OBITUARY. 113 



and a quarter from the carpal joint of wing to longest primary, 

 weight five ounces and a half; its stomach contained a few small 

 pellets of the hair of some small mammal, and the hard portions of a 

 single small beetle. I now conclude that the eggs mentioned above 

 are genuine eggs of the Little Owl, and that this species breeds in 

 this particular spot on the Mendips, about two miles north-east of 

 Shepton Mallet. This is, I think, the first discovery of its breeding 

 in Somerset, but not of the presence of the bird. I may add that it 

 was not my wish this bird should have been shot, and Mr. Elton has 

 promised not to shoot another, should one happen to come in range. — 

 Stanley Lewis (Wells, Somerset). 



Iceland Gull in Co. Mayo. — On January 27th an Iceland Gull 

 (Larus leucopterus) in immature plumage was shot on the island of 

 Bartragh, Killala Bay, by Miss Kirkwood. When leaving the house 

 for the shore, she saw it flying slowly past, and pitching on the strand 

 a couple of hundred yards away it began feeding. Having her light 

 gun with her, she immediately commenced stalking the bird, and 

 coming within range fired, knocking it over, but as it was only 

 winged she has kept it alive, in the hope of taming it and curing its 

 wounded wing, and if successful intends sending it to the Zoological 

 Gardens, Dublin. — Bobert Wareen (Ardnaree,Monkstown,Co.Cork). 



OBITUAK^. 

 Dr. Albert Gunther. 



At the request of the Editor of this Journal I have to offer to 

 its readers a brief obituary notice of the late Dr. Albert Gunther, 

 a task congenial to one who was associated with him for many 

 years, in fact, during the greater part of the period 1856 to 1895, 

 when he was connected with the British Museum. 



It will not, however, be on account of the position he held in that 

 Institution that he will be known to future zoologists, but by the 

 extent and character of his voluminous writings. 



Erom an authoritative source we are informed that he was born 

 at Wurttemberg on October 3rd, 1830, and was educated at Stuttgart 

 Gymnasium, and at Tubingen, Berlin and Bonn Universities, obtaining 

 the degrees of M.D., M.A., and Ph.D. 



Zooi. 4th ser. vol. XVIII., March, 1914. K 



