'230 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



way during stormy weather. The last call of the Oystercatcher on 

 September 1st ; appeared at Breda on March 9th, besides Curlews; 

 here on the 10th with Redshanks at the plough. There were three 

 species of Gulls frequenting this part — very tame at plough from 

 March 7th — I believe Brown-headed Mew, Green-billed Gull (Larus 

 canus) ; the other was smallest and strange to me. Would it be the 

 Little Mew or Gull [Larus minutus) ? * A large gathering of Water- 

 hens appeared here in the fall, feeding even among poultry on the 

 fields ; they moved away later. Flock of wild Geese heard and seen 

 going south on October 16th ; heard passing north, evening, March 

 18th. An interesting case of a Bullfinch appearing here on December 

 23rd during the very severe frost ; they make periodic visits at any 

 season of the year here. — William Wilson (Aberdeen, N.B.). 



Hawks Selecting White Young Pheasants ; Young Pheasants 

 flying without apparent cause. — During my experience as a game- 

 keeper I used to notice that if we had a white chick among the 

 young Pheasants, a Hawk was sure to take it : is this a usual 

 experience? Secondly, why do young Pheasants, when about a 

 month old, often suddenly get up in a body and fly round like 

 Pigeons, to settle again near where they started? They make only 

 one sweep, and low down ; I could never find a Stoat or any such 

 enemy to account for it ; so perhaps they only do it for exercise. — 

 Wm. Elcome (Regent's Park). 



Some Migratory Incidents in May. — The Swift, Swallow, House 

 and Sand-Martins all appeared about the same time, that is, from 

 May 3rd to 6th. I noted two Tree-creepers here on 10th, probably 

 nesting in a small clump of trees ; the last I noted was in mid- 

 winter some seasons ago. I had a flock of Fieldfares on my grass 

 on 13th, the result of the wintry cold, snow being on high ground. 

 I do not recollect this before at the date when nesting would have 

 been in progress. There might have been some Mistle-Thrushes too. 

 I noted Warblers at various points over several miles on 18th, but 

 they seemed mute and shy, the result of the cold. I observed on the 

 wayside a White Wagtail on 18th near Mossal, the first I have ever 

 seen. A feature worthy of notice is that up to date of writing — 

 May 31st — I have seen no Wheatear (Saxicola mnanthe) nor Whin- 

 chat nor Stonechat. Quoting from 1906, I have the first, April 8th 

 (Zool. p. 196) ; second, May 19th ; with no appearance of the third 



* Not at all probable, this bird being a rare visitant, and very small, 

 only size of tame Collared Dove. — (Ed.) 



