ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. 283 



down, or if ten times their number fell a sacrifice to the bird 

 fanciers' thirst of acquisition, the injury thus done to the interest 

 of our country rambles could not be compared to that resulting 

 from the never-ceasing, and to a great extent, unnecessary havoc 

 inflicted on our native birds by game preservers. 



But to return to the subject of our pretty strangers. The 

 Chatterers make their appearance with us at very irregular pe- 

 riods. I find by my memoranda that the last time they visited 

 our district, in any number, was in the year 1850. Then fifteen 

 were taken in the immediate neighbourhood of Newcastle, four 

 of which came into my possession. I also have to record that a 

 specimen was shot in Northumberland, November, 1863 ; and I 

 find by a Carlisle journal, "that an individual of this species 

 was shot from a flock at Newby Cross, on the 20th November, 

 1853." 



Little Bittern, Ardea minuta, Linn. — A mature specimen of 

 this rare bird was shot at Benridge by the keeper, on the 31st 

 May, 1866, and is now in the possession of Mr. C. M. Adamson. 



Ivory Gull, Zarus eburneus, Linn. — On the 15th February I 

 saw a fine mature Ivory Gull. It was obtained by Mr. E. Craw- 

 shay, at Islay, on the west of Scotland, about the 12th February, 

 1867. The bird was in very poor condition, and had no appear- 

 ance of having been shot. 



Black Kite, llilvus ater, Linn. — A fine mature male of this 

 bird came into my possession, in a fresh state, on the 11th May, 

 1866. It was taken in a trap by Mr. F. Fulger, the Duke 

 of Northumberland's game-keeper, a few days before, in the Bed 

 Deer Park, at Alnwick. 



This is, I believe, the first occurrence of this fine rapacious 

 bird in Britain. The plumage was in a very good condition, 

 except on the lower part of the body, where it had sustained 

 some injury from the trap. It was proved to be a male by dis- 

 section. In every respect the plumage agrees with mature spe- 

 cimens in my collection, which I received from the Continent 

 some years ago. 



