220 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



after alluding to the severe weather which prevailed in December, my 

 friend writes, " The flight of birds to the westward for a few days were 

 astonishing, all going before the snow." This is probably part of the same 

 flights already recorded (pp. 63—66). A male Bittern was shot in Hove 

 Levels on Jan. 20th, and my friend saw another during the first snow : it 

 passed within a few yards of him, while he was waiting for Duck at flight- 

 time. Another Shieldrake and a Sclavonian Grebe were killed near Pevensey 

 about the middle of January. — T. H. Nelson (Redcar). 



Winter Notes from Shoreham.— The frost began here on Nov. 26th 

 with a shower of snow, the result of which was an enormous influx of all 

 kinds of fowl, especially Snipe, which fairly swarmed in the unfrozen 

 springs, and a great movement of small birds to the west, mostly Larks, 

 Linnets, and Starlings. On the 29th I bagged several Snipe, all of which 

 were in very poor condition, and picked up several frozen Larks. A Long- 

 eared Owl was winged in the Warren, in mistake for a Woodcock, and 

 although it never became tame it fed well, and was released as soon as its 

 wound had healed. The first Brambling, FringiUa montifringilla, was 

 caught in the bushes by the house on that day. On Nov. 30th the holly 

 trees were full of Redwings, busily eating the berries, and a Grey Wagtail 

 appeared in an unfrozen dyke. On Dec. 6th, caught a Cirl Bunting in 

 the sparrow-net at night. On the 8th, shot the first Wigeon up the river, 

 and a Sheldrake was seen ; the unfrozen dykes were full of Water Rail and 

 Snipe, both of which were very thin. There were large flocks of Larks 

 flying west on the 20th, and on the 21st the Park was full of Bramblings 

 in large flocks. On the 22nd, went out to sea, and saw several Brent 

 Geese and a pair of immature Eiders ; Great Northern and Red-throated 

 Divers were following the shoals of sprats in hundreds; we must have seen 

 fifty or sixty on the wing at once ; a full-plumaged Goldeneye and a Short- 

 eared Owl were shot by the river. On the 23rd two immature Tufted Ducks 

 were shot in the river. On the 25th a Great Crested Grebe was seen by 

 the Groynes. On Jan. 2nd two Bitterns were shot the other side of the 

 river : I saw one of them, and it was in very good condition. On returning 

 from the morning flight I found one in the Spring-dyke, but did not shoot 

 it, and later on in the day flushed it twice again, once approaching it within 

 five yards : it flew very heavily, with a low, croaking note. The keeper 

 was put on to watch it, and it remained in peace till Jan. 9th, when at last 

 it either strayed to the other side of the river or was poached, as it was not 

 seen again, and the next day one was for sale in Shoreham. A large flock 

 of Sheldrakes appeared, and one was shot, as well as an adult male Tufted 

 Duck. A flock of twenty-two Geese flew over the Park and frequented 

 the open downs for some days, but were unapproachable. I saw large 

 numbers of Brent at sea flying to the eastward, and a Peregrine, which flew 

 about the shore. On Jan. 4th there was a slight thaw, and I found large 



