Birds. 



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nity of studying the habits of Scolopax Wilsoni, I shall only observe that I have 

 found it more sluggish than the common snipe of Europe, and somewhat less rapid of 

 flight. They are exceedingly fat, the weight of one of the largest being about five 

 ounces. The two extra tail feathers proving it to be distinct from the common snipe 

 of Europe, I have thought it unnecessary to do more than allude to the difference in 

 the plumage, though the second quill being margined with white is worthy notice.^— 

 Henri/ Hadfield ; High Cliff, Ventnor, Isle of Wight. 



[I must entreat that my readers will not enter on a discussion as to the perching 

 of snipe : the subject is as interminable as that of vipers swallowing their young. 

 Does my correspondent consider that Scolopax gallinago, S. americanus and S. Wilsoni 

 constitute one species, two or three ? — Edward Newman.'] 



Occurrence of the Knot in Lancashire in August, and its Eastern Range. — Being 

 at Southport, on the Lancashire coast, on the 29th of August last, I noticed a curlew 

 and sandpiper hanging together in a fishmonger's shop. A friend wbo was with me being 

 fond of birdstuffing purchased the sandpiper and set it up, but subsequently not being 

 certain of the species he forwarded it to me. On examination it turns out to be the 

 knot (Tringa Canutus, Linn.) in a state of plumage intermediate between the summer 

 and winter dress. It remains in my possession, and I send you this notice as its rather 

 early arrival may be of interest to ornithologists who look to the ' Zoologist ' for records 

 of extraordinary occurrences in date and species of British birds. I may observe that 

 I have looked back in the 1 Zoologist ' for several years, aud can find but one notice of 

 it in the month of August, which was in the Isle of Wight. With respect to the 

 eastern range of the knot, Mr. Yarrell mentions his inability to trace it beyond Europe, 

 except a single notice by Mr. Blyth of Calcutta. Mr. Blyth may however have con- 

 founded it with a closely allied species, Tringa crassirostris of Temminck and Schlegel's 

 1 Fauna Japonica,' which I obtained (' Ibis,' iv. 330) in the northern island (Yesso) of 

 the Japan group last year. I have also searched through different local lists — aud the 

 value of such lists cannot be overrated — published at various times in the ' Zoologist ' 

 and ' Ibis,' and, except a note of its having been seen only (' Ibis,' iii. 240) near Cawn- 

 pore in India, I cannot find any statements of its occurrence east of Europe. I should 

 mention that besides considerable difference in markings the eastern bird is larger, 

 being an inch and a half more in total length, and nearly an inch longer in the wing, 

 no unimportant disparity in birds of that size. — Thomas Blakiston ; London, October 

 17, 1862. 



Occurrence of the Manx Shearwater at Sheerness. —Yesterday afternoon I saw a 

 specimen of the above in this harbour. It was sitting rather deeply in the water, and 

 although making vigorous use of its feet was being so rapidly carried backwards by 

 the ebb tide and heavy south-west gale that it was occasionally compelled to take wing 

 in order to avoid being drifted too close to the ships. It rose from the surface with very 

 little effort, and had rather a graceful appearance when upon the wing, but its mode 

 of flight was peculiar, owing to the bird's strange but well-known habit of making an 

 occasional rapid stop, apparently with no other object than that of dashing aside the 

 water with its breast, immediately afterwards ascending in a gentle curve. Although 

 it was at times completely at the mercy of the wind and tide it seemed to be perfectly 

 at ease, dipping and preening its feathers, and sometimes rising upon its feet as it 

 flapped the water from its -wings. The poor bird was engaged in this manner when it 

 was killed by a shot from a boat. It proved to be a female in good condition, but the 

 stomach was quite empty. — Henry L. Saxby, H.M.S. " Devonshire? Sheerness, October 

 21, 1862. 



