NOTES AND QUERIES. 263 



strangers ; much valuable information regarding their habits, food, measure- 

 ments, &c, having thus been obtained from personal observation. I cannot, 

 however, but regret having had to chronicle the deaths of so many, though 

 personally I have not lifted a hand against them. From the state of the 

 ovaries in several I have dissected I do not doubt that they would nest with 

 us if unmolested. — William Evans (18a, Morningside Park, Edinburgh). 



I daresay you have seen accounts in the newspapers of flocks of 

 Pallas's Sand Grouse having arrived in Scotland. A few were obtained here 

 (Austruther, Fifeshire), and I was fortunate enough to obtain a pair of them 

 on May 26th. Apparently they have been in this neighbourhood some 

 time. A few only were got. In the crops of the ones I obtained were a 

 few grains of barley, and a good lot of clover, with other small seeds. — John 

 Ross (Anstruther, Fifeshire, N.B.) [Communicated by H. W. Marsdeu.] 



Yorkshire. — In addition to those reported by me near Burniston (p. 234), 

 I saw two flocks of Sand Grouse on the morning of May 28th near 

 Scarborough, one of about eight, the other of nearly twenty birds. The 

 small flock appeared very wild, and would not allow a nearer approach than 

 eighty yards. — R. P. Hakper (10, Seamer Road, Scarborough). 



Cambridge. — Several flocks of Sand Grouse were seen in the neighbour- 

 hood of Newmarket and Mildenhall between June 10th and 13th. One 

 flock of about twenty, on Newmarket Heath on June 7th, alarmed by the 

 morning gallops of some race-horses, flew up suddenly as the horses passed, 

 and four of them coming in contact with telegraph-wires were killed on the 

 spot. — W. Mayd. 



Norfolk. — The following particulars of six Sand Grouse shot at Down- 

 ham, Norfolk, and recorded in the ' Standard ' of May 26th, have been sent 

 me in a private letter: — "In reply to yours of the 27th, a Mr. Watson 

 was on his farm shooting rabbits, when about thirteen Sand Grouse came 

 flying past ; he shot at the lot, and killed six at one shot, and, finding them 

 very uncommon birds, he brought them to me, being a bird-fancier. I have 

 sent them to Mr. Howlett, of Newmarket, to be stuffed." A local paper, 

 dated May 26th, states that Mr. Howlett has also received another fine 

 specimen, taken at Mildenhall. — Julian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury 

 St. Edmunds). 



Suffolk. — The following are, I believe, unrecorded occurrences of Sand 

 Grouse in Suffolk : — Female, Southwold, about the beginning of June, sent 

 to Mr. Travis, of Bury ; male and female, received by me in the flesh from 

 Aldeburgh, June 8th (no particulars given); male, shot at Bradfield St. 

 George, near Bury, June 11th, sent to Mr. Travis, and preserved by me; 

 flock of about thirty seen at Sicklesmere, near Bury, about the same time. 

 — Julian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Bury St. Edmunds). 



Essex. — These birds have made their appearance in Essex. A flock of 

 about twenty were seen at Barking Side on June 4th, and two were 



