Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/76

54 the time the mudbanks of our estuaries and rivers were covered at high-water, but directly the tide began to fall off they all flew in separate flocks to their various feeding-grounds. During very rough weather, when the sea washes over the Breakwater, thousands of these birds settle on the uncovered rocks close by the shore or upon the grassy slopes of the adjoining cliffs, a few Sanderlings and other waders often accompanying them.

On the 1st November two Dartford Warblers were seen at Mount Botten, and one of them was captured by a birdcatcher; specimens may be found in the furze-brakes of that locality almost every year. Black Redstarts made their appearance on the 3rd, when I noticed two immature birds at the Devil's Point, Stonehouse, and a Common Redshank near the same place.

On Saturday, November 10th, a fine adult Norfolk Plover was killed in a turnip-field at Cheviock, near St. Germains. The man who shot this bird remarked that it ran very fast. The upper part of the tarsus in this specimen was not at all thick, as in young birds of the year, and upon examination I found its stomach to contain the remains of a dung-beetle and a solitary grain of barley. I remember only three instances of the Norfolk Plover having been obtained in the neighbourhood of Plymouth, and all late in the autumn. One was confined in a garden for some time, but eventually made its escape.

A beautiful Grey Phalarope, in full winter plumage, was killed in Plymouth Sound on November 13th, the first I had heard of during the autumn, notwithstanding the late severe gales. A Common Sandpiper was also shot on the same day—rather late in the season for both these birds. Kingfishers did not leave the open sea coast during the whole of the rough weather, but merely sought the quiet pools among the rocks in which to fish, and when moving from place to place were to be seen shooting over the waves like veritable sea-birds. Many Oystercatchers were seen on the Breakwater, and I observed large flocks of Lapwings overland.

During November the stormy weather brought several species of wild fowl on the coast. In the first place, many White-fronted Geese were killed on the Cornish moors, and on the 26th there were five Sheldrakes, some Shovellers, besides Teal and Wigeon in our markets—all obtained, 1 was told, from the neighbouring rivers and estuaries. Most of these birds were the young of the year, but one Sheldrake was adult, and one of the Shovellers a young male in