Birds. 8721 



white. T was unable to obtain a view of the nestlings. — Henry L. Saxby ; Balta- 

 sound, Shetland, July 5, 1863. 



Garrulous Roller in Suffolk. — A very perfect and handsome specimen of this bird 

 was killed by Mr. R. Pratt in this neighbourhood, on Tuesday, June 23rd. It has 

 been sent to Mr. J. Cooper, the taxidermist, of 28, Radnor Street, St. Luke's, for pre- 

 servation, where it can be seen, together with some very well mounted specimens of 

 fish, &c. It is well worth any naturalist's inspection — N. Fenwick Hele ; Aldeburgh, 

 Suffolk, July 19, 1863. 



Note on Pallas Sand Grouse. — Observing letters in your columns (' Times') relating 

 to the recent occurrence of Pallas' three-toed sand grouse in this country, I think it 

 may not be uninteresting to your readers to learn that this is not the first occasion on 

 which this curious inhabitant of the Kirghiz steppes of Tartary has paid us a visit. In 

 the summer of 1859 a small flock of these birds traversed England from west to east. 

 One of them was shot in the parish of Walpole St. Peter's, in Norfolk, in the early 

 part of July of that year, and a second near Tremadoc, in Wales, on the 9th of the 

 same month. About the same time, as we learn from the scientific journals of the 

 Continent, birds of the same species were obtained from Hobro, in Jutland, and on 

 the dunes of Holland, near Leyden, where their presence was quite as unexpected (and, 

 I may add, the reception these unfortunate pilgrims met with as little hospitable) as 

 it appears to have been in England. A detailed record of all these occurrences, together 

 with a full description and coloured figure of this bird, is given in the second volume 

 of the Natural-History periodical called the * Ibis,' to which I beg to refer such of your 

 readers as may wish to know further particulars. I may remark that there are living 

 specimens of this sand grouse in the Zoological Society's aviary. These birds were 

 obtained by officers and other members of the recent British expedition to Pekin (where, 

 in winter time, they are sold in the market for food), and brought to this country in 

 1861. — P. L. S c later ; Zoological Society of London, 11, Hanover Square, May 28, 

 1863.—' Times: 



Pallas' Sand Grouse in Devonshire. — I last week received a pair of the sand grouse 

 which were shot from a flock of thirteen birds, by a friend of mine on the sands at 

 Slapton Ley, near this place. They were in good condition, and had been feeding on 

 a sort of grass seed. These birds seem to be larger than the specimens mentioned by 

 Sir William Jardine, their length being nine and eleven inches: my specimens are 

 thirteen inches, the old male having the pointed feathers in the tail four inches longer, 

 which makes nearly seventeen inches; weight, seven and a half ounces. — Henry 

 Nicholls,jun. ; Kingsbridae, South Devon. — ''Field' of July 4, 1863. 



Pallas' Sand Grouse in Kent. — I have two specimens of this rare bird (male and 

 female) shot, on the 7lh of June, at Elmley, Sheppey, from a covey of six, and to my 

 knowledge four have been shot out of that number. — E. Young ; Sittingbourne, 

 Kent, July 1, 1863. 



Pallas' Sand Grouse in Norfolk. — Several coveys of these rare and remarkable 

 birds have made their appearance on this coast during the last six weeks. The first 

 specimen was shot at Thorpe and brought to me. It proved to be an adult female, 

 and contained upwards of a score immature eggs. Altogether seven birds have been 

 shot, and I have secured a handsome pair, which I have stuffed and mounted. I 

 planted the seed which I found in the crop, which has germinated and flowered, and 

 proves itself to be the Trifolium minus. From further experience I find this consti- 

 tutes the usual food of these birds, and a field which has been much frequented by 

 VOL. XXI. 3 G 



