62 *HE zootoGis*. 



observed chiefly in the southernmost counties of England, and generally 

 during mild winters. To find these delicate little summer birds sojourning 

 here during such severe weather as has been experienced during the last 

 six weeks was hardly to be expected, and yet two or three instances of 

 their having been met with in December, 1890, and January, 1891, have 

 been reported. Mr. Samuel Bale forwarded a male Blackcap which was 

 shot on December 12th, while feeding on some honeysuckle in a garden at 

 Barnstaple, North Devon. On the 20th of the same month, according to 

 Mr. 0. V. Aplin, a female Blackcap was shot at Bloxham, Oxfordshire, 

 while feeding on the berries of the cotoneaster. There were six inches of 

 snow on the ground at the time, and the cold was intense. The bird, 

 nevertheless, on examination was found to be in good condition. At Lyme 

 Kegis, Dorsetshire, on December 23rd, Mr. Arthur Lister observed a hen 

 Blackcap feeding in his garden, and found one — probably the same bird — 

 lying dead there ten days later. On January 5th Mr. W. K. Mann, of 

 Clifton, communicated the fact that a pair of Blackcaps had frequented a 

 garden at Ilfracombe, and on the date mentioned were still there. The 

 question arises, Were these birds voluntary sojourners here for the winter, 

 or were they wanderers from those vast flocks of small birds which, about the 

 same time, were observed for several hours on different days to be speeding 

 westward through Sussex, Dorset, and Devon ? A note on this remarkable 

 migration will be found in the present number (p. 63). — J. E. Harting. 



Marsh Harrier in North Devon. — Like all our larger birds of prey, 

 the Marsh Harrier is shot down by everybody who has the chance of doing 

 so, and this bird probably will soon be extinct in this neighbourhood. A 

 male was killed on Braunton marshes on November 3rd, and has been pre* 

 served for the collection belonging to the United Services College, West- 

 ward Ho. — H. A. Evans (Westward Ho). 



Pomatorhine Skua in Co. Mayo. — I received a good specimen of the 

 Pomatorhine Skua, in its first year's plumage, from my friend Dr. H. Scott, 

 of Enniscrone, which had been shot by his nephew in the last week of 

 November, at Killasea, Co. Mayo, as it was flying over a bog in company 

 with two or three others. Killasea is situated twelve or thirteen miles from 

 the nearest part of the sea coast, so it is probable the birds were making 

 their way across the country to the south-west, their usual line of migration 

 from Killala Bay. — Robert Warben (Moyview, Ballina). 



Pomatorhine Skua in Co. Mayo. — T have received an adult specimen 

 of this species from my friend Dr. Burkitt. It was found dead, on Nov. 

 8th, in a field near the house where he resides, about a mile from Belmul- 

 lett. It appears to have perished from starvation and exposure, the weather 

 on Nov. 6th, 6th and 7th having been most tempestuous. Dr. Burkitt 

 informs me that the bird was greatly attenuated, weighing but 14 oz.„ and 



