8448 



Birds. 



gale, T saw an immature specimen of the Iceland gull: it passed under the .rock on 

 which I was sitting, and within five or six yards of me: if I had shot it, it would have 

 fallen into the boiling sea beneath. The goosander is not uncommon ; I have shot 

 specimens this year. Kingfishers were numerous in the autumn. A gray phalarope 

 was shot lately on the coast of Dublin. — H. Bluke-Knox ; Bartragh, Dalkey, County 

 Dublin, December 2, 1862. 



The Glossy Ibis in Skeiland. — About the end of October, 1862, immediately after 

 a gale from the S.W., a specimen of the glossy ibis was brought to Dr. Edmonston 

 by a man who had just shot it in his corn-yard, in this neighbourhood. The skin was 

 preserved, and it appears to be that of an immature bird ; for, although the whole 

 length (23 inches) is fully equal to that of an adult, the irregular white bars across the 

 throat, the dull rusty hue of the neck and under parts, and the white tips of the 

 feathers of the head, sufficiently indicate its age. Neither the sex nor the contents of 

 the stomach were noted by the man who prepared the skin. The bird appeared to be 

 much exhausted, and would scarcely take wing when disturbed. — Henry L. Saxby ; 

 Baltasound, Shetland, January 25, 1863. 



The Egyptian Goose (Anser segyptiacus) in Pevensey Marshes. — A very fine speci- 

 men of this rare goose was shot, on the 4th instant, by a man residing in the above- 

 mentioned place, and purchased by me for my collection. It is in perfect plumage, 

 and never appears to have been in captivity, and what tends to confirm me in this 

 opinion is the presence of an old and perfectly healed gun-shot wound in the foot, 

 and the unsoiled state of its plumage. I am well aware of the frequency of these 

 birds escaping from ornamental waters, but do not think this one has done so.— John 

 Dutton ; Eastbourne, December 18, 1862. 



Rare Birds in Devonshire. — The following birds have been shot, within the last ten 

 days, in the estuaries communicating with Plymouth Sound: — Black guillemot (Uria 

 grylle). This species is a rare bird in Devonshire : the specimen that has recently 

 occurred is an old bird in winter plumage. Iceland gull (Lams leucopterus). This is 

 an example of a young bird of the year. Glaucous gull (Larus glaucus). The specimen 

 just obtained of this gull is a young bird. Both the glaucous and the Iceland gull 

 occur in the district of Plymouth during winter. — /. J. Reading ; Plymouth. 



Buff on' s Skua (Lestris parasiticus) near Wellington. — I have to record the occur- 

 rence of Buffon's skua near Wellington, towards the end of last October. This bird 

 was shot on the property of Mr. E. A. Sanford, of Nynehead Court, and is now in 

 Captain Sanford's collection. Although in perfect adult plumage, the two elongated 

 tail-feathers were missing, seemingly having been but just shed. — Murray A. Matthews; 

 Taunton, December 6, 1862. 



Sabine's Gull (Larus Sabini) in Devonshire. — Among some birds I recently saw, 

 belonging to a gentleman in this neighbourhood, was a very perfect specimen of 

 Sabine's gull, a bird of the year, in the pretty stage of plumage in which the birds of 

 the year of the blackheaded gull (Larus ridibundus) are noticed in the autumn. This 

 bird was shot on the south coast of Devon a few years since. — Id. 



The Fulmar Petrel (Procellaria glacialis) near Birmingham. — During the stormy 

 weather that occurred in Birmingham last mouth a fine specimen of the fulmar 

 petrel was captured in a field situate at Perry Barr, about two miles aud a half from 

 this town. This circumstance is the more interesting, as Birmingham is known to be 

 the most centrally situated spot in England. — Joseph Smith; The Poplars, Acton, 

 Birmingham, January 9, 1863. 



