Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/394

366 horizontally across the breast, with, it seemed to me, nearly square ends. I should think the band was 1½ in. by ½ in. The bird was shortly joined by another, presumably the female, the general colour of which was light brown upper, and very light grey or dusky white under parts, but, so far as I could see, with no dark pectoral band. In endeavouring to approach the birds from the other side by going round a deserted building, I lost sight of them. The meadow on the land side sloped into marshy ground, which, covered with high reeds, &c, extended some distance up a narrow valley. Several people were walking on the sands, and though I was so near the bird it betrayed no shyness. My view of the female was imperfect and brief. Considering that the Shore Lark has hitherto been only known as a winter visitor to the British Isles, this occurrence, if referable to no other species, will, I think, be of great interest.— Hon. Curator of Birds (Athenæum, Plymouth).

Alpine Pipit in Carnarvonshire.—The early part of April was marked by cold unsettled weather, with much snow on the mountains and easterly winds approaching a gale on the 3rd and the morning of the 4th. On the afternoon of that day the wind dropped considerably, and I observed a strong immigration of Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits on the marshes along the Carnarvonshire side of the river Glaslyn. Among a party of the latter, which were feeding on the side of a muddy pool, I observed one conspicuously larger and lighter coloured than the rest. This bird I watched for some time through a glass at a distance of about thirty yards. On the following morning most of the Wagtails had departed, and the Pipits were less abundant, but the stranger still remained in the same place. It was, however, very wild, and I had some difficulty in shooting it. It proved to be a male of the Alpine Pipit, Anthus spinoletta, in nearly complete summer plumage, and is the first occurrence of this species on the west coast. The specimen was exhibited by Mr. Howard Saunders on April 21st at a meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club.— (Penrhyndeudraeth, Merionethshire, North Wales).

Quails in Sussex.—A pair of Quails have again taken up their quarters in our valley. Their visit has become almost an annual occurrence, and it is interesting to note that they are generally first detected within an area limited to three small fields.— (Thorneycroft, Compton, Petersfield).

Appearance of Migrants in Aberdeenshire during 1896 and 1897.—The first was an early and the second a late season. Jan. 1st, 1890, about a dozen Tree Sparrows feeding on the fields here along with the common birds, but not seen again; Jan. 2nd, a Magpie, which now seldom appears here. 1896, Lark singing, Feb. 6th; in 1897, Feb. 15th. 1896, Lap-