4 6 28 Quadrupeds — Birds. 



and as truthfully may I congratulate you on the state of the Society, 

 on the solidity of our present position, and on the brightness of 

 our future prospects: we have published largely, and met with a 

 most encouraging sale ; the number of our members has increased ; 

 our exchequer is full ; our debts are paid. Heartily wishing that this 

 prosperity may continue, that every success may attend our united 

 and harmonious labours on behalf both of the Science and the 

 Society, I now retire from that important office with which you have 

 entrusted me, deeply feeling that no thanks of mine can make you an 

 adequate return for the kindness with which you have invariably re- 

 ceived me, and carrying with me into obscurity the most pleasurable 

 recollections of my brief tenure of authority. 



Black Hare shot at Brome. — During a battue at Brome, near Eye, the seat of Sir 

 Edward Clarence Kerrison, Bart., in the early part of January, a hare perfectly black 

 was shot in one of the plantations, and has been preserved by the honorable baronet. 

 Seven years ago a similar specimen was shot in the same place, but none have been 

 seen since. — C. R. Bree ; Stricklands, StowmarJcet y February 8, 1 855. 



On the three Species of Divers or Loons. — Of the first, the redthroated, it is almost 

 needless to repeat that it is a common species, so far as relates to the " speckled loon," 

 on most parts of our coast, though occurring, from its non-gregarious habits, in but 

 small numbers. It may here be well to notice that in one instance I fell in with what 

 appeared to be a small family party of the blackthroated diver. These five or six 

 birds frequented for some time a small bay near Bembridge, and seemed most studious 

 to keep up this family connection, until one day I succeeded in effectually dispersing 

 them by a lucky cartridge which left two sprawling on the surface (of which however, 

 by some strange inherent vitality, one contrived to escape), and after that I saw no 

 more of the association. One of them was afterwards shot in my presence, and, after 

 having passed through the ordeal of careful examination, was thrown into the water 

 to wash away the blood, when, to the great surprise of the shooter, he swam and dived 

 away most gallantly, not again to be so easily outwitted. The favourite food of the 

 divers appears to be the sea-smelt or atherine, if I may judge from the result of seve- 

 ral dissections. The next common is the great northern diver, and I may perhaps be 

 allowed to say that its rarity, at least in the immature or winter (?) plumage, is gene- 

 rally overrated. With us at all events (at Bembridge) the bird was a regular winter 

 visitant to the coast, and well known to the fishermen and " gunners." I shall not 

 easily forget my delight when first the great northern diver fell before my gun, but I 



