60 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Lapland Bunting in Sussex.— The Lapp Bunting is a much com- 

 moner bird in the southern counties than many ornithologists suppose. 

 For example, a few have been annually taken near Dover for the last 

 dozen winters. Last year (1892) was an annus mirabilis for this species in 

 Southern and Eastern Britain. This season, on the other hand, Lapp 

 Buntings have been rare in Sussex ; and although the birdcatchers know 

 them well, only three were caught near Brighton in November. Two of 

 these, fine strong male birds, were sent to me. Others have been taken 

 near Dover as usual. — H. A. Macpherson (Carlisle). 



Black Guillemot inland in Dorsetshire. — A bird of this species was 

 driven inland by the storm of Dec. L9th, and was picked up alive on the 

 following day at Milborne St. Andrew, a distance of sixteen miles from the 

 sea. — J. C. Mansel Pleydell (Whatcombe, Blandford, Dorset). 



Snipe affected by Soot. — During the last frost, two letters appeared in 

 ' The Times,' recording discoloured snow, and one of these attributed the 

 discoloration to London smoke, although the writer lived at a considerable 

 distance from London. I remember that I observed, when Snipe-shooting 

 some years ago, that all the Snipe that I killed had their under parts 

 discoloured, apparently by soot, and this was the case from about November 

 till January. To the best of my recollection this happened in more than 

 one season, and it must have been between 1877 and 1887, because the 

 keeper who was with me when these sooty breasts puzzled us, was in my 

 service during that period. I have never seen it since, however, although 

 I have shot over the same beat more or less every year since. Can this 

 have been London smoke also ? The distance as the crow flies cannot be 

 less than fifty miles from London, probably more. Certainly these birds 

 may have soiled their breasts in some marshes nearer London, before they 

 visited the district ; but it seems odd that it has not occurred since those 

 years. — W. Oxenden Hammond (St. Alban's Court, near Wingham, Kent). 



Uncommon Birds in Sussex. — Since writing to you about Larus 

 minutus, I have seen three other specimens in the flesh, all of which were 

 shot in this neighbourhood. One of these was an adult male, the others 

 immature. The adult was shot on the 8th inst, on the coast between 

 Hastings and Bexhill. The plumage was in good order, but the bird was in 

 poor condition, weighing but four ounces, The feet and legs were of a 

 coral-red colour, and not dark as in the immature birds. On the same day, 

 as I learn from Mr. Bristow of St. Leonards, an adult male Kentish Plover 

 was shot in this neighbourhood, and four Sheldrakes appeared on Pett 

 Levell, one of which was shot. The thermometer on that day registered 

 seventeen degrees of frost.— G. W. Bradshaw (Hastings). 



Wildfowl on the Sussex Coast. — You may perhaps like to insert in 

 1 The Zoologist ' a notice of various wildfowl which were obtained along the 



