Great Shearwater, Puffinus major.—Has once come under my notice. When visiting Downpatrick Head with some friends on the 22nd Angust, 1859, we obtained a dead bird in the brown-mottled plumage of the first year, from a man who had fished it up on the shore a few minutes before we met him. He had some Razorbills and Guillemots which had been washed ashore dead, and we were much amused, when I offered him a few pence for the Shearwater, to hear him recommend us to take the Razorbills in preference, as they were "so much fatter, and better eating!"
Common Shearwater, Puffinus anglorum.—Occasionally seen along the coast between Downpatrick Head and the Stags of Broadhaven early in August. I have no doubt they nest on some part of that coast, but I cannot be certain as I never had the opportunity of thoroughly exploring it.
Storm Petrel, Thalassidroma pelagica.—"Very seldom met with. I have been informed that they breed on some parts of the coast, but have not been able to discover the precise locality.[1]
ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE MARSH WARBLER
NEAR TAUNTON.
By the Rev Murray A. Mathew, M.A.
Ever since Mr. Howard Saunders detected the Marsh Warbler, Acrocephalus palustris, in the collection of Dr. Woodforde, of Amberd House, near Taunton, and identified the nest and egg preserved with the birds as undoubtedly belonging to that species (vide 'Zoologist,' 1875, p. 4713), I have been very anxious to procure more examples in the same neighbourhood, the more so as Professor Newton, exercising a wise caution, has not, with the evidence which was then before him, felt himself justified in admitting the bird into the list of occasional visitants to England. So very closely allied is this aquatic Warbler to the Reed Warbler that it is very difficult indeed to separate skins or
- ↑ The scarcity of the Storm Petrel on the Mayo coast, if such is the case, would be rather remarkable, inasmuch as this bird breeds on the coasts and on the islands off the coasts of Donegal, Galway, Clare and Kerry. We can scarcely doubt that it is to be met with, if searched for, on the equally favourable shore line and the numerous islets between Erris Head and Killary Harbour.—Ed.
