167 
SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE. 
ZOOLOGY. 
Syrrhaptes paradoxus.—The following paragraph appeared in the 
“Times” Newspaper of 6th ult. :— 
« Sir,—Another specimen of this remarkable bird has met its death on 
British soil, and narrowly escaped passing into oblivion unhonoured and 
unknown. Shot by some unknown person, the precise locality also as 
yet unknown, it was received on the Ist inst. from Perth, in a basket of 
leverets, rabbits and pigeons, forwarded to Mr A. Ruthven, wholesale 
game-dealer of this town, for sale in the ordinary way of business, with- 
out note or comment of any kind. By Mr Ruthven it was kindly given 
to Mr Thomas Littler, who presented it to this museum. It was a very 
fine adult male, and had apparently been dead a day or two.—I have 
the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant, 
‘¢Tuos. J. Moorz, Curator. 
‘¢ Derspy Museum, Witi1am Brown STREET, 
Liverpool, June 6.” 
The appearance of these birds in this country of late years is very 
curious and remarkable, and the questions arise, What is the cause? 
Have they been previously overlooked? Specimens of the bird were for- 
merly extremely difficult to procure, not perhaps from the scarcity of 
the species in the districts which it frequents, but from inaccessibility of 
the districts, and the general difficulty of procuring anything from them 
which was out of the ordinary line of commerce. The opening up of 
China made them more common, and specimens brought by Mr Swinhoe 
from the neighbourhood of Pekin were sold at a moderate price. This will 
not, however, account for the appearance of these birds in Great Britain. 
I have received a note from Professor Dickie of Aberdeen which may 
throw some light on Mr Moore’s letter in the ‘ Times,” and the speci- 
men forwarded to Liverpool was either part of the same flock of birds 
which went on to Aberdeenshire, or of other flocks driven over to us under © 
the same circumstances. 
ABERDEEN, June 1, 1863. Dear Sir Witii1am,—‘‘ Two specimens of 
Syrrhaptes pallassii, Temm., were shot on the coast near this at Muai- 
chals, seven miles to south of Aberdeen. There was a flock of at least 
fifteen. Mr Carfrae, the curator of our Museum, directed my attention 
to the specimens, they having been given him to stuff.” 
Professor Dickie has also enclosed the following notes from his intel- 
ligent curator, Mr Carfrae. The food they selected in this country and 
manner of fight, &c., are all interesting points :— 
‘*« They were shot near Stonehaven, May 28, 1863— Weight of two spe- 
eimens, | lb. 93. 0z.,11b.940z. avoird. Size—extreme length, 18,% inches; 
breadth, 2532 inches. Bill, bluish, darker at tip, slightly compressed and 
depressed. Nostrils, small, basil, covered with feathers. Iris very dark. 
Kars, external apertures very large; the colouring agrees with all the 
descriptions | have seen. Stomach very muscular, inner layer of a horny 
consistency, intestines short or medium length. Crop large, and filled with 
turnip and grass seeds; the birds were in fine condition, fat, and appa- 
rently healthy ; there were about twelve or fifteen in the flock when first 
seen ; they were very.shy, and flew very quickly, but low; they have not 
been seen in the neighbourhood since; the bones, Wc. of the specimens 
are in the Museum here.”’ 
W. J., Ep. 
