188 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



I never, so far as I can recollect, shot a Dunlin in the breeding season ; I 

 therefore, cannot say, that the larger race of Dunlin may not occur with us 

 in nuptial dress ; but I have known for many years that the fell-side Dun- 

 lins were our smallest and brightest coloured birds, while the birds of the 

 marshes are rather larger, and lack the bright colour of the Dunlins of the 

 fells, being probably intermediate between the birds of our mountainous 

 areas and the larger Dunlin which comes to this country in tens of 

 thousands as an autumn and winter visitor. But as to the smallest race of 

 Dunlin being separated as a valid species, I should certainly vote against 

 any such decision. It would be quite as easy to make several species of the 

 common Goldfinch as of the European Dunlin. There is the greatest 

 difference in size and plumage between the smallest race of Goldfinch 

 found in the Mediterranean sub-region and the very large Goldfinches 

 which are procured in some parts of Russia. But so many intermediate 

 specimens can be found that bridge over the differences between the extreme 

 types, that it is much more satisfactory to recognize the various races as 

 being merely local variations from the original type. — H. A. Macpherson 

 (Pitlochry, N.B.). 



Black Tern in Cheshire. — On June 4th last year, when at Budworth 

 Mere, with Mr. P. G. Ralfe, we saw three birds of this species {Hydrnchelidon 

 nigra) in breeding plumage. They were very tame, and we had a good 

 opportunity of watching them ; they were evidently feeding, as they were 

 beating up the mere against the wind, and from time to time, after a slight 

 check in their flight, would dash on to the water, and again resume their 

 search. They often settled for a short time on the uprights of an old 

 fence which ran into the water.— Fkank S. Graves (Alderley Edge). 



Black Tern in Cornwall. — A flock of Black Terns {Hydrochelidoyi 

 nigra) has for some days frequented the Marazion Marsh, which is a con- 

 siderable stretch of marsh-lands containing one large pool and several 

 smaller ones, about two and a half miles from Penzance. I first observed 

 a pair on Friday, April 19th, and, on visiting the spot on the next day with 

 my brother, Mr. P. G. Harvey, we found from twenty-five to thirty hawking 

 over the " main " marsh. By the aid of a field-glass we made out that they 

 were in an advanced state of plumage, most of them being in practically 

 full summer dress. They are most active about 5 p.m., when they regu- 

 larly quarter the marsh in their search for food, which they snatch from the 

 surface of the water, uttering their shrill cry incessantly, and forming such 

 a sight as to attract the attention of the most unobservant. They rest in 

 the middle of the day on any convenient bank surrounded by water, and in 

 the evening, about 7 p.m., they bathe before settling down for the night. I 

 have never seen or heard of this bird in West Cornwall for many years, 



