NOTES AND QUERIES. 275 



very great extent, but that occurrence was exceptional, and half that 

 number is nearer the average. Last year, throughout the spring months 

 and well into the summer, a pair frequented a large piece of meadow- 

 land in the vicinity of the river, and near a wood, but whether they 

 nested or not I am unable to say, but I was informed that the male 

 was not noticed after the middle of June, a date I imagined far too ad- 

 vanced for any Duck to go north for nesting. I believe the male of 

 this species doffs his gay plumes after nesting, like the ordinary Mal- 

 lard, and it is possible he is overlooked in his more subdued dress. It 

 may here be mentioned that the river and almost every foot of its 

 environs are under the strict watch of the game-preserver, very different 

 to what it was in my bird-nesting days. This season the birds are still 

 in the neighbourhood, having been seen in pairs at three different 

 places, especially during April and May, and on one occasion three 

 males were seen together. Last winter I knew of only two or three 

 being shot, and those not in the locality where either pair were seen. 

 Whilst on the subject of wildfowl of the Avon, it may be interesting to 

 note that last winter, although the weather was so mild and open, I 

 knew of at least three Gadwall (Anas strepera) being met with on one 

 shooting where the species is very seldom seen, and some eighteen or 

 twenty of the Pochard (Fuligula ferina) were killed where in previous 

 winters it had almost disappeared. Wigeon (Mareca penelope) and Teal 

 (Querquedula crecca) were not abundant ; Wild Duck (Anas boscas) 

 were about of normal quantity, but Golden-eye (Clangula glaucion) and 

 Tufted Duck (Fuligula cristata) were few and far between, and I knew 

 of but one Pintail (Dajila acuta). Two or three Bitterns (Botaurus 

 stellaris) were seen, and I am glad to say their lives were spared. It is 

 gratifying to know that the Kedshank (Totanus calidris) nests in several 

 places hereabouts, where a few years ago its presence was compara- 

 tively rare. — G. B. Corbin (Ringwood). 



Redshank carrying her Young. — A relative living at Orford, Suffolk, 

 told me a short time back that he had lately seen a Redshank (Totanus 

 calidris) carrying a young one in its feet. The bird flew close over 

 him. and he saw distinctly the chick held underneath her. This was 

 at some little distance from the river, and the bird was probably con- 

 veying her young from the breeding-ground to the saltings and marshes 

 by the river.— G. '£. Rope (Blaxhall, Suffolk). 



Variation in the Guillemot. — Having no opportunities here of ob- 

 taining Guillemots, I thought it best to return the curious specimen 

 (cf. ante, pp. 158, 194, 230) to Dr. Saxby, and still believe that it is a 



