In the Neighbourhood of Salisbury, 



197 



TJria Grylle. " The Black Guillemot." This bird is very rarely 

 found on our south coast. It is a much more elegant bird than the 

 other species, and is more striking" both in its summer and winter 

 dress. Hart could only tell me of one specimen, and that was 

 procured in Swanage Bay, in January, 1862. I found I had one 

 of these birds, unknown to myself for a long time, in my own 

 collection ; but it was placed under the pad of an Arctic Fox that I 

 have ; and which was brought home from one of Sir Edward Parry's 

 expeditions, now nearly sixty years ago. 



Mergulus Alle. " The Little Auk." This funny little bird often 

 falls a prey to the storms that break upon our coasts, and is not 

 rarely picked up dead on the shore. It occurs at Christchurch 

 frequently, and is often obtained there in this way. I believe I lost 

 a specimen of this bird not long ago from my own parish, from the 

 carelessness of some of our village boys. They found a small bird 

 on one of our high fields, that they had never seen before, which 

 could not escape from them owing to its being quite exhausted. 

 They kept on playing with it, and throwing it up in the air, till at 

 last one, wiser than the rest, suggested that they should take it 

 down to the vicarage, as they would be sure to get something for 

 ' it — but, before carrying out their intention, one of them said, " Let's 

 throw it up once more," and the bird so far regained the use of its 

 wings as to be able to escape from its tormentors, and also from 

 being perpetuated in my collection, and they never saw it again. 

 From the boys' description of it I always put it down in my mind 

 as being a Little Auk. 



Alca Torda. " The Razor Bill." This bird is common enough 

 1 on our near coasts, and sometimes, like other sea birds, it gets blown 

 inland for a considerable distance. Thus, I have a note of one that 

 was picked up by a dairyman on the down near Wittsbury, close by 

 here, on February 19th, 1883. I was not able to procure the bird, 

 but it was preserved by White, of Salisbury, who told me of the 

 occurrence. The egg of this bird is very handsome, being of a 

 rich white with chocolate markings, and is much more regular in 

 shape and colouring than those of the Guillemot. 

 • Fraiercula Arctica. "The Puffin." These birds are summer 



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