Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/517

Rh malmi, and was taken at Overton, Flintshire. If so, Carine noctua has not occurred in Flintshire, despite the oft-repeated statement that it has.— (Shrewsbury).

Red-crested Pochard in Yorkshire.—A fine specimen of the Redcrested Pochard (Fuligula rufina) was shot on a marsh near Redcar on Jan. 20th, 1900, and is now in my possession. It is, I believe, the first recorded example of this rare Duck for Yorkshire.— (The Cliffe, Redcar).

Stone Curlew in Cleveland in Winter.—An example of the Stone Curlew (Œdicnemus scolopax) was brought to me on Dec. 16th, 1899, by a man who had caught it alive during a snowstorm on the sand-hills east of Redcar. The occurrence of this species in Cleveland is at any time unusual, but its presence here in mid-winter is so exceptional as to be worthy of record.— (The Cliffe, Redcar).

Curlew at Sea.—It is, I think, a rare occurrence for Numenius arquata to be seen any distance out at sea. On the last homeward voyage of the Union Castle Liner 'Norman,' in August, about eighteen hours after leaving Madeira, I observed a Curlew flying over the water, and making for the ship, evidently with the intention of seeking refuge thereon. Several times did this usually cunning bird fly up to within gunshot, but sheered off again each time, and ultimately disappeared altogether, frightened no doubt by the weird aspect of the ship—her huge white side, her red funnels from which streamed black smoke, her decks alive with passengers, and forging her way through the water at sixteen knots an hour. The bearings of the 'Norman' at the time were 40° N. 12° 1' W., or, approximately, fifty miles from land.— (109, Jermyn Street, S.W.).

[It is probable that the ship did not greatly frighten the bird. We have already recorded capturing a Storm-Petrel (Procellaria pelagica) on board this very vessel, the 'Norman,' near the Cape Verde Islands (Zool. 1899, p. 557). On another vessel of the same line, the 'Norham Castle,' we found the ship to be a regular avian rendezvous (cf. ibid. 1898, p. 509).—]

Sun-fish in the Yarmouth Roads.—A short Sun-fish (Orthagoriscus mola), about two feet long, was floundering about in the Roads on Sept. 5th, and was secured by some fishermen, who had little difficulty in effecting the capture. A friend purchased it for me, but, owing to the non-delivery of a post-card, I missed obtaining it before going wrong, and being thrown away among the offal.— (Ibis House, Great Yarmouth).