Birds. 8523 



Ornithological Notes between Bristol and Dublin. — On the 20th of March, while 

 off the Bishop and Clerks, near Milfurd, a flock of shearwaters accompanied us for 

 about six miles. Their flight is most beautiful, and resembles lhat of the martin more 

 than any bird I know. There was a gale blowing from the westward, and though the 

 bird is nearly the size of the razorbill, they flew against it at an astonishing rate, occa- 

 sionally cleaving the water with their breasts. While in the Liffey, an Iceland gull 

 was feeding with a flock of herring gulls. On the 8th of April, when returning, I saw 

 a flock of six shearwaters off the Wexford Coast. During a squall accompanied with 

 sleet, and in about mid channel, a meadow pipit accompanied us for some time, endea- 

 vouring to settle on the rigging. At last it flew as if in despair before the squall 

 north-east.— H. Blake- Knox ; 49, Pulteney Street, Bath, April 10, 1863. 



Marsh Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Iceland Falcon, fyc, in Ireland. — The marsh 

 harrier (Falco aruginosus) is plentiful this year in the Queen's County, &c. Several 

 specimens have been sent to Dublin. The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), too, is 

 not uncommon. An Iceland falcon (F. islandicus) came into the possession of the 

 Natural History Society. The Merlin (F. JEsalon) is also common. The little auk 

 (Alca alle) is numerous on the west coast. — Id.; Bartragh, Dalkey, County Dublin, 

 April 5, 1863. y 



Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) at Haverfordwest. — I obtained on the 29th of 

 last month a tine specimen of the peregrine falcon while still fresh and unskinned. 

 It was captured near Haverfordwest by means of a bait poisoned with strychnine. 

 The plumage in cousequence is perfect, and is that of an old bird. I dissected the 

 body, which is that of a female, and found the ovary in a very forward state, the largest 

 egg being about half an inch in diameter. The stomach contained nothing but a few 

 pieces of the poisoned meat. What a pity it is that so noble a bird is gradually be- 

 coming so scarce. I did not know until a few weeks ago that a peregrine was shot in 

 this parish in January, 1862. I have receutly seen the bird, which is stuffed and in 

 the possession of a neighbour of mine, and I fancy from the size it is a female.— /. E. 

 Harting ;' Kingsbury, Middlesex, April 4, 1863. 



Correction of an Error. — In my communication respecting the Dartford warbler 

 (Zool. 8484), there is a misprint : the locality where I obtained the bird should be 

 Bepton, not Beeston. — Id. 



Blackbird Singing in February. — At Zool. 8484 the Rev. J. C. Atkinson mentions 

 as a remarkable circumstance a blackbird singing in Yorkshire in February. Having 

 noted for many years the first song of the blackbird, it is by no means uncommon in 

 'very mild winter for the blackbird to sing a few days in February, and once now and 

 then at the end of January, but rarely. In my neighbourhood the first heard was 

 about the 24th of February. In cold weather this bird is frequently silent until even 

 the first or second week in March. The blackbird is also much later in nidification than 

 his congener the song thrush, seldom commencing his nest before young thrushes are 

 hatched. Many persons who have not correct ears for the song of birds, mistake the 

 missel thrush for the blackbird. The missel thrush is a much hardier bird, and sings 

 in colder and more tempestuous weather. The latter seems the only bird which delights 

 to sing during a heavy gale of wind, when the other songsters of the grove are silent. 

 The blackbird delights most to sing«in a calm gleamy day, between warm showers. — 

 H. W. Newman ; Hillside, Cheltenham, April 9, 1863. 



The Query respecting the Robin. — I observe in the January number of the ' Zoolo- 

 gist ' (Zool. 8326) that Mr. Whatl corroborates Mr. Ransom's statement as to the 



