Birds. 3035 



your valuable approbation, as "characteristic," might perhaps mislead. It is the 

 more necessary to be correct in the particulars I have noticed, because some species 

 of the Picidae, both European and American, have but three toes, and an African sub- 

 genus has the bill curved. There is an accurately drawn and coloured representation 

 of this woodpecker in Lewin's 'British Birds.' — W. F. W. Bird ; 5, Kings Road, 

 Bedford Roiv, January 4, 1851. 



Occurrence of the Wood Sandpiper (Totanus glareola) at Yarmouth. — Two speci- 

 mens of this sandpiper, male and female, were killed at Yarmouth, on the 2nd of 

 August last, and are now in my possession. — L. H. Irby ; Poringland, near Norwich, 

 January 13, 1850. 



Occurrence of Baillons Crake (Crex Baillonii) near Deal. — In the latter part of 

 October last, my friend Mr. C. A. Delmar, obtained a second specimen of Baillon's 

 crake, not far from the spot where he procured one in the September previous. It is 

 now in my possession. — J. W. Hulke ; Deal, January 15, 1851. 



Occurrence of the White Stork (Ciconia alba) in Scotland. — Happening to notice 

 that our leading and most recent writers on Ornithology, such as Yarrell, Jardine, &c, 

 speak only of one example of the white, or common stork, as having hitherto been 

 met with in Scotland, perhaps you will allow me to mention that, in the stormy and 

 unusually severe season of 1837-38, a specimen of this bird was killed in a swampy 

 moss in the parish of Lonmay, and at no great distance from the loch of Strathbeg, 

 an extensive sheet of fresh water, lying near to the sea-shore, about half-way between 

 the towns of Peterhead and Fraserburgh, in this county. It had evidently been driven 

 by stress of weather from the opposite continent, while in the course of its vernal mi- 

 gration. It attracted the notice of the neighbourhood ; but no one was able to tell 

 its name, a similar bird never having been seen in that quarter before. By the 

 country people its legs were not unaptly compared to red Turkey leather. As there 

 was no individual, either on the spot or in the vicinity, who was aware of its rarity, 

 and consequently of its value as an object of science, it was nailed to the end of a 

 barn, which, with his usual felicity, is characterized by White, of Selborne, as the 

 " countryman's museum " (Sir W. Jardine's edit. p. 34). In this position it minis- 

 tered to the gratification of the curious, till it went finally to decay. I obtained its 

 bill, which is still in my possession, and which, beyond a doubt, identifies the bird, of 

 which at one time it formed an important and a conspicuous portion. — J. Smith; 

 Manse of Monquhitter, Aberdeenshire, December 17, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus hyperboreus) at Lewes. — I ob- 

 tained a specimen of this bird in winter plumage last month, from a pond near this 

 town. — J. B. Ellman ; Lewes, December 12, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps rubricollis) in Devonshire. — A fine 

 specimen of this bird was killed near Barnstaple, last February, and sent to me ; the 

 man who stuffed it told me the eggs were considerable advanced.— L. H. Irby ; Po- 

 ringland, near Norwich, January 13, 1851. 



Occurrence of the Great Northern Diver (Colymbus glacialis) in Devonshire. — The 

 recent gales from the north-west have driven quantities of the great northern divers 

 on our shores, five of which have come to my hands, one among them being a mature 

 male in full dress, having all the beautiful markings characteristic of its species. — 77. 

 Nicholls ; Kingsbridge, South Devon, December 9, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Great Northern Diver (Colymbus glacialis). — A specimen of the 



