NOTES AND QUERIES. 889 



slowly and with great regularity, all rising together, and descending at 

 the same time. They raised their heads high out of the water, so that 

 the under jaw and the distinctive white patch behind the eye were dis- 

 tinctly visible. Once or twice they descended, and remained below 

 water for a considerable time, but eventually, after having been within 

 a few yards of me for upwards of half an hour, continued their journey 

 southward, and were finally lost to view amidst the broken water, 

 into which they fearlessly entered. A Filey man, who came along at 

 the time, told me that he had seen three similar "fish" on the previous 

 day, which he said " were barking like dogs." The specimens which 

 I saw uttered no sound. — W. J. Clarke (44, Huntriss Row, Scar- 

 borough). 



AVES. 



Bluethroat near Eastbourne. — On Sept. 20th, when walking near 

 Eastbourne on some rough shingle with bushes scattered about it, I 

 saw a specimen of the Bluethroat (Cyanecula suecica). I am well 

 acquainted with the bird in Norfolk, and told it at once by its tail. 

 Mr. A. H. Streeten, who has also shot the bird in Norfolk, was with 

 me, and recognized it directly I pointed it out. We were at one time 

 within ten yards of it, so we can hardly have been mistaken. The 

 occurrence seems specially noticeable, as, when I left Norfolk on the 

 18th, no Bluethroats had been taken there this season. — E. C. Arnold 

 (Blackwater House, Eastbourne College). 



" An Unknown Warbler in Oxfordshire."— When residing in West- 

 moreland some years ago, I used to notice a bird resembling a Willow- 

 Wren, but rather larger and with darker plumage on the back than 

 any I had previously observed of this species. Being unable to identify 

 it, 1 referred to Bewick, and came to the conclusion that the specimen 

 under observation was what is locally known as a " Strawsmeer." 

 Bewick does not describe this bird very minutely, but says that it 

 arrives early in April, begins to sing at once, and continues singing till 

 August. I did not make any notes of my observations, but I believe 

 this bird has an eye-streak. Is it possible that the Warbler seen by 

 your correspondent, Mr. Warde Fowler, is a "Strawsmeer"? — R. H. 

 Eamsbotham (The Hall, Meole Brace, Shrewsbury). 



White Wagtail at Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. — I saw a male White 

 Wagtail (Motacilla alba) on Sept. 4th at the Delvin River, two miles 

 from Balbriggan. Its broad white forehead and grey back first 

 attracted my notice as it flew about from stone to stone in the bed of 

 the little river, which is the boundary between the counties of Dublin 



