Birds. 2147 



nate enough to obtain the eggs, on several of the hills round Charmouth ; that on which 

 I made its acquaintance was to the west of Charmouth , behind Langmoor. There it 

 frequented chiefly a large rough field, much covered with stones ; it always kept near 

 the middle of this field, and so sure as any one entered the field at any point, so sure 

 did it take wing almost immediately. I never succeeded in seeing it on the ground. 

 Five or six years ago one was shot by a farmer on another hill about a mile from this 

 one. It dropped, and he picked it up and handled it, apparently dead : he then 

 threw it on the ground, and proceeded to reload his gun, but before he had accom- 

 plished this, my friend was off, seemingly as well as ever, and he saw him no more. — 

 Beverley R. Morris; York, March 8th, 1848. 



Note on the Great Plover (CEdicnemus crepitans). This species, until within these 

 few years, used to frequent the high situations and lighter soils of this part of 

 the country, coming in spring to breed, when their loud calls might be heard a long 

 distance on the approach of night, and leaving in the autumn ; but now it is a rare 

 bird — scarcely one being seen, or known to stay, in the localities formerly occupied 

 by them ; owing, most likely, to the extension of agriculture, and the improvement of 

 the land. — T. Goatley ; Chipping Norton, April 10th, 1848. 



Migration of the Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis). — These birds come in con- 

 siderable flocks, in November or December, and spend some time during the winter 

 months upon the higher grounds in the neighbourhood, particularly the fields of 

 Chadlington and Dean, between this town and Charlbury, and leave again early in 

 spring. — Id. 



Occurrence of the Night Heron (Nycticorax Gardeni) in the county Louth. — On the 

 1st of May I received a fine male specimen of the night heron, in nearly mature plu- 

 mage, but without the crest of white feathers : it was shot on the reedy border of a 

 small lake, at Beaulieu, the seat of the Rev. A. J. Montgomery, in the county Louth : 

 in YarrelPs ' British Birds,' it is stated to have been killed twice in Ireland ; no par- 

 ticulars are given as to where or when. — Robert J. Montgomery ; Manor House, Ra- 

 heny, near Dublin, May 18th, 1848. 



Occurrence of the Little Bittern (Ardea minuta) at Ewhurst and Ledlescomb, Sus- 

 sex. — I have seen a male and female of Ardea minuta which were shot at the 

 above places. The female about three months ago ; the male, at the latter place, I 

 believe, about fifteen months since. — J. B. Ellman ; Battel, April 20th, 1848. 



Occurrence of the White Stork (Ciconia alba) at the Land's End. — On Saturday 

 last the servant of James Trembath, Esq., of Mayon, killed an adult specimen of this 

 bird, which has been set up by Mr. Vingoe, of this place, at whose house I examined 

 it this morning. It is a fine, well grown bird, and the plumage appears to be unin- 

 jured. I am not aware of the occurrence of this species before in the county, 

 although I have an example in my collection of its rarer congener the black stork, 

 killed in 1831 on the river Tamar. — Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, May 

 llth, 1848. 



Occurrence of the Spotted Sandpiper (Totanus macularius) in Yorkshire. — On the 

 2nd of last March I saw a specimen of the spotted sandpiper on the beach at 

 Bridlington Quay. It was excessively tame, and allowed me to approach within 

 about fifteen yards of it. I am not aware of its having been noticed in Yorkshire 

 before. — Edmund Thomas Higgins ; Spurrier Gate, York, May 17th, 1848. 



Egg of the Greenshank (Totanus Glottis). — I have examined the drawing of the 

 egg of the greenshank which Mr. Milner was so good as to send you ; and have much 



