Habits and Nest of the Pichincha Humming Bird. - The Pichincha humming bird, like the Chimborazo, is found only close under the line of perpetual snow; but this species, according to the present state of our knowledge, is more widely distributed than the latter, being found not only on Pichincha, but also on Antisana and Cotopaxi. Upon my first visit to Guagua Pichincha these birds were feeding entirely on the ground, hunting the little moss-covered clumps as fast as the snow melted. They are not uncommon in this locality, but always met with singly. They are very restless, but not shy, seldom remaining on one clump more than a second, then away to another, perhaps a yard distant. Sometimes they would take a rapid flight of forty or fifty yards. On my second visit, the Chuquiragua being in flower, they were feeding from it like the Quindi of Chimborazo, but still occasionally hunted the mossy clumps. They fit with a burr of the wings, and occasionally settle, with the feathers all ruffled, on the top of the Chuquiragua or other small plant. In this respect, so far as my observations and those of Professor Jameson go, they differ from O. Chimborazo, Professor Jameson found this species building hanging nests in the lower compartment of the farm-house on Antisana." Mr. Fraser has sent home one of these nests as found by Professor Jameson on the 2nd of November, 1858. It was attached to a rope hanging to the roof of the house, which is situated at an elevation of 13,454 feet above the sea-level. It forms a large compact mass of wool and hair, mixed with dried moss and feathers, of the curious shape portrayed in the accompanying woodcut. A little cup-shaped opening at the top forms a receptacle for the eggs, and is balanced and brought into a horizontal position by the weight of the mass on the opposite side of the rope by which it is suspended. Mr. Fraser again says, speaking of two specimens obtained

on Guagua Pichincha in June :-" From the mouth of one of these two birds a quantity of very pale yellow fluid, of a slightly sweet taste, flowed; but I did not find any in either crop or gizzard. Amongst some of those, of the same species, which I skinned the other day, I observed the same thing. If my memory serves me correctly it has occurred twice before in other species. I observed three specimens of this bird, all of a row, banging to the bare rock (this now explains the use of those large feet and claws which the species of this group have, and which has hitherto puzzled me), like sand martins; it was under a ledge well protected from the weather, consequently well adapted by Nature for nest-building. They would fly away and then return; this was done in my sight three or four times in succession. On examining the spot, which was almost inaccessible, I found much excrement, proving to my mind that they bred in societies. My countryman, Col. Stacey, on a visit to this mountain, happened to have on a new bright yellow oil-skin cover to his wide-awake hat, and one of these birds flew round and round it for a considerable time, as he supposes, mistaking it for a flower."- Birds collected by Mr. Fraser in VOL. XIX.

D

the Vicinity of Quito;' by Philip Lutley Sclater, M.A.- From the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London,' 1860, p. 80.

Note on the Nest of a Humming-bird (Thaumastura henicura) in Guatemala. — The third nest had young. It was placed in the upper shoots of a dahlia which grew at the farther end of the court-yard of the house. The hen bird seemed to have the entire duty of rearing the young, as I never once saw the male near the place; in fact, I never saw a male Thaumastura henicura inside the court-yard at all. When the hen was sitting she would sometimes allow me to go quite close to her, and even hold the branch still when it was swayed to and fro by the wind, without evincing the slightest alarm. But it was only when a hot sun was shining that she would allow me to do this; when it was dull or raining, four or five yards was the nearest I could approach. Frequently, when I had disturbed her, I would sit down close at hand and wait for her return; and I always noticed that, after flying past once or twice overhead, she would bring a small piece of lichen, which, after she had settled herself, comfortably in her nest, she would attach to the outside. All this was done with such a confident and fearless air that she seemed to intimate, "I left my nest purely to search for this piece of lichen, and not because I was afraid of you." When sitting upon her nest the whole cavity was quite filled by her puffed-out feathers, the wings, with the exception of their tips, being entirely concealed by the feathers of the back. When the young were first hatched they looked little, black, shapeless things, with long necks and hardly any beak. They soon, however, grew, and entirely filled the nest. I never saw the old bird sitting after the young had emerged from the eggs; she seemed to leave them alike in sun and rain. When feeding them she would stand on the edge of the nest with her body very upright. The first of these young ones flew on October 15th. It was standing on the side of the nest as I happened to approach, when it immediately flew off, but fell among the flowers below. I placed it again in the nest, but a moment after it was off again, nothing daunted by its first failure,— this second time with better success, for it flew over a wall close by, and settled on a tree on the other side. In the evening of the same day I saw the old one feeding it, and went up to the tree; but it started off with increased vigour to an orange tree, and tried at first to rest on one of the fruit, but, failing, found a more appropriate perch on the edge of a leaf. I never saw it afterwards. The other young one flew on October 17th, two days later. The proportion of males to females of my Duenas skins is as five to three, while of those from Coban as three to five. The seeds of the willow and bulrush are favourite materials for the interior structure of the nest of T. henicura, while lichen is freely used outside.-Osbert Salvin, in the ' Ibis,' ii. 266.

