5426 Birds. 



Occurrence of the Whitetailed Eagle near Haslar. — A specimen of the whitetailed 

 eagle (Falco albicilla), in immature plumage, was shot by a person in this neighbour- 

 hood on the 7th inst., and from whom I obtained it. Extreme length 3 feet 3 inches; 

 expanse of wings from tip to tip 7 feet 5 inches ; weight 8 fbs. It proved on exami- 

 nation to be a female, and I have little doubt was a bird of last year. — Charles 

 Barron; Haslar, January 11, 1857. 



The Black Redstart. — A winter seldom passes without specimens of Sylvia tithys 

 coming to hand. It is singular enough that this bird almost always (indeed I do 

 not recollect an instance to the contrary) appears after the autumnal migration, 

 and most frequently in the dead winter months. A male bird, in very beautiful and 

 adult plumage, was captured a few days since in this immediate neighbourhood, and 

 from its very dark plumage must be a bird many years old: the sooty colour on the 

 throat and neck is very pure ; the other plumage of that tone of colour have the 

 feathers with gray edges. I have never seen the adult bird in summer plumage, 

 but I presume these gray margins disappear, leaving the general plumage black. 

 From the partiality of this species to open rocky ground, instead of trees and thickets, 

 it seems to show the connecting link between the true Sylviadse and Saxicolae. — 

 Edward Ilearle Rodd ; Penzance, December 20, 1856. 



The Greater Titmouse (Parus major). — When walking this afternoon in Summerhill 

 Park, my son directed my attention to a sharp tapping sound proceeding apparently 

 from one of the lofty oaks with which this beautiful domain abounds, and on going 

 with cautious steps to the foot of one of them, I perceived, not a woodpecker or a 

 nuthatch, as I had at first imagined it might be, but a torn tit, clinging to one of the 

 topmost branches, whether hollow or not I had no means of ascertaining, but, judging 

 from the loud vibrating sound, I should conclude it was. That the little creature was 

 endeavouring, after the manner of the woodpeckers, to rouse and bring to the surface 

 its insect-food, there can, I think, be little reason to doubt ; but that so diminutive a 

 bird, — or rather, one with so small a bill, — should have the power of making so 

 far-sounding a noise is, I think, somewhat remarkable. — Henry W. Hadfield; Tun- 

 bridge, January 1, 1857. 



Anecdote of the predacious propensity of the Hooded Crow. — In the course of one 

 of those bitterly cold and snowy days which occurred at the commencement of the 

 present month, an intelligent observer noticed a hooded crow (Corvus comix) at 

 Pakefield, near Lowestoft, flying in chase of a small bird, which, after repeatedly 

 darting at it, the crow succeeded in capturing with its bill, whilst both birds were on 

 the wing. The crow subsequently alighted to devour its prey, but, on the approach 

 of the observer, again picked it up in its bill and flew away with it. I have full 

 confidence in the accuracy of my informant, and think the circumstance worthy 

 of record in the 'Zoologist/ — J. H. Gurney ; Cation, Norwich, December 20, 

 1856. 



Partridge and Hooded Crow. — A neighbour of mine, a few days ago, witnessed 

 the chase of a partridge by a hooded crow: the former was so hard pressed and so 

 terrified that it attempted to seek refuge in the bottom of a hedge at no great distance 

 from the spectator. He went up to the place, and the poor partridge, apparently 

 unhurt, but so utterly terrified that it made no attempt to elude him (which a merely 

 winged bird would have done, and successfully too), was picked up by him, while the 

 disappointed crow still hovered near. — /. C. Atkinson; Danby Parsonage, Grosmont, 

 York. 



