326 



8 



of vegetable matter, as several field naturalists who have examined the contents of the stomachs 

 of specimens shot record the presence of vegetable matter, especially portions of water-plants. 

 Mr. J. E. Harting examined the stomachs of the two specimens obtained at Kingsbury Reservoir 

 in October 1865, and writes as follows: — "That of the female was almost empty, with the 

 exception of a few small fish-bones (from their size, probably roach), a small mass of vegetable 

 fibre, together with the fruit of a Sparganium and a single carpel of a Potamogeton, probably 

 P. pectinatus. That of the male was distended with a larger quantity of small bones and 

 remains of fish. The bones had the appearance of being ground up small, being all very much 

 of one size, although the inner coating of the stomach was by no means rough or hard, and there 

 were no traces of gravel or quartz, nor, indeed, of any substance which would produce or aid 

 such a result." 



The specimen figured is a living bird in the Gardens of the Zoological Society, that described 

 being one shot in Spain by Major Irby and now in my collection. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 

 ( >> 6 > b, 2 ■ Butrinto, Albania (H. Barclay) . c, 6 . Spain (Major Irby) . d, puttus. Holland (Baker) . 



E Mus. H. B. Tristram. 

 a, 2 ■ Boulai, Egypt, March 15th, 1858 (H. B. T.). 



E Mus. Par on A. von Hilgel. 

 a, 6 ad. Bulgaria, 1872. 



E. Mus. J. II. Gurney,jun. 



a, 2 . Leadenhall Market, March 25th, 1867 (/. H. G.Jun.). 



