528 Miscellanea — Zoological, by James Hardy. 



croaking and diving as it went, it formed a very striking object 

 with its broad black wings and stout body, set off against the 

 face of nature wrapped in snow. I see one or two Havens here 

 occasionally every year. 



Jay (Garrulus glandarius). — Thomas Elliott writes that his 

 brother, living near Detchant Wood, by Belf ord, saw, on January 

 31, 1879, a Jay in the wood ; the only one he had ever heard of 

 being seen in that part of the country. 



Kingfisher {Alcedo Ispida). — The same party also saw a King- 

 fisher, at the beginning of the storm in December, in a ditch 

 near Lilburn Tower, Northumberland. On April 21, 1879, I 

 observed a Kingfisher on the Eye Water at Peston. This bird 

 has been seen as far up this stream as Grant's House. 



Banded Blackbird (Turdus Merula). — "At the beginning of 

 this storm, a Blackbird was sent me by the Haggerstone game- 

 keeper, with singular markings. Across the neck, behind the 

 shoulders, back and wings, and lower back above the tail coverts, 

 extend white bands somewhat under an inch in width. Down 

 the breast, but not meeting those on the back, extend similar 

 white bands. It is in the hands of the taxidermist, and can 

 therefore be seen at any time." — Dr. Colville Brown, Berwick- 

 on-Tweed, Eeb. 1, 1879. 



Stock-Dove (Columba (Enas). — "From the same kind person, 

 and shot on the same estate, I got a fortnight after the previously 

 named bird, a very good specimen of the Stock-Dove. It was 

 found flying, feeding, and roosting with a flock of Wood- 

 Pigeons." — Ibid. This bird is becoming a denizen. Of date 

 April 28, 1879, Mr George Bolam apprises me, that on the 

 previous week he came upon the Stock-Dove breeding in the 

 neighbourhood of Paxton, and got two fine eggs from a rabbit- 

 hole on a steep bank near Hutton Bridge. 



The Bittern (Ardea stellaris). — A beautiful Bittern was shot 

 by Mr Arthur B. Colling wood, on the Aller burn, near Lilburn 

 Tower, 10th January, 1879, and has been set up for preservation. 



Green Sandpiper (Totanus ochropus). — August 22, 1877. After 

 a continuation of wet weather, several temporary pools were 

 formed in the dean at Oldcambus, which were frequented by 

 Wild Ducks ; and the restless Eedshanks, leaving the sea-side, 

 circled round the margins. To one of the loneliest also, a Green 

 Sandpiper resorted for a few days. It appears to delight in quiet 



