NOTES AND QUERIES. 273 



stated, but also that there were witnesses to the fact. Dowden and three 

 other keepers were fishing the weir pool, when the bird in question attracted 

 their attention. Dowden pushed across to the Fish-House for his gun, and 

 shot it from that place. No one here could name the bird, although it was 

 shown to many persons, and private libraries were searched in vain for 

 some figure or description. Owing, however, to the interest taken in the 

 matter by the late Earl of Malmesbury, it was ultimately correctly iden- 

 tified. It was purchased at the time by Mr. Tanner, who rented part of 

 the water here, and who had every opportunity to hear from the keepers 

 the facts of the occurrence. In January, 1884, Mr. Saunders wrote me, 

 " About the Killdeer Plover I have no personal doubt whatever but that it 

 was a genuine Hants-killed specimen, but the chain of evidence was not 

 sufficiently perfect to justify its insertion in the British list." This was of 

 the least importance, whether a single straggler to this country should be 

 included in this list. I could have sent Mr. Saunders a letter that would 

 have removed any doubt, had I known sooner that such existed in his mind. 

 I have sought out all the persons now living who either saw the bird (as I 

 did) in the flesh, or who could have given evidence respecting its capture; 

 but not one single enquiry at any time has been made of them, thus 

 placing at its true value Mr. Saunders' " later investigation." His reflection 

 upon those chiefly concerned, in a matter of local history, I cannot let 

 pass without a protest, considering that no author should publish a state- 

 ment without being able to produce some evidence to substantiate it. — 

 Edward Hart (Christchurch, Hants). 



[As we understand the case, Mr. Saunders abstained from endorsing 

 the statement that the bird in question was killed near Christchurch, being 

 unable to produce evidence to substantiate it, although, as Mr. Hart now 

 remarks, a little further enquiry might have elicited all the facts. This is 

 not the only instance in which this American Plover has occurred in 

 England. A second specimen was procured by Mr. Jenkinson, as our 

 readers may recollect, at Trescoe, in the Scilly Islands, in January, 1885. 

 See ' Zoologist,' 1885, p. 113.— Ed.] 



Ornithological Notes from Mayo and Sligo, — As usual the Sandwich 

 Terns, Sterna cantiaca, were the first of our summer visitors to arrive. 

 One was observed on March 15th, but the main flight were not seen until 

 the 24th and 25th of that month. These birds, I am glad to say, are 

 steadily increasing in numbers, owing to their breeding-ground on Rath- 

 rooyeen Lough being strictly preserved by the owner, Sir C. Knox-Gore, 

 who does not allow them to be disturbed by visitors, or any eggs taken. 

 The next species to appear was the Willow Wren, on April 19th; then a 

 Swallow was seen on the 22nd, and some Whimbrels, Numenius phceopus, 

 on the 30th. A Common Tern was seen on May 1st, and the Cuckoo and 

 Corn Crake heard on the 5th, Whitethroats on the 12th, and the Spotted 



