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THE ZOOLOGIST. 



his tail, and went to sleep again, while the bird, evidently attracted 

 by the warmth of the dog's body, crept down and nestled close up 

 under his shoulder. It was quite a pretty sight, but, as I thought 

 the other little bird ought not to be left in the cold, I tumbled out of 

 bed and took the wee mite into my warm hands, where it was quite 

 happy, and twittered away gaily. After a while I took the other little 

 chap away from " Nibs," and put the two of them on the window- 

 sill, where, after pluming themselves for a time, and chirruping a 

 thankful farewell, away they went. I hope they had a safe passage 

 to a more genial clime. 



Some years ago, at Bexhill-on-Sea, and in the early autumn, I 

 had my bedroom invaded by a horde of Swallows, every conceivable 

 perch being occupied, and the birds roosting several deep on the 

 dressing-table, &c. As you may imagine, they were all welcome 

 guests, and I took the greatest care not to needlessly disturb my little 

 friends. In the morning I had a busy time assisting them to find their 

 way out, a considerable number having become jammed in the window- 

 sashes, &c. However, at last all were safely despatched on their long 

 journey.— A. E. Darling (32, Harrington Eoad, Queen's Gate, S.W.). 



Sooty Tern near Barmouth. — I presume the occurrence of the 

 Sooty Tern {Sterna fuliginosa) in Britain is sufficiently rare to be 

 noted and put on record. I see that Seebohm gives two instances, 

 and Howard Saunders enumerates three of its captures, but am not 

 aware whether others have been obtained since. I thought it would 

 be of interest to ornithologists to know that a specimen was picked 

 up within about a mile or so of Barmouth on August 17th last, and 

 brought to me as "a Petrel" \ I say "picked up" rather than 

 "knocked down" (though the bird was alive), to prevent it being 

 remarked that " it is a great pity this rare species was thus ruthlessly 

 destroyed, as if it had been spared it would probably have remained 

 to breed on our shores"! as has been said of birds quite as unfitted 

 for nesting in Britain. It was in fair plumage, though the sixth and 

 three next primaries and the outermost tail-feathers seem recently 

 moulted, being more ash-coloured and fresher-looking than the rest 

 of the plumage. The middle toe-nails are long, and have an inward 

 lateral curve, as though bent from long standing on an unyielding 

 ground. It weighed five ounces, and measured in length 16 in. 

 Breadth, wings expanded, 22h in. On dissection it proved to be not 

 at all emaciated, though rather thin and without any subcutaneous 

 fat. The stomach contained small sand-eels, some fresh, others 

 partially digested. It was a male. The bird has been mounted, and 

 is still in my possession. — F. C. Eawlings (Barmouth). 



