Birds. 6857 



Mr. Bury, two were killed at Freshwater, during a severe frost, in 

 March, 1858 (see Zool. 6097). 



Canada Goose. Four were shot at the same time with the bernicles j 

 but their remarkable tameness seems to favour the idea that they were 

 escaped rather than truly wild birds. 



Gadwall. " Has been obtained at Yarmouth." — Mr. Bury. 



Eider Duck. The eider was among the numerous ducks that 

 visited Freshwater in the severe weather of February, 1855. A female 

 was obtained by Mr. Rogers on the 19th of December, 1859. 



Tufted Duck. One was seen in Brading Marshes so late as the 

 26th of April, 1858. 



Smew. A young male bird was shot near Freshwater on the 18th 

 of December, 1859 {H. Rogers). 



Redbreasted Merganser. Is a regular winter visitor. Being a shy 

 bird and clever diver it is seldom shot except when it enters the 

 creeks in hard weather, and those which are thus obtained in Brading 

 Harbour are mostly young birds. Mr. Rogers tells me that at Fresh- 

 water the merganser occurs every winter. It is known to the fishermen 

 by the name of " spear duck " or " spear wigeon." 



Rednecked Grebe. Has within the last few years been twice 

 obtained near Freshwater by Mr. Rogers. 



Great Crested Grebe. I have only once met with it at Bembridge, 



Eared Grebe. Was killed off Sea View in December, 1858, in com- 

 pany with another "dusky grebe" of the horned species. Besides 

 the slightly upturned beak, other marks of distinction between the two 

 birds, when in winter plumage, will be found in the eared grebe having 

 the head less tufted, the whole plumage of a darker hue, the fore-neck 

 blacker, and only the first six quills black — the white occupying nearly 

 all the inner web of the seventh, — while in the horned grebe the white 

 does not commence until the twelfth quill. Though sought for many 

 years past, this is the first instance in which I have fallen in with an 

 eared grebe, all the other " dusky " grebes I have examined having 

 proved to belong to the horned species. 



Blackthroated Diver. Hardly more than an occasional visitor (see 

 Zool. 4629) ; but all kinds of " loons " have been scarcer and more 

 difficult to obtain during the last three or four winters. 



Ringed Guillemot. Mr. Bond has seen two specimens that were 

 killed near Freshwater in 1856 and 1857. A third was obtained off 

 Niton in June, 1854, as I am informed by Mr. H. S. Leeson. 



Black Guillemot. One obtained near Yarmouth in 1853 or 1854 

 XVIII. K 



