6492 



Birds, fyc. 



month (February), in an apparently exhausted state: a severe storm raged at the 

 time; it died shortly afterwards, and was brought me for preservation. This is the 

 first instance of the kind, so far as I am aware, in this county. — Thomas Edward; 

 Banff, March 7, 1859. 



Occurrence of a Variety of the Common Bunting (Emberiza miliaria) in Shetland. 

 — A very beautiful and almost a yellow specimen of the above bird was killed on the 

 island of Bressay, near Lerwick, Shetland, on the 8ih of February, by Mr. John 

 Kennedy, of Fisherie: it was seen for some days previously in company with linnets 

 and sparrows. All the feathers of the tail are of a whitish yellow, except the second 

 from each side, which are of the usual colour. There are also a few dark spots on the 

 breast and wings, and one single brownish feather on the very crown of the head. In 

 other respects the bird has all the appearance of a large or monster canary. The bill, 

 legs, feet and claws are likewise yellow. — Id. ; March 10. 



Late Swallows— On the 13th of November last I saw two swallows flying in th}s 

 neighbourhood ; one was evidently injured in the wing, and flew very awkwardly. 

 The day was rather chill, although the sun shone brightly. — Arthur Hensman ; Spring 

 Hill, Northampton, February 14, 1859. 



Sea Birds found Inland. — I have in my collection a beautiful specimen of Wilson's 

 petrel, which was picked up dead in a meadow near the river Avon, November 2, 1849. 

 A specimen of the common stormy petrel was also picked up dead in a neighbouring 

 parish, about thirty years since. I presume these birds had been driven by storms so far 

 inland, but uot being able to obtain their natural food they died of starvation : we are 

 at the least fifty miles from the sea. A labourer had found the specimen of Wilson's 

 petrel, and brought it to his cottage, intending to bring it to me, but his wife per- 

 suaded him it was only a swift, and he threw it out in the road : another labourer 

 passing by picked it up and argued to himself that a swift had not webbed feet, and 

 so he brought it down to the Vicarage, and was rewarded for his pains. This anecdote 

 shows how often rare specimens may be missed for lack of knowledge. — G. S. Marsh; 

 Vicarage, Sutton Benger, Chippenham, Wilts. 



Another Sea Serpent. — The c Amsterdamsche Courant' of October 6, 1858, inserts 

 the following letter from Captain L. Byl, of the Dutch bark ' Hendrik Ido Ambacht,' 

 to the 1 Jorn-Bode " Sailing in the South Atlantic, in 27° 27' N. lat. and 14° 51' 

 E. long., we perceived on July the 9th, between twelve and one o'clock in the after- 

 noon, a dangerous sea-monster, which during nine days constantly kept alongside of 

 us to 37° 55' S. lat. and 42° 9' E. long. This animal was about 90 feet long and 

 25 to 30 feet broad, and, most of the time, it struck the ship with such a force as to 

 make it vibrate. The monster blew much water, which spread an unpleasant stench 

 over the deck. The captain, fearing lest the animal might disable the rudder, did his 

 utmost to get rid of his fearful antagonist, but without success. After it had received 

 more than a hundred musket-balls, a harpoon and a long iron bar, blood was seen to 

 flow from various wounds, so that at last, from loss of strength, the monster could swim 

 behind our vessel no longer, and we were delivered of it. By its violent blows against 

 the copper the animal's skin had been damaged in several places." — J. II. van Lennep; 

 Zeyst. 



