22 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



large numbers near Barnstaple, but they did not venture far up 

 the river as a rule. They were mostly, I believe, Common Terns 

 — at all events, those which were shot and shown to me were 

 Common Terns, although, from descriptions given me by 

 fishermen of others shot, a few Sandwich Terns would appear 

 to have been secured. One Little Tern was also shot. I am 

 sorry to say that they were killed in great numbers for ladies' 

 hats, and other reasons equally foolish ; a few certainly did 

 escape ! 



Grey Plovers have also been very common. First seen on 

 Oct. 10th, and at the time of writing (Nov. 3rd) they are still with 

 us, but in diminished numbers. 



On Nov. 7th a Hooded Crow, which Mr. W. S. M. d'Urban 

 states to be a rare straggler to this coast, was shot on the Taw 

 near Barnstaple. It is a fine full-grown bird, and is being pre- 

 served. It was first said to be a "black and white Book." 



April 1st. — A Mistle-Thrush found with its legs entangled in 

 some wool, with which it was going to build its nest. Since, I 

 have discovered a young Greenfinch hanging to the outside of its 

 nest, with one of its legs caught up in a horsehair-loop. Acci- 

 dents of this kind to birds which line their nests with wool and 

 horsehair seem to be so frequent that one wonders that their use 

 as nesting materials has not been ere now discarded. 



14th. — For several days past I have been watching a pair of 

 Common Wild Ducks courting and nesting among the marram- 

 grass on Braunton Burrows. Peewits nesting in hundreds. 



18th. — Saw a fine male Shoveler or Spoonbill Duck. This 

 species was first brought to my notice by a gamekeeper some 

 two years ago. He said he had a couple of " Spoonbills breed- 

 ing over yonder." Spoonbills! Imagine my surprise. "Have 

 you?" I eagerly asked; " by Jove, they're rare birds." "Yes, 

 sir, they are"; and then, as if attempting to show a little 

 sympathy with my excitement, " and 'tis a beautiful duck." 

 "Duck?" said I ; "why, yes, of course, a — er — er — duck!" I 

 have it on good authority that a pair have bred in Devon on a 

 secluded pond for the past three years. On one occasion the 

 female was observed sitting on her nest, so there could have 

 been no mistake. However, this spring no nest has actually 

 been found, but a pair, I have been told, are in the neighbour- 



