6264 



Birds, 



along the ling, I supposed it was only winged. Just as ray attendant 

 was leaving me to pick it up, it reached a space of bare ground, took 

 wing, flew below the little hill I stood on, and was lost. I might 

 mention many other such instances. A partridge sometimes acts in, 

 apparently, a somewhat similar way ; but I cannot recal a single case 

 in which I noticed it in the partridge in which I did not also notice 

 that the bird had been wounded in the head by the discharge before 

 which it had fallen, and was very likely blinded, at least on one side. 

 I do not know whether this peculiarity in the ways of the grouse may 

 not be accounted for on the ground that, being a much larger bird 

 than the partridge, and clothed with harder and thicker plumage, a 

 blow which would serve to disable the latter would only be suflicient 

 to stun the former. 



More facts, and more interesting in the biography of the grouse, 

 might no doubt be collected by one who had the time at his command 

 necessary for systematic observation. I have only tried to record 

 what 1 have observed casually and from time to time. 



J. C. Atkinson. 



Occurrence of the Norfolk Plover and the Ruff" near Barnstaple. — I have recently 

 seen a specimen of the Norfolk plover {CEdicnemus crepitans), which was shot last 

 January, on the BraiuUou Burrows ; and I have in my possession a ruff (Machetes 

 pugnax) which was shot there a winter or two back, — rather a westerly locality. — 

 Murray A. Matheivs ; Raleigh, near Barnstaple, September 6, 1858. 



[The locality is a new one for both species ; but Mr. Mathews does not mention 

 the still more remarkable fact of these birds occurring in the winter. I have always 

 regarded them as merely summer visitors in Britain, arriving at the end of April and 

 leaving in September. — E. Netvman.'] 



Occurrence of the Spotted Crake (Gallinula porzana) near Richmond, Yorkshire. — 

 A fine male specimen of the spotted crake was found dead, a few days ago, at Ellerton 

 Abbey, a few miles from Kichmond. There are, I believe, few instances of its having 

 been observed in the North Kiding of Yorkshire. — Henry Smurthwaite ; Bank, Rich- 

 mond Yorkshire, September 24, 1854. 



The Red and Willow Grouse. — Mr. Gould, in a conversation about these birds, has 

 this instant told me that the adult Lagopus Saliceti has invariably white wings: I am 

 not at liberty to repeat any opinion Mr. Gould may have offered as to the distinctness 

 of the two supposed species; but this mere matter of fact he permits me to use as I 

 please : prior to attaining adult plumage the young birds' wings are coloured similarly 

 in both grouse. — Edward Newman ; September 27, 1858. 



The Red and Willow Grouse. — I have no hesitation in saying that I think the 

 willow grouse quite distinct from the common grouse. The short thick bill, stouter 

 tarsi, and white wings, are quite sufficient to distinguish the willow from the common 



