Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/75

Rh A beautiful variety of the Common Linnet came under my notice this month. It was evidently an adult male, as some of the crimson feathers were still visible on the breast; but the greater part of its plumage was pure white, with only a few of the usual brown feathers on the wings and back.

Wild Geese made their appearance unusually early on some of the Cornish moors. On October 29th two Cravat or Canada Geese were seen swimming for some time in Plymouth Sound, but after awhile flew off seaward. The same day I observed the first Great Northern Diver of the season, and the next day two of these fine birds were hilled. I had been much interested in watching one of them having a rather hard struggle with a Bullhead or "Fatherlasher," Cottus scorpius, which it ultimately managed to swallow. I have often observed that both Cormorants and Divers have much trouble in managing this formidable little fish. Northern Divers have made their appearance early this season, as they seldom visit the Sound before November.

A young Gannet, in its beautiful spotted plumage, was brought in by some fishermen, who said that it allowed them to take it up from the water without resistance; so I suppose it must by some means have become exhausted, as there was no wound to be found on any part of its body. Gannets are said to be sometimes so gorged with fish as to be unable to rise from the water for a time, but such was certainly not the case in the present instance. I have often thought it strange that birds in the spotted plumage are so seldom met with, at least on this part of the coast. Old ones, on the contrary, are frequently obtained.

Two Common Buzzards, some Short-eared Owls, and a female Peregrine were captured in October near Plymouth, the last-named in Newnham Park. Shags were particularly plentiful on the coast; but, strange to say, I neither saw nor heard of a Tern or Phalarope. Kingfishers were rather numerous in our bays and estuaries, and many, 1 am sorry to say, were killed.

After some severe gales, on November 1st, I visited the neighbourhood of Bovisand and the Reannies Rocks, upon which latter were a large number of Cormorants and Shags, and immense flocks of Starlings and Rock Pipits, feeding amongst the numerous heaps of decaying seaweed collected on the shore for the purpose of dressing the land. It was quite surprising to see the "clouds" of Dunlins and Ring Dotterels resting on the Breakwater during