Ornithological Notes, by Mr. T. H. Gibb. 211 



from the first, it was evident it was no match for its 

 antagonist, whose chattering evinced completely the cry of 

 the conqueror. At length I drove the Tit away, who, how- 

 ever, hovered about the scene of action, apparently eager for 

 a renewal of the fray, when I found the Robin in a dying state 

 and much mauled about the head and neck. It is well known 

 that the Greater Tit will occasionally attack birds of inferior 

 size and courage, and that the Redbreast is also pugnaciously 

 inclined, and will drive off birds much superior in size if 

 they venture to intrude into the immediate locality it has 

 chosen for its retreat. 



Manks Shear- Water. — The Manks Shear- Water being 

 emphatically an oceanic bird, I was not a little surprised to 

 receive a specimen, captured at Swarland, quite eight miles 

 from the sea. It was shot by Mr. John Earsdon, after 

 having been flushed by his dogs from a field of standing 

 corn. It seems strange that this bird was found so far from its 

 native element, and in a situation so utterly opposed to all 

 preconceived notions of its habits. Had the bird been ex- 

 hausted or wounded, a sufficient reason for its appearance 

 there would have been at once apparent ; but it rose strong 

 and wild on the wing, and, on dissection, I found it in a 

 healthy and robust condition. They breed, principally, I 

 believe, on the Orkneys, and whence, after completing their 

 nidification, they spread themselves along the western coast, 

 never, so far as I am aware, being found on our eastern sea- 

 board. Assuming, therefore, the bird captured at Swarland 

 to have come from the west — whether by some sudden im- 

 pulse of its own, or carried along by circumstances over 

 which it had no control — it must have had a strange and 

 eventful journey across our land. 



The Voracity of Blackbirds, &c. — Near to my resi- 

 dence, there stands a noble specimen of the rowan tree, 

 which last autumn was completely covered with its red 

 berries, and, knowing them to be eagerly sought after by 

 many of our feathered friends, I determined to watch the 

 result of any attack that might be made by them. On the 

 29th August, the berries seemed to be rapidly approaching 

 ripeness ; and on that day I observed a large number of 

 blackbirds, thrushes, and starlings congregated in the im- 

 mediate vicinity of the tree, evidently anticipating a glori- 

 ous feast. On the 30th, the number of birds were hourly 

 increased by fresh arrivals from a distance, the motley crowd 



IB 



