NOTES AND QUERIES. 151 



of whom do not know a Cuckoo from a Hawk, and others probably are 

 deceived by cuckoo-clocks in cottages, or by clever imitations of country 

 lads. It seldom happens that we receive such circumstantial evidence as 

 the following. Dr. A. J. Fleming, of Ragleth House, Church Stretton, 

 Salop, writing on March 6th, says : — " When driving along a country road 

 yesterday (March 5), I had a very good view of a Cuckoo. As it is more 

 than a month earlier than the date at which the birds usually arrive, I 

 thought it might interest some of your readers to record the fact. I am 

 quite satisfied that it was a Cuckoo which I saw, and that I did not 

 mistake any other bird for one. We get a great number of these birds 

 here every spring, and I am quite familiar both with their appearance aud 

 mode of flight. Moreover, my servant man, who also knows the birds 

 well, saw it also. It flew out of the hedge nearly opposite my dog-cart, and 

 flying low along the ground for about fifty yards, again entered the bottom 

 of the hedge. I marked the spot, and on coming close to it the bird flew 

 out again, and again flew along in front of me and entered the hedge as 

 before. This was repeated four times, so that I had a very good opportunity 

 of observing it. The first time I was somewhat doubtful whether it was 

 not a Sparrowhawk, which the Cuckoo somewhat resembles, and had I not 

 seen it a second time I should have remained doubtful of its identity. Its 

 mode of flying along the bottom of the hedge, and the way in which it 

 popped in and out, were not at all like the movements of a hawk. It gave 

 no note. Assuming the accuracy of my observation, it is an interesting 

 question how it comes to be here so much before the usual time. Can it 

 have passed the winter in this country ? or might it possibly have reached 

 our shores aided by the long-continued south-west gales to which we have 

 been treated this winter ? I should be glad to hear what some of those 

 who are learned in such matters have to say on the point." — A. J. Fleming. 



Snow Bunting at Bolton-le-Moors. — It may be of interest to place on 

 record the appearance of this species in this district, two female birds 

 having been shot at Horwich during the last week of February. In both 

 the ovaries were much developed. — C. E. Stott (Bolton-le-Moors). 



King Eider off Achill Island, Co. Mayo.— On the 12th Dec, 1892, 1 

 fell in with a fine male King Eider, Somateria spectabilis, near Dugort, Achill 

 Island. It must be a rare visitor to the West of Ireland, for I never saw 

 one in the flesh before, although, considering the numerous bays and inlets 

 about here, it is quite likely that other specimens have occurred and 

 escaped notice. — J. R. Sheeidan (Dugort, Achill Island). 



Surf Scoter off Achill Island, Co. Mayo.— The Surf Scoter, (Edemia 

 perspicillata, has several times occurred here of late years. I have myself 

 seen three. Two were met with in October, and one in December. One 

 of these I shot on the 25th Oct., 1870. The two were very tame, and 

 allowed me to approach within twenty yards of them. Unfortunately, I 



