1694 Birds. 



I believe, also, that a specimen of the eared grebe, and one of the red-breasted 

 merganser, were taken at, or near Wisbeach, in January. 



In conclusion, I may observe, that all the winter migrants abounded this season ; 

 there were larger flocks of wild geese than had been known for some years ; sea-gulls 

 were often seen inland ; and we were visited by a great number of magpies and jays, 

 which birds, in the game-preserving districts, are almost rare. — Alfred Newton ; 

 Everton, Biggleswade, March 30th, 1847. 



Occurrence of Rare Birds near Tadcaster. — The first is the white-winged crossbill 

 (Loxia leucoptera), of which a flock was seen in Lord Downes's park, Cowick, near 

 Snaith; and four of them, two males and two females, were killed on the 27th of De- 

 cember, 1845, by Mr. C. Sumner, of Snaith, and are in the possession of Mr. Reid, 

 bird-preserver, Doncaster. In the March following, five of the same species were 

 seen at Edwinstow, near Ollerton, in some high fir-trees in Budby Forest, and two 

 females and a male were killed : these are in my own collection. It appears 

 to Mr. Reid, through whose hands the whole have been, as well as to myself, that the 

 birds in question are decidedly different from the American white-winged crossbill, of 

 which I have seen several specimens. Our birds are nearly as large as the common 

 crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) ; the bill nearly as thick again as in the American species, 

 and the legs lighter in colour and much thicker ; the white bars on the wings very 

 distinctly marked both in the male and female, and the colour of both sexes very like 

 that of the common crossbill. I believe this is the first time of their having been no- 

 ticed in Yorkshire. The next bird I have to mention is, I believe, new to the British 

 Fauna ; — the roseate gull (Larus Rossii), killed on the 22nd of December, 1846, by 

 Mr. Thomas Robinson, of Saxton, near Aberford, in this county; and discovered by 

 Mr. Graham, bird-preserver, York, who brought it to me. The bird has been sent to 

 Mr. Yarrell, who decides that it is Larus Rossii, indigenous to America, but so rare 

 there, that Mr. Audubon has never seen a specimen, alive or dead. I have not made 

 an exact measurement, but it appears about the size of the little gull, the upper parts 

 of its plumage grayish- white, the breast and belly of a light buffish, or perhaps, more 

 properly, salmon-coloured tint; the bill rather slender, and in the inside vermilion-red ; 

 the legs red and the tail forked. This is a very vague description of this extremely 

 rare bird, but should you wish it, I will send you an exact description. I am going 

 to have a drawing of the bird, and lithographs taken from it, one of which I shall be 

 happy to send you, but the description I can send in a few days. Should you wish 

 to mention in the ' Zoologist' any facts relative to woodcocks carrying their young 

 when disturbed, I can give you some information, having heard from the most au- 

 thentic sources many instances. — W. M. E. Milner ; Nunappleton, Tadcaster, March 

 30th, 1847. 



[Any particulars concerning this habit of the woodcock, and also a full description 

 of Larus Rossii, will be most acceptable. — Edward Newman]. 



Rare Birds occurring at Kingsbridge, South Devon. — From seeing your circular, 

 inviting persons to transmit you any rare occurrences relative to Natural History, 

 suited for the pages of the ' Zoologist,' I beg to inform you of the occurrence of the 

 glaucous gull, which was shot in the Kingsbridge estuary last week. I also beg to 

 hand you a list of rare birds which have come into my possession, and have been 

 shot in this neighbourhood within the last seven years : — 



Two little bitterns, male and female Two spoonbills 



