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for the command to 'kiss me, Dick,' was always unhesitatingly responded to. Caress his head, back or wings with the mouth, and he was highly affronted, but a proffered kiss instantly caused him to strain up as high as possible on his toes to comply with the request, which positively appeared to give him delight. I trained him by this means to pay his respects to me, the first thing in the morning, before taking his breakfast. The cage-door was opened for him when he was still asleep, I meanwhile retreating out of sight into Bedfordshire. When I called him, a very drowsy chirrup was the first response, followed by a flight to my pillow, a caress and short speech on his part, and then a return home, to fortify himself by an attack on the seed and water supplies. And at night again it was the same thing; he would perch on his door, sing a small, happy song, crane up and place his beak between my lips, then go back, put his head under his wing, poor thing,' and off to the land of Nod,' without further notice. He understood as well as possible when he was naughty; for instance, on the mantel-piece stood a valuable fossil, which Dick delighted in pecking at, perfectly knowing he was forbidden to touch it, under any pretence; he would stealthily creep to it, and when driven off, away he hopped, vehemently protesting he meant no harm; then your attention becoming diverted from him by other matters, he would bide his time, return to his prohibited plaything, and triumphantly attract your notice to his work of destruction by shrill calls of defiance. He always uttered this peculiar and unmistakable cry whenever he did anything naughty, never otherwise, as if he appeared to be aware he had no right thus to misbehave himself. It was a remarkable sound, and persuaded those who knew him best that instinct, in him at least, was seemingly very closely allied to reflection or thought, and that he realized the meaning of the words addressed to him. How else did Dick understand he should not peck a fossil when he might a glass vase, or be allowed to dirty his cage and not a book or table?"P. 82.

EDWARD NEWMAN.

Ornithological Notes from North Devon.

By GERVASE F. MATHEW, Esq., R.N., F.L.S.

I WAS at Instow, North Devon, between the 9th and 16th of September. During that time the weather was very unsettled, boisterous westerly and south-westerly winds accompanied by frequent squalls of heavy rain prevailing, and consequently I was in hopes of finding plenty of migratory birds driven into our river, but was greatly disappointed, as may be seen by the following list. The birds had either not yet commenced their autumnal migrations,

or else the shores of the Taw and Torridge, which, in former years were frequented by great numbers of birds, have become unsuited to them on account of so much of the fore-shores having been reclaimed and enclosed.

Oystercatcher.-Next to the curlew this was by far the most abundant species, and I noticed many large flocks of them. At high tide several flocks assembled together, and were to be found on the "black rocks," close to the water's edge, and could then often be easily approached under cover of a pebbly ridge or the neighbouring sand-hills, but at low water they adjourned to the "Crow" or the rocks in the vicinity of the lighthouse on Braunton Burrows, and at this time were with difficulty to be got within range of. Whilst feeding they keep up an incessant whistling, and seem to be most uneasy in their movements, as they constantly fly from place to place, and never seem to care to settle for more than a few minutes in one spot. They swim with the greatest agility, and a winged bird falling by the water's edge, immediately takes to that element, and generally manages to get far out of reach before the sportsman can arrive. They are by no means to be despised when nicely cooked, and to my taste they almost equal a wigeon.

Curlew. These birds were plentiful but extremely wild, and were a great nuisance, as it was quite out of the question attempting to get near any other birds amongst which they might happen to be feeding, as, taking alarm long before one was in shot, they rose with such vociferous cries that the tamest birds were frightened and at once took wing. I only killed one, which was a fine bird, fat and in capital condition. One of our Instow boatmen ("Captain" Fishley by name, and a well-known character) recommends these birds to be cooked with a couple of large onions placed inside them; he says they are then "beautiful," but as I have not tried the experiment I cannot corroborate his statement. In the neighbourhood of Bantry Bay, some years since, during the latter part of July or beginning of August, I one day shot four or five young curlews in a boggy heathery spot some distance from the sea, and these when cooked were excellent, and I have no doubt had never fed alongshore. On one occasion, when I was watching some of these birds feeding on the kelp-covered rocks, I observed one of them walking by the margin of a moderate-sized pool, and, after searching about for a little while, it waded into the

water, and, on getting out of its depth, deliberately swam to the opposite side.

Cormorants. A few noticed every day. At low tide they were generally to be observed sitting on the sand-banks drying their wings or sleeping, but were excessively wary, and would not permit one to approach within shot. The boatman mentioned above, who has a large stock of wonderful stories relating to his shooting and fishing experiences, has frequently told me the following:-One day, when out shooting, he saw an old shag sitting on a spit of sand with its wings widely expanded. He thought he would try and have a shot at it, and, having a large duck-gun loaded with about three ounces of No. 3 shot with him, he succeeded in manœuvring his boat so well that he managed to get within about sixty yards of the bird. He then took a steady aim and fired, and the old shag at first appeared to be perfectly staggered, and "the Captain" imagined he had completely disabled it, and was beginning to congratulate himself on his good fortune, but in a moment or two the wily old shag recovered itself, shook itself well, and then flew off as if nothing had happened. "The Captain" says he felt as if "he looked like a fool," for he was positive he never missed the bird, as he heard the shot distinctly rattle against its plumage, so he got out of his boat and walked to the spot, and there, just where the shag had been sitting, was the greater portion of the charge of shot lying on the sand, and which the bird had evidently shaken out of its feathers before it flew away!