·

Note on a Humming-bird (Cyanomyia cyanocephala) of Guatemala. — This last week another pair have been building somewhere near the house, and the male bird frequently comes while I am preparing skius in the corridor, and takes pieces of cotton almost from under my hand. Yesterday afternoon (August 14) Mr. Wyld caught it making a descent upon some small object in his room. He shut the window and called me. The intruder, who was wearied from fluttering against the window, suffered itself to be caught. In a very few moments its agitation ceased, and it seemed to be taking advantage of its comfortable place in my hand to rest from its fatigues, making no attempt to escape. Before letting it go I procured a piece of sugar, and dipping it in water put it to the tip of its bill. Almost immediately its long tongue was employed in sucking up the liquid. On liberating it, it flew to a tree close at hand, and seemed to take no further notice of its late captivity. If its

The

nest is not finished I have no doubt I shall soon see it again seeking the wool. wind produced by the wings of these little birds is considerable, as I noticed that while hovering over a large piece of wool the whole surface of the wool was violently agitated. This same bird makes daily visits to the vases of flowers placed in the rooms.-Osbert Salvin, in the' Ibis,' ii. 39.

Occurrence of the Firecrested Regulus (Regulus ignicapillus) near Penzance. - A male specimen of this Regulus, in fine plumage, was brought to me this week, obtained from the parish of Gulval, about a mile from Penzance. I think this species can no longer be considered rare in this neighbourhood. — Edward Hearle Rodd; December 13, 1860.

Late Stay of Swallows.-November 29: Saw a martin; it continued hawking for some time round the house, frequently passing within a few yards of me as it darted after the flies. I had observed one on the 24th, and my son informs me that he saw several swallows on the 1st of December. The weather had been very wet and unseasonably mild. Swallows having been occasionally noticed by myself and others in this neighbourhood during the month of December, it might readily be imagined that in a mild winter some few at least would remain with us throughout the year; but I have already recorded my opinion that this is not the case, never having observed or even heard of one from the middle of December till the middle of April,-a pretty good proof that these laggards must either wing their way to warmer climes or perish for want of food, as I cannot bring myself to believe that they would greatly suffer during a mild winter, such as is occasionally experienced here.-H. Hadfield; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, December 3, 1860.

Occurrence of the Little Bustard (Otis tetrax) in Norfolk. - A fine specimen of this rare visitant to our coast was killed on the 29th of November, at Norton, near Reedham. It proved to be a female, and, as usual with birds of this species when obtained in this country, was shot in a turnip field, its stomach being filled with a mass of green food.-H. Stevenson; Norwich, December 12, 1860.

Occurrence of the Night Heron (Nycticorax ardeola) in Norfolk. An immature specimen of this rare species was shot about the 8th of this month, in the Caister marshes, near Yarmouth. I had the opportunity of seeing it in the flesh, and found it to be a young bird of the year, resembling the second figure in Yarrell's illustration, having the usual spotted appearance about the wings and scapulars, caused by a triangular white patch, of more or less extent, at the tip of each feather. The feathers of the head and neck are also streaked with brown and white, each feather broadly edged with brown, the quill and centre of the web being white throughout. Unfortunately, when subsequently preserved, the sex was omitted to be noted. Several of these birds have been killed in Norfolk from time to time, in both adult and immature plumage, but not of late years. — Id.

Large Flight of Woodcocks at the Lizard, Land's End and Scilly Districts. — We have not had such a flight of woodcocks for years as at this season. On Saturday week the Scilly steam-boat brought thirty birds, twenty-five of which were killed at Trescoe Island; the remainder were killed at the largest island of St. Mary. I have little doubt that if this island had been beaten well fifty would have been sent in addition. Yesterday, at Helston, the market town of the Lizard, the price was 2s. per brace; here the last market price yesterday was 2s. 6d. Penzance, November 9, 1860.

- Edward Hearle Rodd;

Ostriches Breeding in Italy. - The most remarkable family in the world are now living at San Donato, near Florence, where Prince Demidoff has made admirable arrangements for entertaining them hospitably. A part of his magnificent estate has been fitted up exclusively for them. From far and near natives and foreigners come

