2230 Birds. 



short distances at a time, till the tide drove it from the river altogether. Unlike the 

 herons, it flew with its neck extended the full length. — F. W. Johnson, Surgeon ; 

 Ipswich, August 18, 1848. 



Egg of the Greenshank (Totanus glottis). — As some of your readers in the * Zoolo- 

 gist' were interested in the egg of the greenshank which was taken out of a female 

 shot by my brother last summer, it is perhaps worth notice that I have had three eggs 

 sent to me this year from which the female was shot when rising from the nest. The 

 locality was Sutherlandshire, and the time the first week in June. The eggs, of 

 course, in size are the same as the egg we took last year, but considerably more co- 

 loured, being nearly the same as the lapwing, but in shape very different, being pyri- 

 form .— W. M. E. Milner ; 75, Eaton Place. 



Note respecting the Gray Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus), the Red-necked Phalarope 

 (P. hyperboreus), and the Great Northern Diver (Colymbus septentrionalis). — I have 

 just returned home from a tour through the Orkney Isles, where I have been collecting 

 the red-necked phalaropes and their eggs, bridled guillemots, dunlins, &c. The red- 

 necked phalarope is a very rare British bird, and very local even in Orkney : it is 

 much rarer than when I visited those islands in 1832 and 1833. I am not aware that 

 any naturalist has mentioned that the female is the handsomest bird, the bay colour 

 on the neck being much deeper, and the rest of the plumage being much finer and 

 brighter than in the male. The female is also a little larger than the male. This is 

 a curious fact ; and the species differs in this respect from all others that I know of. 

 To make certain of it, I have dissected all the birds that I have skinned, and noted 

 the sex, and found it to be invariably the case. During the time of incubation the 

 male is bare of feathers on each side of the belly : it would seem that he takes the 

 most active part in sitting, for his plumage altogether looks duller. Although some 

 of the females had not such a large portion of the bay colour on the sides of their 

 necks and breasts as others, yet I was able to distinguish the sex before I skinned 

 them. Capt. Drummond, of the 42nd Royal Highlanders, has also observed this dif- 

 ference in the plumage. I know of three Orkney naturalists who say that the gray 

 phalarope is to be found breeding in North Ronaldshay and Sanday. On the 28th of 

 June I had the good fortune to shoot a northern diver in summer plumage. — Robert 

 Dunn; Helister, near Weesdale, Shetland Islands, July 19, 1848. 



Capture of the Velvet and Common Scoters (Anas fusca and A. nigra) on Winder- 

 mere. — A male specimen of the velvet scoter was shot on the 23rd of May, by Luther 

 Watson, Esq., of Ecclerigg. The bird was seen to alight upon the lake, when he was 

 pursued and killed. The female was also observed about the same time. In the first 

 week of July not less than fourteen common scoters were met with on the same part of 

 the lake, opposite Wray Castle : two were killed, and a third wounded. This species 

 occurs every year upon the lake, about the same time of the season, but never stays 

 more than a day or two. My friend Mr. Clowes, of Bowness, to whom I am indebted 

 for the above notices, and who is in possession of the velvet duck, informs me that one 

 of the common scoters killed had the appearance of a young bird. — Thomas Gough ; 

 Kendal, August 2, 1848. 



Occurrence of the Ferruginous Duck (Fuligula nyroca) in Suffolk. — A fine speci- 

 men of this rare species was sent me from Leadenhall Market early in April, 

 which I am assured by the dealer who supplied it, was killed on the Suffolk coast.— 

 F. W. Johnson, Surgeon ; Ipswich, August 18, 1848. 



Occurrence of the Roseate Tern (Sterna Dougallii) near Bicester. — A fine specimen 



