388 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Cornish bird; but it has since occurred both in Cornwall and Scilly. On 

 May 14th, 1882, an adult bird of this species was shot on the Long Pool 

 at Tresco, and is now in Mr. Dorrien Smith's collection at the Abbey, 

 where it is shown with the rest of his collection to visitors on application. — 

 J. H. GuRNEY, JuN. (Keswick Hall, Norwich). 



Esquimaux Curlew at Scilly. — By the kindness of Mr. Dorrien 

 Smith I have inspected a specimen of the Esquimaux Curlew, Numenius 

 borealis, obtained by him at Tresco, Scilly, on September 10th. It was an 

 adult in full plumage, and there is no doubt about the identity of the 

 species; but on comparing the description given of it by Wilson and 

 Yarrell with that of other authors within reach, and with the bird itself, we 

 find a discrepancy in the length of the tarsus. We cannot make it more 

 than one inch six lines. Wilson and Yarrell (apparently following Wilson) 

 make it one inch ten lines. The specimen much resembles in shape a 

 small Whimbrel, with one of which birds it was in company when taken ; 

 but its plumage, especially that of the under side of the body and wings, 

 diflfers much from that of the Whimbrel, as does also the bill, both in shape 

 and comparative length. — Thomas Cornish (Penzance). 



Manx Shearwater in Gloucester. — On Sept. 8th a Manx Shearwater, 

 Puffinus anglorum, was picked up in a field at Hempstead, about a mile 

 below Gloucester on the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal. The thigh-bone 

 was broken, and the man who found it brought it to Gloucester and turned 

 it into the docks " for a swim." It was afterwards killed, and came into 

 my possession, in the flesh, two days later, through the hands of Mr. Coles, 

 birdstuffer, of this town. On dissection it proved to be a female, and is, 

 I believe, the first recorded to have been procured in this county. — H. W. 

 Maesden (37, Midland Road, Gloucester). 



Cormorants roosting on a Church. — A few weeks ago four or five 

 Cormorants {Phalacrocorax carbo) came nightly to roost on the tower of 

 Holy Trinity Church in this town, and probably would have continued to 

 do so for some time had not some over-curious people ascended the tower 

 one evening after they had alighted, thinking to get a nearer view of them. 

 At the first sound of appi'oaching footsteps the birds of course immediately 

 decamped, and have not since returned. After this they took up their 

 quarters for some time in an overhanging tree about a mile further up the 

 river (Taw). The tower referred to is situated near the river, entirely 

 surrounded by houses, but is unusually high. Is it not an unusual 

 occurrence for these birds to select such a roosting-place ? This town is 

 situated about five or six miles from the sea. — J. G. Hamling (The Close, 

 Barnstaple). 



[We have occasionally heard of Cormorants roosting upon the towers 

 of churches, which they apparently consider the best substitute for sea- 

 cliffs to be found inland. — Ed.] 



