76 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



which in the course of twenty-five years has passed through our hands. 

 Dotterel [Euclromias morinellus), two shot by Mr. St. George, near 

 Clonniell, in September : one, an adult female, still shows the bare 

 hatching spots, the other is an immature bird of the year. Great Spotted 

 Woodpecker [Piciis major): on December 3rd, an adult male was sent to 

 us from Kilkeel, Co. Down, by Dr. Evans, and was by him generously 

 presented to the Science and Art Museum ; soon afterwards we received 

 a female, which had been shot by Mr. Menzie's gamekeeper, in the woods 

 of Glasslough, Co. Monaghan, the residence of Sir John Leslie. Sabine's 

 Snipe (Scolopax sabini), one obtained on December 5th, in Kildare, by 

 Mr. McSheehy, who has most liberally presented it to the Science and Art 

 Museum. Another somewhat darker specimen we purchased in the 

 Dublin market on December 27th. — Williams & Son (2, Dame Street, 

 Dublin). 



Estimated duration of life in an Albatross.— A curious incident is 

 reported by the 'Hiogo News,' being communicated to it by Capt. Heard, 

 of the British ship, the ' Duchess of Argyle.' When rounding Cape Horn, 

 an immense Albatross was noticed following the ship. One day, as it 

 hovered over the poop, it was noticed that an object about the size of a 

 dollar was hanging round the bird's neck, and an attempt was at once made 

 to catch it by means of a large hook baited by a piece of pork and allowed 

 to drift astern. Several other Albatrosses were cauglit, but it was not 

 until the third day that the one in question took the hook, wiiich fixed itself 

 firmly in its beak. On the bird being dragged on board it was found that 

 the object hanging from its neck was a brass pocket compass-case, fastened 

 with three strands of stout copper wire round the bird's neck. Two of the 

 wires had worn through, and the box was thickly covered with verdigris. 

 On its being opened there was found written on a piece of paper in faded 

 ink the following:—" Caught May 8th, 1848, in latitude 38-6 S., 40-14 W., 

 by Ambrose Cochran, of American ship ' Columbus.' " A fresh label, with 

 the old and new dates of capture, was fastened round the bird's neck, and it 

 was then released. It was measured before being allowed to fly, and was 

 found to be twelve feet two inches between the tips of its wings. As the 

 bird was probably four or five years old before being captured the first time, 

 the interesting fact is proved that the natural life of an Albatross is at least 

 fifiy yt-ars. 



Purple Sandpiper in the Channel Islands. — It may be of interest 

 to note the occurrence of the Purple Sandpiper, Tvuiija iiiaiitiina, in 

 Jersey. 1 shot a bird of this species there on January 6th last, on 

 the rocks at La Coupe, and on taking it to Mr. Caplin, taxidermist, was 

 iiilonued that only two or three Purple Sandpipers from this island Jiad 

 passed through his hands. This bird is not included either in Professor 



