3036 Birds. 



above bird was picked up on the top of a high ridge of the chalk downs in the parish 

 of Beddingham, on the 20th of December. It is in the possession of Thomas Ell- 

 man, Esq., of the above parish, by whom it was found. — C. Potter ; Lewes, December 

 23, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Black-throated Diver (Colymbus arcticus) at Pevensey. — 1 ob- 

 tained an immature specimen of this bird from the above place last month. — /. B. 

 JEllman ; Leives, December 12, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Little Gull (Larus minutus) at Lewes. — A very beautiful adult 

 specimen of this bird was shot near this town about the 1st instant. — Id. 



Occurrence of the Little Gull at Leives. — I have a specimen of this little rarity 

 in my possession, which was shot in the Levels, two miles to the south of Lewes, on 

 the 29th of November. It was flying in a north-easterly direction, unaccompanied 

 by any other, and was supposed to be a tern by the person who shot it, until, 

 getting it in his hand, he was convinced to the contrary by the size and colour of 

 the legs and feet. I should suppose the bird in adult winter plumage ; on which I 

 solicit your opinion from the enclosed drawing by a lady of my acquaintance. You 

 will perceive both mandibles are broken, which was done in shooting. — C. Potter ; 

 Leives, December 23, 1850. 



[I think the drawing represents an adult bird. — E. Newman.'] 



Rare Birds at Bishop Auckland. — In the last week of June, a fine specimen of the 

 black tern was got on the " Batts," near to this place, which is about twenty-one miles 

 from the coast in a direct line. In the same week a gray phalarope was shot on the 

 Tees. About the 3rd of June another spotted sandpiper was shot, which we think 

 justifies the insertion of such as British birds ; for it is not unlikely that many which 

 have been considered as occasional visitors are regular migrants, but may not be ob- 

 served; or even if taken, not known ; or if known, not recorded: the person who shot 

 the bird did not know what it was, and had it not come into hands that did, we might 

 not have known that the spotted sandpiper had been got for three successive years. 

 About three weeks ago a female red-backed shrike was got, near Barnard Castle. In 

 the spring of 1842, a fine specimen of the kite was shot by Mr. John Robson, keeper 

 to R. D. Shaftoe, Esq., of Whitworth, near this place ; and up to the year 1843, a 

 pair of peregrine falcons had bred for nine successive years in one of the mountain 

 gorges, called Shawnberry Crag, a few miles west from here ; but in the above-named 

 year the female was shot on the nest: the following year, a pair again began the 

 work of incubation in the same place, the male no doubt having found another mate, 

 which soon shared the same fate : the male remained a few days and then disap- 

 peared for nearly a fortnight, when he again returned with another female ; when, I 

 am sorry to say, both noble birds perished by the hand of the same unrelenting indi- 

 vidual : since that time no more noble peregrines have been seen hunting in concert, 

 as they were wont to do, the moor cock, the curlew, or the plover ; but for the last 

 three years, the very same place has been occupied by much less interesting, yet 

 equally as useful birds, namely, a pair of ravens, who have reared their broods each 

 year in safety, notwithstanding many means have been tried for their capture. In the 

 spring of 1846, a pair of very fine gyrfalcons were got at Werner Gill, in Northumber- 

 land, and are now in my possession : in the same year a king duck was got at Bed- 

 lington, in Northumberland, on the north bank of the Tyne : in the early part of 

 August, same year, and near the same place, an immature, small bustard was shot, 





