2990 Birds. 



but none of them were noticed afterwards. Though similar occurrences may not be 

 often heard of, I conceive they may be really less rare than would be supposed. In 

 some large woods in the parish of Goudhurst, Kent, woodcocks bred not unfrequently, 

 I believe, twenty years ago ; since which period, all information respecting the estate 

 has ceased to reach me : and the numerous remains, occasionally extending continu- 

 ously over hundreds of acres, of the ancient forest of Anderida, in various parts of the 

 Weald of both Kent and Sussex, present many localities so favourable to the habits of 

 these birds, that it seems not improbable some may tarry, and raise their young there. 

 That this may happen, and yet escape observation, is^not a matter to excite much sur- 

 prise. The woodcock seldom, if ever, moves by day voluntarily, and although it may 

 proceed to its feeding-ground before the light has departed during the long evenings 

 of summer, at that season of the year far less attention is generally paid to the birds 

 which may fly past, than would be the case at other times, beside the additional con- 

 cealment then derived from abundance of vegetation. In corroboration of the above 

 conjectural reasoning, very recent information enables me to add some further facts. 

 There is an estate in the north-western angle of Sussex, comprising a large proportion 

 of woodland, whither, for at least twenty years past, three or four couples of wood- 

 cocks have usually, if not invariably, resorted, for the purpose of nidification ; and so 

 constantly is this known to happen, that the owner of the property would undertake to 

 exhibit one or more of the birds upon his table on any assigned day in the year ; and 

 annually, for two days during the summer, on some special occasion, it is his regular 

 practice to produce a dish of woodcocks. Another circumstance I have to state is, 

 that the friend, from whom the preceding particulars were obtained, was himself taken 

 with others, at no very distant period, to see a woodcock's nest, containing eggs, in the 

 neighbourhood of Godalming, in Surrey. — Arthur Hussey ; Rotting dean, November 19, 

 1850. 



Carnivorous propensity of the Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus). — In preparing one of 

 these birds for preservation, I found in the gizzard a full-grown specimen of the com- 

 mon shrew (Sorex araneus) ; I believe this to be an uncommon occurrence. — J. O. 

 Harper ; Norwich, December 4, 1850. 



On the Swimming of Water Fowl. — I believe I am correct in saying that the differ- 

 ence in the ordinary mode of swimming of web-footed birds, and those which are 

 neither webbed nor lobe-footed, has not been noticed, or if noticed, has not been laid 

 down by naturalists. I think, from observation, that it would be true to assert that 

 the Natatores, properly so called, in their ordinary mode of direct progression, invaria- 

 bly row, that is, they strike with both feet at the same time ; whilst other birds which 

 occasionally take the water, as many of the Grallatores, paddle, or use their feet al- 

 ternately, and that generally in very rapid succession. I have frequently observed 

 this in the common water-hen. The reason for this difference is obvious, for we have 

 only to observe a swan or duck in the act of turning, to see how great an effect is pro- 

 duced upon the motion of the bird by a one-sided stroke. Were the Natatores to use 

 such powerful instruments as their webbed-feet alternately, the motion, especially of 

 the larger kinds, would be from side to side, and they would exhibit on the water, as 

 clumsy a performance as they do on shore, and would remind us of a set of land- 

 lubbers pulling for the first time down to Eel-pie Island, instead of being more perfect 

 and regular in their action than the crew of a man-of-war's gig. — Francis K. Amherst; 

 St. Mary's, OiCOtt, December 6th, 1850. 



Occurrence of ike Fork-tailed Petrel (Thalassidroma Leachii)at Lowestoft. — When 



