Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/415

Rh curious to see many of them clinging on tail vertically to the upright and hare reed-stems in what seemed a very uncomfortable sleeping position. We watched them for about half an hour, and left them still increasing their numbers. This species of Wagtail is not very common in this part of Ireland, and we could not help wondering at the numbers. Some of them must have come a long way to their roosting tryst. The Yellow, or Ray's, Wagtail I have not seen here this year at all.— (Currablagh, Croaghross, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal).

[If we mistake not, this is a newly-observed habit of the Grey Wagtail. We have frequently met with large numbers of the Pied and Yellow Wagtails in autumn, when they were nocking preparatory to emigration ; but we do not remember to have heard before of the Grey Wagtail roosting in flocks. — ]

— On September 2nd I received from Mr. Smith, the Lord Proprietor of the Scilly Islands, a good specimen of the Purple Crested Heron, in its rufous immature plumage, in good condition. A minute description of the plumage of the bird is unnecessary ; but I may remark that the top of the head, instead of being black, is a beautiful plum coloured purple, very like the tone of colour seen in plums and grapes with a powdered bloom. The other bird sent over to me is a very good specimen of the adult Wood Sandpiper. Nearly every specimen that I have hitherto procured of this species in the autumn has proved to be a bird of the year, indicated by the light tips of the feathers being strongly tinged with yellow. In this specimen the colour of the spots is pure white. — (Penzance).

— On the 30th August I was shore-shooting on the Stirlingshire coast, and saw a Knot with part of the breast bright chestnut. It passed and repassed me and a friend, but we failed to secure it. This is the first Knot I have seen upon our coast retaining any part of the true red plumage until its arrival here in autumn. Shore-birds are this season, however, decidedly earlier in their advent. I have shot hundreds of Knots, many with the buff breast, but none with the decided brick-dust or chestnut-coloured breast. — (Dunipace House, Larbert, N.B.)

— On the afternoon of the 17th August, at Keswick, near Norwich, a gentleman observed two Kestrels fighting and screaming in the air, and saw them drop something, presumably the prey they were fighting for, which, however, was not picked up. The birds continued their fight until they descended to the ground, and after- wards till they were fired at and killed at one shot by the spectator. They proved to be male and female, the male adult and the female apparently adult also. — (Northrepps Hall, Norwich).