982 Birds. 



Occurrence of Rare Birds near Exeter, in the Winter of 1844-5. 

 By W. R. Scott, M.D. 



The severe season which has this year been experienced in Devon- 

 shire, has brought us several birds which are only very occasional 

 visitors. I forward you a list of those I have met with, and which I 

 hope will not be without some interest to the readers of ' The Zoolo- 

 gist.' Several flocks of wild fowl made their appearance upon the 

 coast, and on the river Exe, during the late severe weather ; but no 

 sooner are such visitors announced, than almost as many shooters are 

 off in pursuit of them, and scarcely have the birds taken up their abode 

 amongst us, before they are driven away by the constant persecution 

 which they suffer. This also renders the more shy species so very 

 wild, that it is only by considerable skill and long vigils that they 

 can be approached. 



A gentleman, who has long been a sportsman on the Devon coast, 

 informs me that a considerable change has taken place within his re- 

 membrance, in the kinds of birds that annually visit us. Formerly, 

 the golden eye came in considerable flocks every winter ; but now 

 they are visible in comparatively small numbers : while the goosan- 

 der, which formerly was seen only in limited numbers, is now numer- 

 ous. During the frost in December last, a flock came into the bay at 

 Exmouth, one of which, a young male, I procured. Their wildness 

 made it very difficult to get any. During the same month, three eider 

 ducks were shot, and as far as I have been able to learn, these were 

 the only ones that were seen. They must be only occasional visitors, 

 as I cannot hear of any having been killed for some time past on our 

 coast. Two of these birds came into my possession. They were 

 both young birds, and had not assumed that fine plumage which be- 

 longs to them in the adult state. One was much the colour which 

 Mr. Yarrell describes as that of the young male. It was dark-co- 

 loured, with blotches of white over the back and wings, but chiefly 

 about the lower part of the neck and breast. The other, however, did 

 not so faithfully agree with any of the descriptions contained in Mr. 

 Yarrell's admirable volume. It was in its general colour nearly black, 

 or a dingy brown, with markings of lighter brown running across the 

 feathers, much of the character of those described as belonging to the 

 female ; but the general hue was altogether much darker. The 

 weight of each was 5 lbs.; and from the tip of one wing to that of the 

 other, when extended, was three feet. 



