Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/320

296 frequently seen on the top of a tree or the topmost or outside bramble of a hedge, where it sways about with the wind, uttering its call of "U-tick, tick, tick," occasionally introducing a "chat, chat." They feed on flies, beetles, &c, and much resemble Stonechats in their pursuit of them and flight. They sit closely, and make a great fuss on the nest being approached. — (The Woodlands, Burton-on-Trent.)

— The Glossy Ibis is occasionally met with in the neighbourhood of Poole Harbour. In 1859, to my knowledge no less than six of these birds occurred there ; and, as I believe no mention of them has been made in The 'Zoologist,' it may be as well to record them. Five of the specimens in question are now in Wareham, one of them in my own possession. They were killed in the autumn in the upper part of the harbour, or rather on the marshes surrounding the mouths of the two rivers Frome and Trent. They were probably all young birds, being in dull plumage, and wauting the richer shades of chestnut which characterise the adult A man named Gover told me that one stormy, wet morning in October, 1877, while going down to Poole in a "lighter " behind a tug steamer, just after daylight, he saw four birds on the mud at the edge of a small creek running into the Wareham channel ; that they were like Curlews in appearance, hut stood a little higher on their legs, and were black in colour. This information lie volunteered, remarking at the same time that he had no doubt the birds were "Ibises — same as I shot afore," alluding to the fact of his having killed one of the birds pro- cured in 1859. I think there can be no doubt that this species visited us again last year ; but I am unable to state the fact from personal observa- tion. The man said the birds were very tame, allowing the tug and lighters to pass close by them, without offering to move ; on their return from Poole the flowing tide had covered the banks, and of course the birds were gone. The man's evidence was corroborated by the men on the tug. I have known him a long time, and he is very intelligent with regard to the harbour-birds. His occupation having necessitated his going up and down between Wareham and Poole on an average oftener than once a day for the last twenty or thirty years, he has naturally had good opportunities for observation. He has not shown much worldly wisdom, however, in the price he has asked and accepted for some of the rarer birds shot by him, e.g., half-a-crown for a splendid specimen of "Sabine's Snipe," and five shillings for a perfect adult-plumaged Common Crane (Grus cinerea.) He had some difficulty in getting so much for it, and had actually determined to take it home and eat it, as it was a large fat bird, and he calculated that it would be of more use to his family in the way of sustenance than the hall-crown he was munificently offered for it ! At last, however, he got his five shillings, and the Crane was saved. — (Westport, Wareham).