148 



be in the habit of carrying their young to their feeding 

 places, before they have acquired sufficient strength to 

 convey themselves. 



COMMON BITTERN. Ardea stellaris. Turton's Lin., 

 vol, 1. Fleming's Brit. An,, p. 95. Jenyns' Man., p. 190. 

 Yarrell's Br. B., vol. 2, p. 475. 



There is no need to record this bird for its rarity; but 

 it seems to abound much more in the west than in the eastern 

 part of the County. But it is here inserted to notice its 

 food. I am assured that in one instance a Red Wing, ( Tur- 

 dus Iliacus ) and in another a Rail, ( Gallinula CrexJ was 

 found in its stomach. 



SPOONBILL. Platalea leucorodia. Jenyns' Man., p. 193. 

 Yarrell's Br. B., vol. 2, p. 499. 



In the third week of October, 1843, nineteen of these 

 birds were seen on the north coast of the county, near 

 Newquay, and four of them killed: of which I examined a 

 specimen. In the previous year, one was shot on the Goon- 

 liiMy downs, and it is believed that these are not the only 

 instances in which it has been taken. 



A hen bird shot at Tregembris in Newlyn is in the 

 Museum, having been presented by Mr. Robarts. 



ALCAD^E. 



RINGED GUILLEMOT. Uria lacrymans. Yarrell's 

 Br. B„ vol. 3, p. 351. 



Since this bird has been judged a separate species from 

 Uria Troile, it has been found to be as common as the latter. 



LARID^E. 



ARCTIC TERN. SEA SWALLOW. MIRET. Sterna 

 Arctica. Fleming's Brit. An., p. 144. Jenyns' Man., 

 p. 267. Yarrell's Br. B., vol. 3, p. 298. 



Mr. Yarreli has related the visit of an immense number 

 of these birds along the west coast of the Kingdom, from 

 the Bristol Channel to various parts of Wales, and even 

 to the inland towns of the neighbourhood, in the month of 

 May, 1842; but the account given in the History of British 

 birds does not include the full extent of their destribution, 

 nor of their numbers; which seem to have been as if all the 

 Terns in existence had agreed to come upon the British 

 shores. There were multitudes along the coasts and har- 

 bours of the north and south of Cornwall and Devon. Of 

 six shot at one time, at Looe, five were males. 



