5976 lladiata— Birds. 



southern portions of England. It has not yet been detected in our 

 district. 



Thomas John Bold. 



Angas Court, Bigg Market, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 

 January 23, 1858. 



Are there two Species of Priapulus allied to caudalus P — Will any of the numerous 

 readers of the ' Zoologist' inform me, through its pages, if there are more than one 

 species of the tailed Priapulus found in the British seas? There is only one figured 

 and described in Forbes, I think. Is there any other published description ? My 

 reason for asking is simply this, — that it strikes me very forcibly that if we have not 

 three distinct species here, we have at least two. But I may be wrong, as all the spe- 

 cimens I have seen have been from the stomachs of fishes, so that the difference may 

 only be accidental, and not real as is supposed. Any information on the subject will 

 greatly oblige. — Thomas Edtvard ; Banff, February 8, 1858. 



Serpula contortuplicata. — For some weeks past I have observed a curious malfor- 

 mation (?) in one of these very interesting worms in my aquarium. I have in a former 

 number of the 'Zoologist' noticed the fact of the total loss of the trumpet-shaped 

 operculum, which in several instances has fallen off, apparently without any reason, 

 and to all appearance in a healthy condition. In the present case there is a redun- 

 dancy, as the specimen I now allude to has double opercula, both perfectly developed 

 and joined together near the base. I should mention that these opercula are each of 

 them decidedly smaller than the single one formerly occupying their place. May I 

 ask whether this has been noticed before, or whether it is a common occurrence? — 

 (7. R. Lighlon ; Ellastone^ Ashbourne. 



Occurrence of the Peregrine Falcon in Kent. — A male specimen of this bird was 

 shot on the 9th of December, 1856, in the parish of Hailing, near Rochester, and is 

 now in my possession. — C. W. Shepherd; Trotterscliffe, Kent. 



Occurrence of the Buzzard at West Harling. — A fine female of the common buz- 

 zard was shot here and sent to me on the 1st of the present month ; it was in high 

 condition ; the body was covered with fat, as well as being very fat internally. It is a 

 bird seldom met with in this district. I believe the roughlegged buzzard is not con- 

 sidered so scarce, as a winter seldom passes but one or two are seen or obtained. — 

 Thomas Dix ; West Harling, Norfolk, February JO, 1858. 



Occurrence of the Roller in Flintshire. — lam glad to be able to record in the 

 * Zoologist' the occurrence of this rare visitor to Britain. The specimen, which ap- 

 pears to be a young bird, was killed by Captain E. H. Mostyn, of Saethelwyld, about 

 a mile from the town of Holywell, whilst sitting on some railings in front of his house. 

 Two specimens of the great snipe (Scolopax major) were killed this winter by a gentle- 

 man in a field near Chester, on different days. — T. Mather; Holywell, Flintshire, 

 January 22, 1858. 



