8768 



Birds. 



the type of a new genus : it is now known as Sphyrapicus varius, Baird, and is the 

 only bird properly entitled to the name of sapsueker. The tongue cannot be protruded 

 much beyond the extremity of the bill ; at the tip or horny portion it is broad, flat and 

 rounded, and especially adapted to the work of scooping out the tender inner bark of 

 trees. It differs in these particulars from the tongue of the woodpeckers proper, which 

 may be extended two or two and a half inches beyond the beak ; the tip is narrow, 

 sharp and beset with strong barbs, especially adapted to the work of extracting grubs 

 and insects. The contents of the stomach, examined in numerous cases, at different 

 seasons of the year, indicated only vegetable substances. Fresh specimens were sent 

 to Dr. Joseph Leidy, of Philadelphia, whose dissections fully confirmed the observa- 

 tions and deductions of Dr. Hoy. The punctures made by the Sphyrapicus are 

 usually arranged in several rows around the tree, and are so numerous as often to 

 girdle the tree, and, especially in tender kinds, destroy its vitality. The damage done 

 to young trees in and about Milwaukie and Racine is very considerable. The trees 

 punctured are the maple, mountain ash, pine, spruce, pear, apple, cherry, ironwood, 

 basswood, silver poplar, and perhaps others. While Dr. Hoy advises the destruction 

 of this bird, he pleads as earnestly as Mr. Samuels for the protection of the Picus 

 villosus and all other harmless creatures. — From ' Proceedings of Boston Society of 

 Natural History? Vol. ix. p. 55. 



Occurrence of the Calandra Lark in Devon. — A short time since, when looking 

 over the collection of Mr. Pincombe, taxidermist, of Devonport, I recognized a speci- 

 men of the calandra lark (Alauda calandra), which he assured me had been killed in 

 the neighbourhood, but that he had hitherto considered it to have been a specimen of 

 the shore lark (A. al/iestris). Now, as the calandra lark is said to be common in the 

 South of Europe, I do not see why it should not be occasionally found on our coasts. 

 But notwithstanding this the above is, I believe, the first recorded instance of its 

 capture in the British Isles. — John Gatcom.be ; Plymouth, Devon, August 15, 1863. 



Occurrence of the Ortolan Bunting at Guisborough. — Two days since I had the 

 pleasure of making the acquaintance of this rare bunting. I was walking with two 

 friends on a hill- side below the Guisborough moors (a short distance only from the 

 rifle-range), when the note of a bird from the direction of some largish patches of whin 

 fell on my ear with an unfamiliar sound. In a minute or so I succeeded in detecting 

 the utterer sitting on the upper part of a projecting bramble stem. I was able to 

 approach within seven or eight yards ; and when disturbed by my attempts at a still 

 nearer inspection the bird only circled once or twice round the whins and settled 

 again, and always so as to afford excellent opportunities of examination. In this way 

 I had it under view for ten or fifteen minutes, and from its tameness it seemed as if I 

 might have continued my notice as long as I had liked. I had consequently the 

 fullest means, short of actual handling, of satisfying myself of its identity, and I had 

 no hesitation whatever about it ; only I could not of course decide whether it were a 

 female or a young bird of the year ; I believe the latter. My companion, who at 

 once pronounced it a bird he had never seen before, took down Morris's ' Birds' on 

 returning home, and was fully satisfied, on comparing the plate and the description 

 accompanying it, that the stranger really was the ortolan. Its flight resembled that of 

 the common linnet rather more than of the greenfinch, blackheaded bunting, or yellow- 

 hammer, and its note was one low metallic chirp, — a sound graduating between the 

 call-notes of the greenfinch and the yellowhammer. — /. C. Atkinson; Danby in 

 Cleveland, August 18, 1863. 



