Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/81

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Birds.
1247

obtaining a correspondent in the south-west of Ireland ? I may perhaps be excused for remarking that the white-tailed or Sea Eagle is a perfectly distinct bird : it becomes an interesting enquiry whether the Golden Eagle does inhabit the south of Ireland. — Edward Newman.]

Occurrence of the Rough-legged Buzzard in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. — Six or seven years ago, there was a great immigration of the rough-legged buzzard, Buteo Lagopus, to the midland-counties, which I have not seen recorded. Many specimens were killed at intervals in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and happened to come under my notice. I think I could not have seen less than a dozen, only two of which came into my possession. Most of these were caught in traps, and some I saw before they received the coup de grdce, the projecting eye-brow and piercing eye gave them a very fierce and noble expression. — J. Wolley; Trinity College, Cambridge, November 21st, 1845.

Swallows at the Carron Iron-works in winter. — The present Lord-president of the Court of Session in Scotland, remembers about forty years ago, of visiting the Carron Iron-works in the depth of a severe winter. There was a pond in the immediate neighbourhood of the immense furnace of the establishment, and the temperature was mild, and even warm, over and around it. In consequence of this, it swarmed with insects even at that season, and a number of swallows were busily flying over and around the pond seizing their prey. When his lordship remarked this circumstance to the men, they said, " we never want swallows here." — Sydney Smith; Principles of Phrenology.

Late stay of the Swallow at Penzance. — I observed as late as the 30th of November of this year a chimney-swallow at St. Mary's Church-yard in this town, and it is very possible that a later date can be recorded of the appearance of this bird in our neigh- bourhood. Several house-martins have from time to time been observed in December in and about the town. I obtained from the Island of Scilly last week two specimens of the greenshank sandpiper (T. Glottis). — Edward Hearle Rodd; Penzance, December 26th, 1845.

Late stay of the House-martin at Alton. — On the 25th of November I observed a house-martin flying along the street under the eaves, at eight o'clock, a.m. It flew languidly and appeared a young bird, but as it fluttered much and was soon out of sight, I cannot speak decidedly as to this. White, (whose beautiful and interesting Selborne is within an hour's walk across the fields from here) I find never saw any spe- cies of swallow after the first week ;in November, except a few sand-martins, turned out of a bank, at the end of this month. I have only resided in this neighbourhood for a twelvemonth, and have not met with any ornithologists, although there appears abundant scope for observation in this deeply interesting branch of Natural History, as this locality abounds with birds, mostly the smaller species ; other branches claim all the little attention my limited leisure allows. — Henry Ecroyd Smith; Alton, Hants, December 28th, 1845.

Occurrence of the Grosbeak at Stowmarket. — On the 6th of November last year I saw a pair of male grosbeaks (Loxia Coccothraustes) feeding under a rose-bush in my garden. I succeeded in capturing one of them, and another was shot during the same month at Farnborough Park about two miles hence, which is now in my possession. — C.R. Bree ; Stowmarket.

Occurrence of the White-winged Crossbill at Derby, November 21st, 1845. — Was shot in my garden at Mickleover, a female of the white-winged crossbill (Loxia Leu-