NOTES AND QUERIES. 227 



the most reasonable explanation seems to be that the "old" donkey turned 

 out in the snow with a sore back, died a natural death, starvation perhaps 

 hastening its end ; and then, but not till then, the Magpies fed upon him, 

 finding the sore on his back the tenderest part to begin upon. The Magpie 

 is certainly a great pilferer, but as nobody actually saw these Magpies kill 

 the donkey, it seems drawing on the imagination a little too far to suppose 

 that they were really guilty of his murder. — E. W. H. Blagg (Cheadle, 

 Staffordshire). 



Ornithological Notes from Dorsetshire. — A Hoopoe was shot on 

 April 17th, at Crouch Grange, by the Rev. N. Bond's keeper, who mistook 

 it for a Jay. A boy picked it up soon after with a broken wing, and brought 

 it home, hoping with careful attention to keep it alive, which is possible for 

 a time at least, if it is supplied with suitable food — grubs, worms, beetles, &c. 

 It is not a dainty feeder. It is a pity so handsome and attractive a bird as 

 the Jay should be so hardly dealt with by keepers generally for the 

 occasional theft of an egg, which is only its exceptional food, and to which 

 the whole family of Corvidm is addicted. An adult female Common 

 Buzzard was brought to me for identification on May 1st. It had been 

 killed the previous day in the neighbourhood of Winterton Kingston. A 

 Black-throated Diver was picked up on March 20th, at Wortlaud, in the 

 Vale of Blackmore, seventeen miles inland, by Mr. Montague Williams 

 Gardner, who, hearing something fall heavily near his house, went out and 

 found the bird lying in a helpless state. He brought it in and gave it 

 every care, but for want of proper food and, besides being probably wounded, 

 it died on the 22nd. About the same time a Gannet found its way to 

 Stourton Candler, also in the Vale of Blackmore, but six miles further 

 inland. The bird was found by Mr. Rice, of New Leog Farm, in one of 

 his fields. Though unable to fly, it had sufficient strength and courage to 

 attack and firmly take hold of his leg. Mr. Rice tells me it was wounded 

 in the legs and feet. Its death-flight must have been a long one. A Pied 

 Flycatcher is now frequenting the Rectory Garden of Corfe Castle, where 

 one was seen some years ago, but was unfortunately killed. This one being 

 alone, there is no chance of our hearing of a brood at Corfe, unless it is 

 accompanied, as in the last instance, by a mate. It is to be hoped this may 

 be the case, and that it has escaped the vigilant eye of Mr. Eustace Barker, 

 to whom I am indebted for the notice of the visit of this rare little bird. — 

 J. C. Mansel-Pleydell (Whatcombe). 



Reported Occurrence of the Lesser White-fronted Goose in Somer- 

 setshire. — With reference to the statement which appeared in the Report 

 of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society on April 5th (p. 195), Mr. F. 

 Crisp, Treasurer to the Society, has received the following communication, 

 which he has forwarded for publication : — "I have great pleasure in sending 



