Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/85

Rh in stating that in North Oxfordshire, at least, the day of their extirpation is far distant. In a single walk I have often seen as many as ten, and sometimes many more. In the winter they associate in flocks of from five to thirty-four; I never saw more together than the latter number at one time. There is very little game preserving here, owing to the want of arable land, and therefore Magpies have ample inducement to remain.—

—With reference to the notes from Heligoland included in my paper in the January number of 'The Zoologist,' Mr. Gätke has subsequently informed me that the Phylloscopus included with a query (Oct. 24th) was seen by him at close quarters in his garden, and that beyond a doubt it was Phylloscopus fuscatus, a species which has occurred before in Heligoland. On November 4th Mr. Gätke saw another rare visitor, but not having a gun at hand was unable to procure it; this was Parus Kamschatkensis, with the back entirely of a light bluish ashy gray colour—the very image, as he says, of Mr. Dresser's figure in 'The Birds of Europe.' There is a typographical error in my paper, p. 10, twenty-ninth line, under the head of Great Gray Shrike—for "Mr. Boyes mentions ten" read "Mr. Boyes mentions two" of these birds.—

—Apropos of Mr. Tyacke's note on the Dartford Warbler (p. 23), I may remark that this bird generally feeds its young on the body of a large yellow moth. I have observed several pairs carrying a light substance in their mouths to the nest, and on shooting one bird from each of two nests, I discovered that the food was the same in both cases. The wings of the moth were removed, and I was not entomologist enough to name the species, but I observed that the birds hunted for their prey among the lower part of the stems of the furze. During the summer Dartford Warblers may generally be found in most of the large patches of furze that are scattered over the South Downs, although, being remarkably shy, they are liable to escape observation, for on the slightest sign of danger they immediately seek the shelter of the bushes. In the winter they seem to be of a roving disposition. I have met with them several times amongst the stunted thorn-bushes and straggling furze on the beach between Eastbourne and Pevensey, and, when rabbit-shooting further inland, I have seen them occasionally driven out by the beagles from cover, where no one would ever expect to find them.— (Dyke Road, Brighton).

—Your correspondent, the Rev. Julian G. Tuck, says (2nd ser. 4958) he should be glad to know if any readers of 'The Zoologist' have observed the power of the Puffin not only to stand erect on its feet, but also to walk on the rock with apparent ease. I have observed this many times when lying on the top of the cliffs at Flamborough; and indeed it must of necessity be so, otherwise how could these birds reach the holes in which they breed? They alight on the ledges, perhaps a yard or more from the entrance of the cleft in the rock in which