2698 Birds. 



horse-dung (for insects, I presume), that it did not perceive our approach, and my 

 servant caught it in his hand without any attempt on its part to escape. It proved 

 to he a water shrew (Sorex fodiens), and is the first specimen I have captured in this 

 neighbourhood, although similar ones have occasionally been seen disporting among 

 the broad leaves of Nyinphasa alba and Nuphar luteus, with which our waters abound. 

 I suspect that this little animal is not so rare as it is generally imagined to be ; and 

 for the guidance of others, who might otherwise perhaps overlook it, I would add the 

 following particulars respecting it. The fur upon the upper parts of the body is of a 

 rich, velvety, brownish black colour, somewhat resembling that of a mole ; the breast 

 and fore parts of the belly of a dirty white, with a darker oval spot beneath the throat ; 

 the snout is considerably shorter and less pointed than that of the common shrew ; 

 the ears are so short that they would scarcely be perceived were it not for a fringe of 

 white hairs which indicate their situation ; the tail somewhat quadrangular, ending 

 in a point, of a similar colour to the back, but interspersed with a greater quantity of 

 minute whitish hairs ; feet, particularly the hinder ones, broader than in the common 

 shrew, and the toes rather densely covered with long white hairs ; claws long and 

 very sharp-pointed ; the length of the head and body 3 inches 3 lines, and that of the 

 tail 2 inches. — Oswald Mosley ; Rolleslon Hall, January 10, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) near Worcester. — A beauti- 

 ful male specimen of the peregrine falcon was shot near Worcester on the 22nd of 

 November. — Martin Cur tier ; Bevere House, Worcester, December 12, 1849. 



Occurrence of the Merlin (Falco ^salon) at Lewes. — Early in October the merlin 

 made its appearance in this neighbourhood in rather considerable numbers. Five 

 specimens fell into the hands of one person in a very few days. — /. B. Ellman ; 

 Letves, December 10, 1849. 



Note on the Long and Short-eared Owls (Strix otus and brachyotos). — A very fine 

 specimen of the long-eared owl occurred near the town a few days since, and is now 

 in my possession. The short-eared owl was also taken at the same time, near the 

 same place. Both these species are now getting so very scarce with us that I think 

 their occurrence worth recording. — Id. 



Occurrence of the Great Gray Shrike (Lanius Excubitor) near London. — A speci- 

 men of the great gray shrike was picked up at Kentish Town, and another at Kilburn, 

 early in November last. — Frederick Bond; Kingsbury, Middlesex, January 7, 1850. 



Singular Variety of the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio). — A specimen of this 

 bird, of a uniform pale fawn colour, occurred here last August. — /. B. Ellman; 

 Lewes, December 10, 1849. 



Migration of the Ring Ouzel (Cinclus aquaticus). — The number of ling ouzels 

 passing southward this autumn has been astonishing. Large flocks were seen conti- 

 nually on the downs from September to nearly the end of October. No one can ever 

 recollect their being so plentiful before. — Id. 



Singular Variety of the Hedgesparrow (Sylvia modularis). — A white specimen of 

 the hedgesparrow occurred in the neighbourhood a short time since. With the ex- 

 ception of a red patch or two on one wing, it is entirely white. — Id. 



