5096 Birds. 



two lobes: its breadth across was 4 feet 7 inches. The smooth unwrinkled skin was 

 of a uniform glossy black, excepting a narrow band of drab colour along the belly, 

 that terminated abruptly in front of the paddle-fins. The blubber was from i to 4, 

 and even 6 inches thick. The flesh was very dark in colour, and resembled coarse 

 beef. The animal was cut up on Monday, and, after the blubber had been separated, 

 the carcase was conveyed away for manure. After one side had beeu stripped of its 

 blubber, it was with difficulty turned over by the efforts of two horses, one attached 

 to the tail, and the other to one of the paddle-fins, with four men besides to assist. 

 Apparently it had not been long dead previous to its discovery, there being no traces 

 of corruption. As to the cause of its death, it may be conjectured, that having got 

 entangled among the rocks it may have been unable to effect its escape; but there are 

 no traces of any struggle having occurred on the spot where it lay, nor did it bear any 

 external mark of violence sufficient to account for its fate. The sea for some time 

 previous had been calm. A much smaller animal of the same sort has also come 

 ashore in the vicinity of Thorntonloch, in East Lothian. As our knowledge of the 

 Cetacea that frequent our sea-coast is very limited, it is most desirable to have a mi- 

 nute account of all animals of this description that may from time to time fall under 

 observation, for doubtless the varieties are much more numerous than most people are 

 aware of. Naturalists are indebted to the late Dr. Patrick Neill for having pointed 

 out the characters that distinguish this species from the Grampus, which it much re- 

 sembles, and with which it is often confounded. — James Hardy ; Penmanshiel, by 

 Cockbumspath, N.B., April, 1856. 



Occurrence of the Whitetailed Eagle (Falco albicilla) in Devonshire. — A few weeks 

 ago I saw a fine living specimen of the whitetailed eagle, which was captured in the 

 following curious manner: — As two men were at work felling trees, near Holsworthy, 

 in North Devon, about the beginning of January, their attention was attracted by a 

 loud rustling amongst some furze near them, and, turning round, they perceived the 

 eagle lying with its wings extended on the top of a furze bush, unable to rise. They 

 flung a hatchet at it, but, missing it, walked up to it, and each seizing the tip of a 

 wing carried it home, and have since been exhibiting it in Exeter and other towns, 

 and it is now I believe at Plymouth. — W. S. M. U Urban; Newport, near Exeter, 

 February 5, 1856. 



Honey Buzzard breeding in Britain. — I venture to bring to the notice of Mr. A. 

 F. Sealy what T consider to be another instance of the honey buzzard breeding in 

 this country; and, though I have no proof positive to adduce, T think the circumstan- 

 tial evidence of the case very convincing. In the summer of the year 1841, a game- 

 keeper, in the employ of a gentleman whose estate lay in the Shropshire side of 

 Staffordshire, shot a large hawk on her nest, which was situated in a tree on the out- 

 skirts of an extensive wood. The man look the bird, and two eggs which he found in 

 the nest, to his mistress, who prided herself on her ornithological knowledge; and ac- 

 cordingly, after consul lingua very ancient copy of Bewick's 'British Birds,' she 

 pronounced the bird to be a fine goshawk, placed the eggs in her cabinet, and 

 forwarded the hawk to a neighbouring gentleman, who was in the habit of preserving 

 the skins of rare birds: he was unfortunately from home at the time, and before lie 



