146 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



birds at that date ; also if there is any evidence to show that they ever 

 pass the winter on that coast. On Oct. 9th, 1904, Dr. W. H. Dobie 

 and I saw one of these birds feeding in company with a Dunlin by the 

 side of a gutter on the Dee marshes. This one was much darker than 

 the bird seen in February, somewhat resembling, as they do at this 

 time of year, a Dunlin in winter plumage. It was absurdly tame ; 

 several times we put it up, but it invariably returned to the same spot, 

 after flying round in a circle (the white tail- coverts being then very 

 obvious), or moved across to the opposite bank, a few yards distant. 

 The note, uttered when in flight, is more of a trilling sound, and more 

 continuous than a Dunlin's cry. When feeding the bill is inserted 

 sideways or diagonally (not vertically) in the ooze or mud, very much 

 like that of a Curlew or Whimbrel. — S. G. Cummings (Chester). 



Wildfowl on the Hampshire Avon during the Winter of 1904-05. — 

 The past winter was almost the exact opposite of its predecessor in the 

 amount of rainfall, and consequent flooding of the meadows near the 

 river — in fact, at times the water was as low as it often is in the middle 

 of summer ;* yet, notwithstanding this apparent drought, an extra- 

 ordinary number of wildfowl visited the neighbourhood, especially 

 Wigeon and Teal, the latter particularly affecting the shallower parts 

 of the river, where they feed ; but both species, ever alert and on the 

 watch, were hard to approach, and once on the wing were far more 

 cautious of again alighting than any locally bred fowl, for, although 

 the Teal generally are best to keep in line of the stream, the Wigeon, 

 after being shot at, get up to a great height, and make off towards the 

 sea. The number of home-bred species, as Wild Duck, Coot, &c, were 

 greatly augmented by migrants, although as a whole the winter was 

 mild and comparatively open. Considering the lowness of the water, 

 and consequent easy access to the river-banks, it is no great wonder 

 that record " bags " have been made, taking the season as a whole. On 

 one shooting considerably over one thousand head (including Coot and 

 Moorhen) were accounted for, but it should be remembered this was 

 the produce of four or five separate days of sport, whereas in the 

 previous winter between four hundred and five hundred head were 

 taken in a single day, but on that occasion, I believe, the number of 

 guns was greater. In point of numbers killed, the Wild Duck (Anas 

 boscas) heads the list on this shooting, and it should be mentioned 

 none were hand-reared ; nearly five hundred were taken, over two 

 hundred Wigeon, and about half the number of Teal. I am glad to 

 say the Pochard has again returned to some of its old haunts, where 



* The River Mole, in Surrey, was in this condition throughout the winter. 

 Ed. 



