Birds. 4407 



Name and address of the person who shot it. — William Lister, joiner, late of Esk- 

 dale, now in Australia. 



Name of its present possessor. — Mr. Harrison, ironmonger, Strand Street, White- 

 haven. 



Details of the circumstances under which it was obtained. — First seen in company 

 with peregrine falcons, by a man named Graham : about two weeks afterwards Lister 

 discovered its roosting-place, and made several ineffectual attempts to shoot it: he 

 then fixed his gun into a wall (the dry boulder sheep- walls of the district), and thus 

 covered the eyrie, situated in a crevice of a crag; returning at midnight he discharged 

 his gun, and on the following morning found his shot had told : yes — with all due re- 

 gard for the opinions of others on the aids to and furtherance of science, and the re- 

 quirements of collectors, I venture to regret — it had told too well, since, although of 

 extremely rare occurrence, it is very possible there may be others in the country with 

 which it might have mated. 



T was lately informed by a military gentleman — a crack shot, and well acquainted 

 with native birds, yet no collector, and who long resided with his regiment in Canada 

 — that a few years ago he rarely, for a long period, took his morning walk without 

 seeing a specimen of the swallow-tailed kite, and in this immediate neighbourhood: 

 he described its peculiar flight, and was certain of its identity. I am also credibly 

 informed that a ship captain brought a pair alive from New Orleans to Liverpool, at 

 a much later date than the above, but I am unable to state what became of them. 

 With respect to the birds inquired about, they certainly are not so common as to be of 

 every-day occurrence in chosen localities, yet that they may be procured at intervals 

 here and there is a fact pretty well known to many collectors. During the severe 

 weather of last winter, the little gull and many other northern sea-birds were fre- 

 quently seen about St. Bees' Head : the merganser was shot on Ennerdale Lake. Two 

 specimens of the little bittern have been shot in this neighbourhood lately. A month 

 ago a swan passed southward over this town, flying very low. I now have to record a 

 visitor perhaps quite as rare in this district as the Elanus. A specimen of the great 

 bustard was killed lately near Wigton, and, although without details at present, I 

 have most excellent authority for its truth, and believe it the only instance on record 

 of this bird having been seen in Cumberland. In conclusion, I have to remark, that 

 for the circumstances, names, &c., relating to the capture of the Elanus, T am indebted 

 to the possessor, who refers me to Yarrell for a correct detailed description of the bird. 

 — Joseph Robson ; Whitehaven, July 17, 1854. 



Occurrence of the Honey Buzzard (Falco apivorus) in Norfolk and Suffolk. — A 

 fine specimen of this rather scarce bird was shot at Holkham, in Norfolk, on the 4th 

 of July; aud about the same time another was obtained near Saxmundham, in the 

 adjoining county. On examination both proved to be females, the first being the 

 oldest bird, having attained the ash-gray plumage on the head, often described as a 

 variety under the name of the " capped buzzard." The stomachs of both these birds 

 were well filled with young wasps, in different stages of growth, and in that of the 

 Suffolk specimen a few pieces of moss, which had no doubt been accidentally swal- 

 lowed during the destruction of the wasps' nest. — H. Stevenson ; Norwich, July 1 2, 1854. 



Note on a Bustard killed in Cumberland. — A very fine female of the great bustard 

 {Otis tarda) was shot on the 8th of March last, in a turnip-field, at Leeshill, parish of 

 Lanercost, Cumberland, and is now in the possession of Mr. Joseph Mowbray, inn- 

 keeper, Brampton. It is said to have been in good condition, and weighed 11 Itjs. — 

 Thomas John Bold ; Angas Court, Bigg Market, Neivcas tie-on- Tyne, July 3, 1854. 