Whimbrel. Only two or three seen.

Knot.-Several flocks were generally to be seen feeding on the mud-flats on Islay, but as they were invariably accompanied by curlews there was no getting near them.

Turnstones.-These birds were more numerous than usual and tolerably tame, feeding together in family flocks of five or seven among the kelp-covered rocks. When they fancy they are not observed, they crouch and keep perfectly quiet among the stones until one has passed them.

Curlew Sandpiper.-One day I observed a flock of small birds, which appeared to differ in size and colour from dunlins, and as the day was dull and gloomy, and I could not make them out satisfactorily, I fired and killed one of the outside birds, and on picking it up it proved to belong to this species. This example had not

assumed its winter dress, the feathers on each side of its breast being deeply tinged with chestnut.

Dunlin.-Tolerably plentiful, but in small flocks.

Ringed Plover.-Numerous and wild.

Blackheaded Gull.-One afternoon, when it was blowing half a gale of wind from the south-west, I saw a flock of at least twohundred of these gulls sitting closely packed together on the water in a sheltered bay. They were all in winter plumage.

Tern. Only observed a solitary example, and this did not come near enough to make out satisfactorily, although I have no doubt, from its size and general appearance, it was Sterna minuta.

Kingfisher.-I was agreeably surprised at seeing six or seven of these beautiful birds one afternoon, as I imagined they had all been destroyed in this neighbourhood for ladies' hats, bannerscreens, &c.

Common Sandpiper.-Many small flocks feeding in the muddy drains among the salt-marshes.

Redshank.-Only a single example seen. In former years this used to be one of our most common autumnal visitors.

Common Mallard.-Saw a flock of eight early one morning, and should probably have obtained a shot at them, only a passing train put them up.

Teal.-Sailed within shot of two, as they were sitting on the water, and knocked one down as they rose. The other bird hovered for a few moments above its fallen companion before it

flew away.

Wheatear. These birds were far more plentiful than they were in the spring.

Rock Pipit. Many noticed feeding amongst marine rejectamenta at high-water mark.

Peregrine Falcon.-One morning early I saw a fine old male sitting on the beach, busily engaged in devouring a bird. It allowed me to approach within an easy shot before it took wing, bearing its prey away with it, but I did not fire at it, as I have no wish to assist in exterminating such a noble species. I could not discern what bird it was feeding on, as in clutching it to fly off with, it picked up a large piece of sea-weed, which comple..iy hid its victim. It did not fly very far, but soon pitched again and went on with its meal. 1 fear, from its tameness, it will soon fall to the gun of some prowling bird-killer.

Spotted Rail.—I saw two of these birds one day by the margin of a sedgy ditch in the Braunton Marshes, and, from the number of foot-prints in the soft mud, should say they are numerous in this locality.

H.M.S. Britannia,' Dartmouth,

GERVASE F. MATHEW.

October 8, 1874.

Ornithological Notes from Devonshire, Cornwall, &c.
By JOHN GATCOMBE, Esq.
(Continued from S. S. 4229).

SEPTEMBER, 1874.

1st. There was on the mud-flats of the Laira a small party of blackheaded gulls, the first I had seen since their return from their breeding quarters; also nine herons and a great many ringed plovers and dunlins. It is very interesting to observe the last two species rise together in several flocks-when the flowing tide has nearly covered the flats on which they had been feeding-and make their way to the Plymouth Breakwater and Rennie's Rocks, near the Mewstone, where they rest until the water begins to recede, when they return in the same manner to the estuaries and tidal rivers, seeming to know exactly the time when the surface of the mud will begin to reappear. At high tide during the winter thousands of these birds may be seen resting on the Breakwater, and in the autumn accompanied by turnstones, knots and curlew sandpipers, with sometimes a sprinkling of sanderlings. This morning a very large female peregrine falcon was brought for preservation to Mr. Peacock, animal preserver, Plymouth.

4th. Heard many whimbrels flying over the town at night. 10th. Another peregrine, a very small adult male, was brought to a Stonehouse bird-stuffer; also a young turtle dove, killed in the vicinity of Mount Edgcumbe.

11th. On my way to Lifton, Devon, I observed several whinchats on the borders of the moor. The gamekeeper at Lifton told me that sparrowhawks were still very numerous in the plantations of that neighbourhood, and that he had lately killed as many as six in one evening. There are now a great number of golden plovers in our markets, some of them still showing a large amount of black on their breasts; landrails are also plentiful.

SECOND SERIES-VOL. IX.

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