Birds. 2623 



Occurrence of Rare Birds at and near Wisbech. — The dusky sandpiper (Totanus 

 fuscus), pigmy curlew (Tringa subarquata), little stint (Tringa minuta), and Temminck's 

 stint (Tringa Temminckii). Eight specimens of the first-named rarity were caught 

 in a plover net on Guyhirn Wash, on the 11th instant, all of which are now in my 

 possession : two of the specimens were undergoing the change between the summer 

 and winter dress ; the other six had assumed it : upon dissection, five of them proved 

 to be males and three females. A flock of twelve was seen ; eleven alighted, but in 

 taking them out of the net three escaped. Pennant named this bird the Cambridge 

 godwit, probably from its being commonly found in that locality ; but of late it has 

 become so exceedingly scarce, even in its once favourite haunts, that to my knowledge 

 more than sixteen years have elapsed since any were shot here. The pigmy curlew, 

 little stint and Temminck's stint were shot on the banks of the river, less than a mile 

 below the town, and I have since preserved them. — T. W.Foster; Curator of the 

 Museum, Wisbech, October 23, 1849. 



The Birds of Oxfordshire and its Neighbourhood. 

 By the Reverends Andrew and Henry Matthews. 



(Continued from page 2603). 



Great-crested Grebe {Podiceps cristatus). Is sometimes found in 

 this neighbourhood. " Near Hungerford, Berks, February, 1808." — 

 Dr. T. 



Red-necked Grebe {Podiceps rubricollis). On the 10th of October, 

 1848, a fine specimen of this bird, in the winter plumage, was shot on 

 Sanderton mill-pond, near Risborough, Buckinghamshire. " In May, 

 1792, a red-necked grebe was killed at Burghfield, in Berkshire." — 

 Dr. T. 



Sclavonian Grebe (Podiceps cor nidus). This bird is rarely met 

 with during the summer, although several have been killed near Oxford 

 in their winter dress. 



Eared Grebe {Podiceps auritus). The eared grebe, like the fore- 

 going species, has been killed here in the winter months ; and in June, 

 1847, a specimen was captured on the Isis, near Sandford, in the full 

 summer plumage. 



Common Guillemot (Uria Troile). " Once killed on the river Isis, 

 at Sandford, near Oxford, in October, 1840." — K. 



Little Auk {Mergulus Alle). Several specimens of the little auk 

 have been caught alive in this neighbourhood. The last of these was 

 found in November, 1845, in Christchurch Meadow, in an exhausted 

 condition, and unable to escape. It has also been " killed near New- 

 bury, Berkshire."— Dr. T. 



