NOTES AND QUERIES. 193 



Red-necked Grebes at Scarborough. — During the month of January 

 last a great number of Red-necked Grebes, Podicijpes rubricollis, were ob- 

 tained at Scarborough. This is an unusual occurrence, for these birds are 

 uncommon visitors to this district. The first specimen was picked up dead 

 near the telegraph-wires on Jan. 15 th, and the last noticed were four seen 

 in the South Bay on Jan. 28th. Between these dates no less than twenty- 

 three specimens came under my notice, making a total of twenty-eight. I 

 have also seen seven which were shot at Filey, and I am informed that a 

 large number of others were obtained. Out of this number one only 

 showed any trace of the red neck from which the bird derives its name. 

 All the others were either birds of the year or in the winter plumage.— 

 William J. Clakke (44, Huntriss Row, Scarborough). 



Blackcap in Gloucestershire in mid-Winter.— By way of supplement 

 to the notes on the occurrence of the Blackcap in winter that have already 

 appeared (pp. 61, 65, 106), it may be worth recording that a hen bird of 

 this species was sent to me for verification, from Gloucester, on the 28th 

 December last. It was shot in a garden in the suburbs of that town on 

 the previous day, and was in good condition. — H. W. Marsden (21, New 

 Bond Street, Bath). 



[The Rev. A. Matthews, of Gumley, Market Harborough, reports a 

 hen Blackcap at Saddington Reservoir, Leicestershire, on the 2nd March 

 last.— Ed.] 



Comparative scarcity of the Bernacle Goose.— With regard to Mr. 

 Harper's note on the scarcity of the Bernacle Goose on the N.E. coast 

 (p. 68), I may state that the only instances of its occurrence which have 

 come under my observation were noted in 1883. On Sept. 28th, in that 

 year, I saw a flock of eleven of these birds near the Tees Mouth, and three 

 days afterwards purchased one (a female), which had been caught on the 

 Tees sands by a fisherman ; one wing was badly broken near the shoulder, 

 but, acting on the advice of a medical friend, it was not amputated ; the 

 wound healed, and the bird is now living in a garden in company with 

 another Bernacle and a Brent Goose. They eat a great deal of grass, and 

 are also very partial to barley and soaked bread. When first I got the 

 Bernacle Goose, I had a tame Shieldrake, and the two became inseparable 

 companions, coming up to the dining-room window daily at meal times, and 

 even venturing into the room for a piece of bread or potato, if the window 

 was opened, but after the Shieldrake died, the Goose could not be induced 

 to enter the room again. Can any correspondent say what is the average 

 age of the Bernacle Goose ? A short time ago there were two in the 

 grounds at Southend, Darlington, and I was informed by Miss Pease that 

 they were bought by her father, the late Mr. Joseph Pease, but so long ago 

 that she could not remember the year. In * The Field ' for Sept. 19th, 



ZOOLOGIST.— MAY, 1891. Q 



