2528 Birds. 



only ascribe its non-recognition by the two eminent ornithologists who have seen the 

 description, to the fact that Mr. Higgins has laid no particular stress on the loose- 

 webbed or hairy feathers that grow down the middle of the back. To these, and to 

 the " tufts of hair-like feathers " or bristles which clothe the nostrils, the bird owes 

 its name ; and these, colour apart, are its principal specific distinguishing marks. In 

 the male bird the occiput or back of the head is scarlet. The hairy woodpecker is a 

 native of North America, and is very common in the orchards there, where it does 

 good service. This is not, however, the first time that it has been claimed as a deni- 

 zen of Britain. Many of our naturalists, who wrote at the end of the last and the 

 beginning of the present century, state that it has been seen in Yorkshire, and else- 

 where in the north of England ; and Lewin gives the authority of a " Mr. Bolton, 

 who met with it at Halifax." But Mr. Yarrell altogether ignores it, and other mo- 

 dern English ornithologists only refer to the reports for the purpose of doubting them. 

 About three years ago I myself received from Worcestershire the skin of a wood- 

 pecker, then unknown to me : it was sent by a relative, to whom it had been given 

 for me, as a " mighty rare bird." I handed it to my friend Mr. W. R. Fisher, and 

 on his showing it to Mr. Yarrell and some other high authorities, they at once made 

 it out to be P. villosus, and desired proof that it was English. This proof I endea- 

 voured to procure ; but as I could not get my Worcestershire friends to see any im- 

 portance in the inquiry, I was compelled to let the matter drop. I hope Mr. Higgins 

 will be more successful, and that we may now, with certainty, include this species in 

 our English fauna. I confess that, even before this recent capture, I have always 

 thought that P. villosus had quite as much right to be considered an English bird as 

 its congener, P. martius ; although it is very singular that it has never been seen on 

 the continent of Europe, as many other woodpeckers — strangers to our coast — dwell 

 there.— W. F. W. Bird; 5, King's Road, Bedford Row, July 2, 1849. 



Occurrence of eight Night Herons (Nycticorax ardeola) in Devonshire. — As I was 

 perambulating the banks of the river Erme, Devon, on Wednesday, May 23rd, 1849, 

 with my fishing-rod in my hand, I was informed by the gamekeeper at Flete, near 

 Erme bridge, who has a keen eye for our rare feathered visitants, that he had seen a 

 bird like a young heron. I soon went in pursuit of the rara avis, and to my astonish- 

 ment flushed four night herons, and in less than twenty-four hours succeeded in se- 

 curing the whole of them. About a week subsequent to the above date, owing to 

 information I had received, I renewed my search, which resulted in my killing two 

 more of these birds ; and on Friday, June 22nd, having accompanied a young friend, 

 Mr. R. A. Julian, jun., of Estover House, to beat the river for what I considered the 

 last of the flock, our efforts did not prove unavailing, as we bagged a bird each ; thus 

 making up the complement of eight adult birds, four males and four females. These 

 are very uncommon birds in this country, and when they do appear are seldom seen, 

 from their shy and solitary habits. It may be considered a fact worthy of notice, 

 that the gamekeeper at Flete killed two little bitterns (Ardea minuta of Linneus), 

 some years since, within a short distance of where the night herons were seen. — C. J. 

 C. Bulteel ; Holbeton, Erme Bridge, Devon, July, 1849. 



Occurrence of the Little Bittern (Ardea minuta) at Yarmouth. — Three specimens 

 of the little bittern have been shot on our marshes during the past spring. I cannot 

 give you any particulars respecting them. — John Smith; Great Yarmouth, July 11, 

 1849. 



Occurrence of the Avocet (Avocetta recurvirostra) in Romney Marsh. — Another fine 



