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THE OCCUBRENCE OF THE GLOSSY IBIS AND LONG- 

 TAILED DUCK IN NOBTH DEVON, WITH OTHEB 

 ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES. 



By Bruce F. Cummings. 



About the beginning of September, 1906, a Glossy Ibis (Pie- 

 gadis falcinellus) was shot on the River Taw near Fremington. I 

 first learnt of the occurrence of this rarity from the Barnstaple 

 taxidermist, who is preserving the bird. It seems that it was shot 

 by a gentleman named Martin, living at Muddlebridge House, 

 Fremington, but unfortunately my efforts in getting any exact 

 details have so far been unavailing. It stands high on the legs, 

 which are greenish black, with long slender toes. The bill is 

 thick and stout, dull black, with the base of the lower mandible 

 yellowish, as in the Whimbrel. The neck is long and slim, of a 

 muddy brown colour, with white speckles. Head coloured ditto. 

 Whole under surface muddy brown. Back, rump, upper tail- 

 coverts, and tail black, with a beautiful greenish gloss. Wings 

 similarly coloured, but more of a dull black, I thought. I believe 

 it was as long ago as 1869 that the last specimen occurred in 

 North Devon. 



On Nov. 13th of the same year an immature specimen of the 

 Long-tailed Duck (Harelda glacialis) was shot on our river, after 

 heavy weather, off Instow. The two elongated tail-feathers were 

 in this specimen only half an inch beyond the end of the rest of 

 the tail ; ear-coverts greyish black, crown of head blackish, fore- 

 head black, with a black line running from the base of the bill to 

 the crown. Bill greenish, with blackish tip. Total length, 16 in. 

 When first seen it was by itself on the river in some narrow guts. 

 On being flushed it made for the open river, where it long eluded 

 its pursuer by diving. 



This autumn (1906) has been remarkable for the large flights 

 of Terns that have appeared on the estuary from time to time, 

 roughly, between the end of August and end of October. I saw 



