Birds, $631 



Aspal, aljout ten miles from hence, by Mr. Freeman. It rose up in a wood, and took 

 refuge alas ! in a tree near, from which it was shot. It was very thin. 



Hawfinch (Fringilla coccothraustes). A fine male specimen of this bird was taken 

 about a fortnight ago, in a trap, at Old Newton, near here. It is now in my collection. 

 — C. R. Bree; Stricklands, Stowmarket, February 8, 1855. 



Note on the Eagle which is said to attack the Trained Falcons of Asiatic Falconers. 

 — In the ' Zoologist' (Zool. 3648 and 4052) I drew attention to some passages in the 

 works of various authors which appeared to throw some light on the above curious 

 subject. I now beg to call attention to a statement bearing on the same matter, and 

 contained in the recently published first volume of the ' Catalogue of the Birds in the 

 Museum of the East India Company,' a volume which, it may be observed, is not 

 limited to a simple list of specimens, but which also contains a very great amount of 

 interesting information as to the habits of the species therein enumerated. The editor 

 of the * Catalogue,' under the head of Aquila Naevioides (called in India the Wokhab), 

 quotes the following, from a paper published by Mr. Jerdon, who in his turn refers as 

 his authority to the notes of Mr. Elliot, viz., " The wokhab is very troublesome in 

 hawking after the sun becomes hot, mistaking the jesses for some kind of prey, and 

 pouncing on the falcon to seize it. I have once or twice nearly lost shaheens in con- 

 sequence, they flying to great distances from fear of the wokhab." The Aquila Naevi- 

 oides is said to be in the habit of plundering other raptorial birds of their prey, a 

 circumstance which, if correctly asserted, would give great probability to Mr. Elliot's 

 theory as to the cause of these eagles attacking trained falcons. — /. H. Gurney ; 

 Catton, Norfolk, February 14, 1855. 



The Lapland Bunting (Plectrophanes lapponica) in Norfolk. — I have the pleasure 

 of recording a specimen of this rare bunting, which was netted during the last week 

 of January, at Rostwich, near Norwich. This bird is apparently a male in winter 

 plumage, very lively, but far from shy, and seems to thrive well in confinement. — H. 

 Stevenson; Norwich, February 16, 1855. 



Remarkable Variety of the Woodcock. — Mr. Cooper, of Radnor Street, St. Luke's, 

 has favoured me with the sight of a most beautiful specimen of the woodcock, widely 

 differing from the normal colouring of the species. Every part of the plumage was of 

 a delicate fawn colour, just that tint which naturalists have termed isabellinus. Every 

 sportsman is acquainted with the beautifully distinct markings of the woodcock in its 

 normal state of plumage, markings so wonderfully represented in Bewick's figure, the 

 finest bird-picture in existence: all these markings are just indicated, and no more, in 

 Mr. Cooper's specimen ; you could catch them, like reflected light, appearing in some 

 positions and vanishing in others. — Edward Newman ; February 19, 1855. 



Occurrence of the Shag (Carbo cristatus), the American Scaup (Fuligula mari- 

 toides) and the Continental Wagtail near Scarborough. — I have an adult female shag 

 (a rare bird with us) which was shot on the South Sands. A fine example of the 

 American scaup was killed from the Light-house pier: it was purchased by I. Tindall, 

 Esq., of this place, who is having it preserved. A continental wagtail was shot by a 

 friend of mine, Mr. H. Jackson, an intelligent farmer living at Deepdale, a short dis- 

 tance from here: it was feeding near his sheep, in a turnip-field. — Alfred Roberts ; 

 King Street, Scarborough, January 23, 1855. 



