409 
at Yarmouth in the winter of 1829, & was purchased as a rare 
bird by the person from whom we have lately obtained it, who had 
it skinned by a bird preserver of the place. We are unfortunately 
ignorant of the sex and weight, as we received it in its present 
state, and its former possessor did not make any observation. I 
however venture to flatter myself that it may add to the British 
Fauna, as it appears to differ in many respects from the other 
Mergi, all of which I have compared with it. When you have 
leisure I should feel extremely obliged for your opinion concerning 
it. We also met with a pair of the Tringa Fusil la shot at the same 
place. I hope shortly, as the spring advances, to have the pleasure 
of forwarding some skins of the Lesser Whitethroat, & if possible 
somo eggs, or should the season unfortunately prove unfavourable 
(as they are not always equally plentiful) I will not foil to procure 
them at some future time. 
I remain Dear Sir 
Your most obedient Servant, 
John W. Elton. 
To 
P. J. Selby, Esq 
Twyzkll House 
NEAR BELFORD 
Northumberland. 
IX. 
Sir 
Mr. W. C. Hewitson* writes me word that you would 
be glad of a drawing of the Anas Stelleri shot near Yarmouth ;t & 
* The well-known oological and entomological author, who died May 2Slh, 
1S78, aged 72, a memoir of him is given in Nature for 20th June, 1S7S. 
t The occurrence of this specimen, the earliest of the species known to 
have been obtained in England, seems to have been first recorded by Yarrell 
in the Magazine of Natural History for March, 1S31 (iv. p. 117); but 
announced the fact at a meeting of the Committee of Science and Correspon- 
dence of the Zoological Society, on the 25th January preceding (P.Z S. 1831, 
p. 35). 
