Birds. 8677 



Common Sandpiper (Totanus hypoleucos). Cape Colony, Natal ; 

 also in Madagascar. 



Wood Sandpiper (T. glareola). Natal. 



Greenshank (T. glottis). Damara Land, Mosambiqne, Natal. 



Great Snipe (Gallinago major). Natal. The great snipes arrive 

 in Natal in September and October, and leave in January or February. 

 *Whimbrel (Numenius plueopus). Mosambique ; also in Mada- 

 gascar. 



Common Curlew (N. arquata). Mosambique, Natal. 



White Stork (Ciconia alba). Natal. 



Common Heron {Ardea cinerea). Mosambique, Natal; also in 

 Madagascar and the Mauritius. 



Purple Heron {A. purpurea). Mosambique, Natal ; also in Mada- 

 gascar. 



Little Egret (A. garzetta). Mosambique, Natal. 



Buffbacked Heron (A. bubulcus). Natal; also in Madagascar. 



Squacco Heron (A. comata). Natal ; also in Madagascar. 



European Little Bittern {Ardetla minuta). Natal. This species 

 must not be confounded with a nearly allied but distinct species of 

 little bittern, which is also found at Natal, Ardetta podiceps of Bona- 

 parte. 



Water Rail [Rallus aquaticus). Damara Land, Natal. 



Corn Crake (Crex pratensis). Natal. The corn crake is only found 

 at Natal during the colonial " summer." 



Baillon's Crake (C. Baillonii). Damara Land. 



European Waterhen (Gallinula chloropus). Damara Land, Cape 

 Colony, Mosambique, Natal ; also Madagascar, Mauritius and Bour- 

 bon. 



Little Grebe [Podiceps minor). Damara Land, Cape Colony, 

 Natal ; also Madagascar. 



J. H. GURNEY. 



The Osprey in Shetland. — About a week ago a line female osprey was brought to 

 me by a lad who had just shot it upon the sands at Burra firth, as it was sitting at the 

 mouth of a burn, devouring a sea trout. The stomach contained nothing besides pieces 

 of (ish, and in the ovary I found eggs about the size of bb shot. Another bird, which 

 from its small size is supposed to be a male, was frequently seen in company with it, 

 and is still in this neighbourhood. Dr. Edmondstone informs me that he has very 

 rarely observed this species in Shetland. — Henry L. Saxby ; Baltasound, Shetland, 

 June 10, 1863. 



The Osprey near Bury St. Edmund's. — On Thursday, May 28th, a fine male osprey 

 was caught by a labouring man in a tree near Bury St. Edmunds. Wheu captured 



