6798 Birds. 



and the waters of the bay seemed tame in comparison with the rapid 

 streams of the north, where, amidst the foam and splash of the torrent, 

 are the usual haunts of the dipper. 



Rock Pipit {Anthus obscurus). This species in Devonshire appears 

 to take the place of the meadow pipit on the Eastern coasts, frequenting 

 the grassy slopes by the sea, and the rocks at low water left bare by 

 the tide. Here they flit noiselessly from one weed-covered stone to 

 another, searching the little hollows between for insect life, or, running 

 along by the edge of the water, dart at the sand-flies as they rise from 

 the beach. These birds are readily distingnished from the common 

 titlark by their larger size, and the more sombre tint of their plumage. 

 The note is also louder, and their manner of walking struck me as 

 peculiar, for though so plentiful in this district I watched them with 

 much interest, being so rarely seen in Norfolk, and then chiefly in 

 winter. 



Pied Wagtail (Motacilla Yarrellii), Wheatears {Sylvia cenanihe)^ 

 &c. The Denes at Teignmouth were a favourite resort for the pied 

 wagtails, several pairs being seen at all times of the day, moving along 

 the green, or chasing each other in ra])id flights over the sand-banks 

 to the beach below, but, although watching them very closely, I was 

 unable to identify a single white wagtail [M. alba) amongst the number 

 of the common species. On the morning of the 20th of March, a most 

 undoubted arrival of migratory specimens appeared, the slopes in 

 front of the sea being quite covered with them. So unusual was their 

 appearance in such quantities, and so tame did they seem, that every 

 one was stopping to look at them, but by the next day this flight had 

 passed on, and only a few pairs, as usual, remained by the sea. The 

 same thing also occurred a few days later with the first flight of wheat- 

 ears, which remained for a day's rest, and then, to a bird, disappeared 

 on their way inland to spread themselves over the country. 



H. Stevenson. 



Norwich, November 28, 1859. 



Notes on the Queleli, a rare Bird of Sonora ; the King of the Zopi- 

 lotes ; and Bartram's Vulture. By A. S. Taylor, Esq.* 



The Queleli. — From the descriptions of three of our friends, we are 

 placed in possession of some curious facts relating to the habits and 



* Written for the ' San Francisco Herald,' and sent by the Author for publication 

 in the ' Zoologist.' J 