to visit them in the division of the Etablissement Zoologique appropriated to them. Mons. Des Murs is so much occupied with them that he has scarcely time to pay proper attention to two other "strang birds," the white camels, belonging to the Prince. Up to the present time the flow of visitors remains undiminished; all are desirous of paying their respects to the family of Italian ostriches. When the Parisian Acclimatisation Society succeeded in inducing a pair of ostriches to rear their young in the North of Africa, they celebrated the event with festivities; and Marshal Vaillant deemed this triumph of science of sufficient importance to warrant his forwarding minute details to the home government. The idea of introducing ostriches into Europe had not then been dreamt of. When came the authentic report that two of these gigantic birds had crept out of their shells on the banks of the Arno, the above-named Society presented their gold medal to the Etablissement Zoologique of San Donato, which Prince Demidoff liberally made over to the deserving Director. During the whole time of laying and hatching the long-legged parents conducted themselves in such a savage and hostile manner that uo one ventured near their nest. A year, wisely and judiciously made use of, has rendered them so familiar and tame that, during the crisis which is just now passed, they conducted themselves with propriety, one may almost say reasonably. It was possible to approach the nest with the same serenity as one feels in going to the nest of a house swallow. With this fact before us the doubt about domesticating the ostrich falls to the ground; the giant birds belong no more solely to the menagerie; they have become European. The female began to lay on the 11th of May with remarkable regularity she laid an egg on each alternate day. When three were laid she began to sit, during which time the number of eggs increased to thirteen. Sitting did not seem to suit the taste of the mother; she held out but a very short time. Upon her leaving the eggs the stumpy-beaked father took her place; he has, during the whole period of incubation, shown much greater zeal than the mother, who, as a rule, sat only five out of the twenty-four hours daily. The first chick appeared on the 23rd of June (the sex of the birds is undistinguishable until they come to maturity). Shortly after four more feathered Florentines appeared, when the old father lost all patience, and left the other eight eggs (each of 3 lbs. weight) to their fate.-C. B., Wiesbaden; in the' Field.'

:

Capture of the Rednecked Phalarope (Phalaropus hyperboreus) in Norfolk.-A bird of the year of this pretty and elegant little species was shot on Thursday, the 28th of November, 1860, in Laken-heath Fen, Norfolk, from which place it was brought to Ely market, thence to Cambridge, by a dealer in game, of whom it was purchased by its fortunate possessor, J. Hamilton, Esq., of Trinity College, Cambridge, to which gentleman I am indebted for the sight of it, and the courtesy of allowing me to send this for insertion in the Zoologist.' This bird can be considered no other than of rare occurrence in the British Isles. In a letter to me a short time since, from J. H. Dunn, the able and well-known naturalist of the Orkneys, speaking of the reduecked phalarope, he says, "I much regret to say the species is now no more to be found in these (Orkney) Islands." This intelligence I learn with much regret as an ornithologist, and doubt not it will be so with all British naturalists who chance to peruse

this note.

The phalarope is a bird to be numbered with the bustard, a bird of yore; it shuns alike the close relationship of man and the tiller's plough. — S. P. Saville; Dover House, Union Road, Cambridge (late Jesus Terrace), December 14, 1860.

Occurrence of the Longtailed Duck (Anas glacialis) near Tregothnan, Cornwall. — A fine, well-conditioned specimen of this rare duck (in these parts) was sent yesterday for preservation. The early appearance of this arctic duck seems to forebode hard weather in the North. I have never known but one other specimen of this duck before in this neighbourhood, and that was in nearly the same state of plumage as the present, without the long tail-feathers, the upper parts more or less umber-brown, with a similar patch on each side of the neck.― Edward Hearle Rodd; Penzance, November 10, 1860.

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The Little Gull (Larus minutus) shot at Eastbourne, Sussex. — On Thursday, the 6th of December, 1860, a fisherman residing here shot a pretty specimen of this gull, which I saw in the flesh and examined. Unfortunately it did not come into my possession. It weighed nearly four ounces, measured 114 inches, and from tip to tip of extended wings nearly 26 inches. - John Dutton; South Street, Eastbourne, December 17, 1860.

They are also,
The space

Breeding of a Penguin called the Rock-hopper (Aptenodytes chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands. - Tho Falkland Islands' rock-hopper (so called from its jumping from rock to rock) comes up from the sea about the middle of October, and lays the first week in November. Like the other penguins, they return to the same breedinggrounds. These are situated on high cliffy slopes near the sea, and with a fresh-water stream running near, in which the birds constantly wash themselves. like the gentoos, continually going to and returning from the salt water. occupied by some of the breeding-places is nearly 500 yards long by about 50 broad, and their eggs lie so close together that it is almost impossible to walk through without breaking some of them. I have often wondered, on disturbing these birds and driving them away from their eggs, how, on their return, they would pick out their own among so many hundreds. Yet this they do, walking back straight to their eggs, and getting them between their legs with the utmost care, fixing them in the bare space between the feathers in the centre of the lower part of their belly, and gradually lowering themselves till their breasts touch the ground, the male bird of each pair standing upright alongside of the female.- Ibis,' ii. 337.

Rare Fishes occurring at Weston-super-Mare.— Amongst a host of other small fry the following fish have been obtained by me since the end of June, from the shrimp and other nets, at Weston-super-Mare, in the Bristol Channel :

White Goby (Gobius albus). One specimen. Two other gobies, differing from those figured in Yarrell's History of British Fishes,' one probably Gobius auratus. Argentine (Scopelus Humboldtii). Seven specimens.

Clupea macrocephala, Swainson. One specimen.

Long Flounder (Platessa elongata). Two specimens.

Anglesea Morris (Leptocephalus Morrisii). Four specimens.

? (Leptocephalus ?

?). One specimen. This differs in so many

respects from the Anglesea Morris that further examination will, I think, prove it to be a distinct species.