Ellerside Moss, Lancashire, by Mr. R. Cavendish, M.P. The point about this bird—a male, which I examined in a fresh state—is, that while most of the upper and lower parts are either pure white or white faintly barred with pale cinnamon, the lores, sides of the head, and neck are rich chestnutred, finely mottled with white. I forbear to supply a detailed description of this specimen because its owner, Mr. R. Cavendish, M.P., has generously consented to present his bird to the Carlisle Museum, in which it can be seen. The case in which it is mounted contains also two of the hybrid Red and Black Grouse mentioned in my paper on the interbreeding of those two species (Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist. 1897, pp. 15–17).—H.A. Macpherson (Allonby Vicarage, Carlisle).
Ornithological Notes from Mid-Hants: Autumn and Winter, 1897.—I forgot to mention in my last notes (Zool. 1897, p. 460) that two Hobbies came into Mr. Chalkley's hands, one from Basingstoke on July 20th, and another from the immediate neighbourhood of Winchester on July 30th. A gentleman living in south-east Hants informs me of the breeding of the Garganey in his neighbourhood this year (I may not give the more precise locality). He first saw the birds—two ducks and two drakes—in some marshy meadows on April 15th. After this he could only see one pair until May 11th, and after this only one male, which made a "jarring" noise when flushed. On July 7th he saw a hen bird with three young ones nearly as big as herself, and able to fly. They were not seen after Aug. 1st.
September was a very warm and rather rainy month toward the end. By the 23rd the water-meads some way down the river were swarming with Pied Wagtails, mature and immature, the latter preponderating. I saw the first Grey Wagtail on the 24th. Pied and Grey Wagtails came into the near water-meads on the 30th; and throughout the winter Grey Wagtails have been in great abundance. I saw the first inland flock of Larus canus on the 28th, some way down the river; and from this date the ploughed fields on the east of the valley have never been free from these birds. It was not until Oct. 14th, however, that the first flock paid a visit to the near water-meads; but from that date they have been more or less permanent there. On the 28th I saw a small flock of Peewits flying down the valley, as usual, in extended order; but I was surprised at the scarcity of these migratory flocks during this month. This autumn has been remarkable for the amount of Kingfishers in the neighbourhood. I myself have seen several in the water-meads, and Mr. Chalkley's death-roll of this bird is larger than ever.[1] I may also mention here that Mr. Chalkley has received a great many Goldfinches during September and October; I have not noticed the same abundance in the immediate neighbourhood. On
- ↑ A circumstance much to be deplored.—Ed.
