 

 from all other donkeys, if, when he found a hole being made in his spiue, — 

 a very painful process one would imagine, — he did not roll on his back or 

 in some other way get rid of the Magpies. It seems incredible that he 

 should allow them to go on pecking at the same place till they had killed 

 him. If the donkey had been found to have been wounded in several 

 places, the case would have been a stronger one against the Magpies. But 



