Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/173

Rh a good deal clouded with a shade of brocoli brown. This, I believe, is the first recorded example of the species in Cornwall.—Edwd. Hearle Rodd; Penzance, March 18, 1843.

Note on the occurrence of rare British Birds near Garstang, Lancashire. I was fortunate enough, about the 20th of October, 1842, to obtain two good specimens of the grey phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus, Latham), on the shore near to my own residence. One bird was taken alive in a net, placed in the night for sea-fowl near highwater mark, and for two days fed very voraciously on common worms. This bird did not appear in any degree alarmed by my presence when feeding, but ate the worms which I threw to it without even noticing me. It lived in confinement three days, and, I imagine, shortened its existence by making attempts to escape from its place of imprisonment. The other bird was shot, and allowed a party of us, four in number, to approach within twenty yards of it, without showing any symptoms of fear. We noticed it feeding, as we supposed, upon marine insects and small Crustacea; and during the time it was picking up its food, its wings were partially extended, and were kept in an incessant slight fluttering motion. Whether this is its general habit and posture of feeding, or whether it was owing, in some degree, to the very stormy day, 1 cannot say; but its fearlessness of danger from man was particularly remarked by us all. The same day, and very near to the same place, we had the good fortune to get Bewick's knot, or Selninger sandpiper, the purple sandpiper of Yarrell (Brit. Birds, ii. 665, Tringa maritima, Gmelin and Latham), which is a very scarce bird here: it also allowed us to approach within ten yards of it before it attempted to take wing. I attribute the appearance of these three scarce birds in this part, to the tempestuous weather which then prevailed, and which extended, I believe, over a considerable portion of the British Isles. On the 26th of October, 1842, 1 procured a specimen of the young of the golden eye, the Morillon of Bewick, (Anas clangula, Linn, and Penn.); and on the 14th of January, 1843, another bird, which I take to be the young male of the harlequin duck (Anas histrionica, Linn., Gmel., Latham; see also Yarrell, Brit. Birds, iii. 262). Should the preceding record of the occurrence of some rare British birds, be considered worthy of a place in your interesting publication, you will greatly oblige me by inserting them.—Jas D. Banister; Pilling, near Gar slang, Lancashire, March 18, 1843.

Note on the early arrival of Martins in 1843. This morning I was surprised by the sight of several martins flying about and taking flies,