Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/521

Rh habit of visiting a certain garden or lawn at Ivybridge every morning at a particular hour, when it is regularly fed from the house; after which it invariably takes its departure, and is not seen again until the next day; but in the breeding season it sometimes remains away for weeks together, and has once or twice returned with a companion or mate. I have had an invitation to call in order to see this bird: I hope to learn more of its history.

In August numbers of young Herons were to be seen on the mud-banks of our rivers and estuaries, and a few at the trout streams. Young Gulls, too, were very numerous in our harbours; but I am sorry to add scores were wantonly shot. Many Gannets, also, were to be seen off the Cornish coast, some in adult plumage, others with the head, neck and lower parts white, but the wings very dark. There was lately an account given in one of the local papers of a Gannet having been choked in its attempt to swallow a garfish. Ravens are still rather plentiful on some parts of the coast; and a short time since three fine young birds, apparently as large as their parents, were killed at one shot when flying off the cliffs, and sent to Plymouth to be preserved. A pair of Peregrines nested in the same locality, but were killed by a farmer; and their young, which were taken, are now in captivity.

In 'The Zoologist' for August last (p. 343), there were notes on the occurrence of the White Spoonbill in Suffolk, and near Ely. I may here mention that on May 3Ist I examined two Spoonbills, which had been sent to a local bird-stuffer from Cornwall, where they had been shot a few days before. Their plumage was while, with the exception of the tips of the primaries and some of their shafts being either dusky or brown; none black, and there was no appearance of either crest or buff feathers on the breast.

I have just seen two Snow Buntings, which were brought home by a sailor from the late Arctic Expedition, and kept alive until within the last week, when they both died in moult.

 

—This has been a good autumn for waders, for there has beau no lack of water in the meres. On the 14th August I had a Greenshank and a Wood Sandpiper brought to me. I have noticed several of the latter about and heard their well-known note, and 