Birds. 



8633 



having been seen diving by Mr. Leven, and that not " when winged and pursued.'' It 

 is Captain Had field's belief that the sandpiper only dives when wounded, " having no 

 other way of escape ;" but as a naturalist I cannot believe that Nature has made a 

 bird having the power of diving-, and that power not to be exerted except when 

 wounded. No gift is given without a purpose, and when a bird is formed for diving 

 it has reasons for being so formed more cogent than escape " when winged and pur- 

 sued." If Mr. Leven's statement of having seen sandpipers diving is not sufficient 

 proof of their diving for food, I do not see what more is wanted, except the impossi- 

 bility of seeing them take up food from the bottom when diving. I doubt if even the 

 dipper has been seen to do this, though it will dive beside the flyfisherj whereas the 

 sandpiper seldom permits an approach of twenty yards. Captain Had field makes a 

 great mistake <when he writes, " And if proof were wanting of its diving not being 

 habitual or natural, it might be found in the fact that a man of Mr. Blake-Knox's 

 experience of the species never yet saw a sandpiper dive except when wounded." I 

 am not aware of having stated anywhere that I have had much experience of the 

 common sandpiper (Totunus hypoleucos), for if I had had much experience of this 

 bird's habits I am convinced I should have seen it dive when unwounded ; but 

 I stated (Zool. 8493) certainly no other species, to my knowledge, and I have had 

 considerable experience, dive. As to my supposition being satisfactorily confirmed, I 

 should like it to be well understood that I have written " seems to have been," not 

 has been. I think there are very fair grounds for being satisfied as to the sandpiper 

 diving for food — First, Mr. Leven's statement of having seen birds diving when un- 

 wounded ; secondly, the Rev. G, C. Green's statement of having seen it run on the 

 bottom, a habit of the phalaropes, gallinules and dipper; thirdly, the similarity of 

 food to that of the dipper, a bird well known to dive; fourthly, its beautiful powers of 

 diving, even when wounded, both from the surface and from the shore. As to land 

 birds swimming, I maintain that they can propel themselves through water by their 

 feet ; I do not mean " flutter on for a time," but swim on for a time, of course not as 

 well as a long-legged, broad-toed bird, like the oystercatcher. As to their plumage 

 getting saturated, of course it will ; so will that of a wounded gull. — H. Blake- Knox ; 

 Dalkey, Co. Dublin, May 11, 1863. 



Mggs of the Blackhearted Bunting. — The other day I found a blackheaded bunting's 

 nest with four eggs ; three were of the ordinary colour, but the fourth was exactly like 

 a yellow wagtail's, being grayish white, and minutely freckled at the large end. Is 

 this an uncommon variety? If so, this note may be interesting to some readers of the 

 'Zoologist.' — John A. H. Brown ; Duoipace House, Falkirk, May 16, 1863. 



[Was it not a cuckoo's egg ? — E. Newman.'] 



Notes on the Snowy Owl. By Henry L. Saxby, Esq., M.D. 



In answer to repeated requests for information regarding the habits 

 of the snowy owl, as observed in Shetland, it has been my custom to 

 refer inquirers to the full and very accurate account of that bird 

 published in 182*2, by Dr. Edmondston, in the 6 Transactions of the 

 Werneiian Society of Edinburgh.' But this being now somewhat 

 VOL. XXI. 2 T 



