Birds. 2649 



Occurrence of the Goshawk (Falco palumbarius) near Stowmarhet. — A fine speci- 

 men of the goshawk, in immature plumage, was shot at Westhorpe, about five miles 

 from this town, on the 20th of November. The farmer who shot it says it " rose out 

 of a bush," and that is all of its previous history I could get. This is a rare species 

 in the eastern counties. — C. R. Bree ; Stoivmarket, December 1, 1849. 



Capture of the Honey Buzzard (Falco apivorus) at Bridlington Quay. — A fine 

 specimen of the honey buzzard was recently taken at Bridlington Quay. It flew 

 against a person's window about twelve o'clock at night, and made such a flapping 

 noise that he got up, opened the window, and caught it. — Id. 



Marsh Harrier (Circus rufus) shot at Wassand. — A fine specimen of this bird was 

 shot early in October, by the keeper, in presence of Sir W. Milner, Bart., at Was- 

 sand, near Hornsea, in this county. It is in Mr. Milner's fine collection. — Beverley 

 R. Morris, A.B., M.D. ; York, November 8, 1849. 



Ash-colourcd Harrier (Circus cineraceus) obtained near York. — Lord Wenlock's 

 keeper shot a fine specimen of this harrier at Escrick, about the 15th of October. It 

 is in the collection of the Hon. and Rev. S. Lawley. — Id. 



Occurrence of Tengmalm's Owl (Noctua Tengmalmi) in Yorkshire. — About two 

 years ago an individual of this very rare little bird was shot in the woods at Hun- 

 manby, by Admiral Mitford's keeper. Its occurrence would in all probability have 

 remained unnoticed, had it not fallen under Mr. Graham's eye during a recent visit 

 to that neighbourhood. — Id. 



Occurrence of the Great Gray Shrike (Lanius excubitor) near Bedale. — On Wed- 

 nesday evening last, I had brought to me a male specimen of the great gray shrike, 

 which had been shot near Bedale, in the North Eiding of this county, on Saturday, 

 the 10th of November instant. It has two very conspicuous patches of white on 

 each wing ; the upper parts of the plumage are of a fine pearl-gray colour. — James 

 C. Garth; Knaresborough, November 19, 1849. 



Occurrence of the Greater Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) near Knaresborough. — 

 Perceiving, from the cover of the last number of the ' Zoologist,' that you were wish- 

 ful that the Rev. James Smith would send you a figure and description of the shrike 

 referred to (Zool. 2495), I have great pleasure in forwarding you a pencil drawing 

 (the size of life) and full description of. a specimen of Lanius borealis, which was 

 shot just outside our town, on the 15th of December, 1843, during a snow-storm, by 

 a mason's labourer (another example was seen on the same occasion, but was not se- 

 cured). I received it the same day: it is a female. Length to the end of tail 

 9i inches ; wing from flexure 4£ inches : upper mandible brownish black, lower one 

 rather lighter in colour ; iris dark brown ; the feet dull black ; terminal half of the 

 outer scapulars white, a patch of the same colour on the primaries only ; the tail black, 

 the greater number of feathers tipped with white, the outer one almost eutirely of the 

 latter colour, the second from the side half black half white ; the upper parts are dark 

 ash-gray, much darker than a specimen which I possess of Lanius excubitor ; and 

 the head of L. borealis appears to me to be larger in proportion to the size of the 

 bird than the commoner species ; the lower parts are grayish white, and there are 

 numerous transverse brownish lines on the neck and breast ; a broad band of black 

 commences on the middle of the forehead, covers the loreal space, extends through 

 the eye as far as the ear-coverts, where it terminates ; the wing-coverts, alula? and 

 quills brownish black. — Id. 



