Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/156

134 they are the desperate characters that they are generally described. Those which I have seen in the south were usually in pursuit of small birds, and while seeking this sort of prey they are frequently captured in the clap-nets that abound near Brighton. On the grouse moors in the north, I have examined the remains of the victims that they have consumed near their nests, and never found anything larger than a Dunlin, which bird, with larks, pipits, and large moths (principally of the Eggar species), seemed to make up their bill of fare. Though frequenting most of the wild, rocky glens in the Highlands, they seem to have a partiality for the more open moors, being particularly numerous in the flat parts of Sutherland and Caithness. The nest is generally placed amongst the heather on the ground in the open moor. In one case, however, I took the eggs from the face of a rock overhanging a hill loch in Ross-shire. The female was shot, but, being a good deal injured, was not retained; while the male, falling winged among large stones, managed to make good his escape into some hole before I could reach the spot. While searching for him, I stumbled on one of the best concealed whiskey-stills I ever met with. It will certainly be a particularly 'cute exciseman that discovers its whereabouts without the help of previous information.— (Dyke Road, Brighton).

—In a bird-stuffer's shop in Newbury, I lately saw the remains of a Pomatorhine Skua in nearly full plumage. This bird was killed in a wood near Newbury, by a fanner, on or about October 25th last, and was brought to its present possessor to make into a fan; and as now mounted wants the plumage of the back and both legs. The centre feathers of the tail were shot away, which accounts for its capture having attracted so little attention, it being mistaken for a Black-backed Gull; though judging from the colour of its wings, tail, and head, its back must have been of a dark brown colour. It proved on dissection to be a male, and was in very poor condition. In the same shop was a Puffin, which, on December 21st last, was seen by a man, named Harris, to rise from a ditch, near Newbury, and was knocked down with a whip,— (Dorset Villa, Reading).

—I have to record the occurrence of two specimens of this pretty little species. One on October 15th, shot upon a pond in the New Forest, which it had frequented for some days previously; and the man who shot it said he could not but admire the graceful deportment of this elegant bird as it moved about upon the water, almost like a miniature Swan. It is a pity his admiration had not prompted a better feeling than killing the interesting little creature. The other specimen was killed, November 17th, somewhere upon the River Avon.— (Ringwood, Hants).