AXATIDJE. 247 



of a half-crown piece, from the gullet of a female specimen shot on the 

 Exe near Topsham. The little fishes lay in the bird's gullet, one on the 

 top of the other, closely packed up in a neat rouleau, like coins in a silk 

 purse. 



As this beautiful species nests not uncommonly on some of the Scottish 

 lochs, and also on some of the loughs in the North of Ireland, it might 

 be "well expected to be a not uncommon winter visitor to our iS.W. coasts. 

 On the Barnstaple and Bideford rivers it is well known to the boatmen 

 as the Spike-billed Wigeon, and young birds and females are frequently 

 obtained. We have ourselves met with them when after "Wild Duck, and 

 have also once or twice noticed adult drakes in their complete plumage, 

 •when they are strikingly beautiful birds. But in this stage they are 

 remarkably wary, keeping always in the centre of the estuary, ou some 

 sandbank, whence thej- can Avatch the approach of the gunner, and 

 make off long before he gets within shot. We have seen and shot 

 immature birds in the neighbourhood of Weston-super-Mare. The Bed- 

 breasted Merganser is a common bird on the Cornish and Dorset coasts. 

 In Poole Harbour it is said sometimes to appear in jS'ovember in flocks of 

 a hundred or more ; the birds are then extremely wary, and few are 

 shot. 



A Red-breasted Merganser occurred at Plymouth in 1858, and two in 1863 (B., 

 MS. Notes). A pair were obtained there in adult plumage, February 1881 ; two 

 immature specimens appeared in Devonport Market, November li3th, 1S8-J (J. Gr., 

 Zool. 1881, p, 198; 1883, p. 165). 



One was shot December 1874, and another December 1876 (out of a flock of four\ 

 on Kingsbridge estuary, where females occur frequently during winter (E. A. S. E.). 

 A male was killed at i3eesands on the sea, and an adult male was caught in a crab-pot 

 in April. 



This Merganser occurred in some number.s on Torbay, 21st and 22nd December, 

 1869, and a feunde was shot there, February 22nd, 1876 (Von H., 1870, p. 2U59). 



A male and female on the Exe, February 26th, 1838 (F. W. L. R., MS. Journ. i. 

 p. 94). Many immature birds were seen in February 18.55 and January 1856. On 

 January 15th, 1856, we saw a pair of adults near Topsham, and on January 17th of 

 that year six were seen together on the Exeter Canal (W. D'U.). One December 27th, 

 1864. An adult male at Exmouth, December 1865 (R. C), where anotlier was shot 

 by Mr. H. Dumbleton, February 3rd, 1875. Two were noted in a poulterer's shop 

 in Exeter, December 8th, 1876. One was shot near Topsham by Mr. Clare Porter, 

 October 7th, 1879. Two more at Exmouth, October 1888. 



A female was seen May 26th, 1874, at the cor.ilueuce of the Taw and Torridge 

 (G. F. M., Zool. 1874, p. 4134). 



[Hooded Merganser. Mergus cucullatus, Linn. 



In ' Land and AVatcr,' some years ago, Mr. Frank Gosden, a fishmonger 

 of Exeter, recorded the occurrence of two Hooded Mergansers, but we have 

 good reason to believe the birds referred to belonged to the last species. 

 The Kev. H. A. Macjjherson obligingly called our attention to a sjK-cinien 

 lie had been informed was in the Mu.seum of Westward Ho ! College, 

 which was shot by one of the college boys on the Torridge, near Bideford, 

 and was supposed to be a female Hooded Merganser. At our request 



