Birds. 2853 



fordshire, by the keeper, who mistook it for a hawk, as it flew out of a tree. I believe 

 it is a rare visitant in Herefordshire so far down. It is stuffed and in Mr. Ark- 

 wright's possession. — John Biddulph ; Harrow-on-the-Hill, May 19, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Black-tailed Godivit (Limosa melanura) near Wisbech. — Two 

 beautiful specimens of the black-tailed godwit, in full summer plumage, were shot in 

 the fen about six miles from this town, on the 4th instant. — T. W. Foster ; Museum, 

 Wisbech, May 17, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Dotterel Plover (Charadrius morinellus) at and near Wisbech. — 

 A fine male specimen was picked up dead, on the Eastern Counties line of railway, 

 near Wisbech, on the 9th instant ; its death had been occasioned by flying against 

 the telegraph wires. The following day an adult female was shot on Guyhirn Wash ; 

 on dissection, the eggs in the ovary were found to be in an advanced stage. — Id. 



Occurrence of the Whimbrel (Numenius Phaeopus) at Sutton. — An adult male spe- 

 cimen of the whimbrel was shot at Sutton Marsh, about nine miles from Wisbech, on 

 the 9th instant. It is an unusual visitant on this part of the coast in the winter season, 

 but more especially so in the month of May. — Id. 



Occurrence of the Wood Sandpiper at Woolwich. — A specimen of this rare sand- 

 piper, just shot by a gentleman at Woolwich, has been brought to me for preserva- 

 tion. — /. Green ; 35, Whitecross Place, Wilson Street, Finsbury, June 1, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) at Sandwich. — A flock of six 

 spoonbills has frequented Sandwich Haven ; one of them has been shot by a person 

 of Sandwich, and another in the Wingham marshes ; the latter was an old female : 

 both were shot in the first week in June. My friend saw three flying about in Peg- 

 well Bay a few days since, but was not able to get near them. — J. W. Hulke ; Deal, 

 June 17, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Spoonbill at St. Mary's, Scilly. — During the past week an 

 example of the spoonbill was shot at the above-named locality, with the occipital 

 plumes far more developed than in any example I have yet seen from this county. 

 The occurrence of this bird is not now unusual in the west of England, and perhaps 

 the date of captures is as important, as a notice, as the captures themselves. — E. 

 Hearle liodd; Penzance, June 10, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) in Northumberland. — A 

 fine specimen of the grey phalarope was killed in the vicinity of Morpeth, in August 

 last. — Robert Lewins ; Morpeth, June 6, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Goosander (Mergus merganser) on the Severn. — During the 

 first week of January last, a male specimen of the goosander and a female in adult 

 plumage, were shot up the Severn, three miles from Shrewsbury, by the gamekeeper 

 of J. A. Lloyd, Esq., and having been stuffed by Mr. H. Shaw, bird-stuffer, Shrews- 

 bury, are now in Mr. Lloyd's possession. — W. J. Hope ; Harrow-on-the-Hill, May 

 19, 1S50. 



Occurrence of the Gannet (Sula Bassana) near Great Grimsby. — About a month or 

 six weeks ago (I have been unable to ascertain the exact date) a gannet in full plu- 

 mage, white, with tips of the wings black, was shot at Ludborough clay-pit, near 

 Great Grimsby, in this county, and has been stuffed for Richard Thorold, Esq., of 

 Beelsby House. — W. Waldo Cooper ; Rectory, West Rasen, June 10, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Gull-billed Tern (Sterna anglica) at Yarmouth. — A fine male 

 bird of the gull-billed tern, in full breeding plumage, was killed at Yarmouth on the 

 24th instant; it was probably going northward towards its breeding place, as were 



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