248 On the Occurrence of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 



killed at Woodlands, in Mere, in the winter of 1870-71, and several 

 others during that year ; they were so tame that you could nearly 

 knock them down with a stick. Another specimen was killed at 

 Pert wood, on November 17th, 1875 ; and a second on November 19 th, 

 at Codford, in the same year. About the same time a nice specimen 

 was brought me by a Mr. Edwards, who had knocked it over with 

 his oar, as he was rowing on the river near Salisbury. They seem 

 very unsuspicious of danger, but when fairly on the wing are ex- 

 ceedingly rapid in their flight. 



Phalaropus Hyperboreus. " Red-necked Phalarope." The only 

 notice I can find of this bird, which is far rarer than the last-named 

 species, is that of a male bird, in the breeding plumage, which was 

 shot by Mr. Elgar Sloper, in the brickfield at Old Park, in May> 

 1841, which was kept alive for some weeks, it having been only 

 slightly injured in the wing. This is taken from the Rev. A. C. 

 Smith's notes on the Ornithology of Wilts. 



Charadrid^i. 



Hamatopus Ostralegus. " Oyster Catcher." Common on our 

 sea coasts. Most frequent at Christchurch in the autumn months. 

 A very handsome bird with its pied plumage and richly -coloured 

 bill. They present rather a curious appearance when on the wing, 

 as they fly with their heavy bills pointing perpendicularly to the 

 ground, as though they were too heavy to be held up in the usual 

 horizontal position. I found their nests on Sturt Island, off 

 Burnham, but only one had an egg in it — one or two others, being 

 mere depressions in the shingle, evidently awaiting their first deposit. 

 I unfortunately lost two nice specimens on Sturt Island, as they both 

 fell into the water some way from the shore, and the tide being on 

 the ebb carried them quickly out of reach, and I scarcely thought 

 them worth while swimming for. It lives ehiefly, as its name 

 would imply, on mussels and other shell-fish, which its strong bill 

 is able to manipulate. 



Strepsilas Interpres r " Turnstone/'' The adult male of this 

 species, in its full summer plumage, is a most pleasingly-marked 

 bird, and is not at all times easy to secure, the rich chestnut and 



