by supposing that it crept into some crab's hole, of which there were many in the hard mud of the bank. And the fact that it does resort to a similar means of concealment, namely, a rat's hole in the bank of a ditch, renders this supposition less improbable. The fact to which I allude is the capture of a grebe by my father, many years ago. He saw it go into the hole and caught it there. I have shot others of the genus— the tippet-grebe &c.—from a boat in the larger creeks aud channels of the sea, as well as at some distance from the coast: but I never met with the little grebe in any part of the salt water, except the pools above named. That their transit to these haunts from the "fleets" mentioned by Mr. Parsons, occasions them but little trouble, I cannot doubt, from the frequency of their indulgence in the aerial trips above mentioned, in which, moreover, they proved themselves possessed of both strength and considerable rapidity of flight. And having thus conducted them over the sea-wall " strength" of their wings, I bid my amusing little friends heartily farewell, wishing them "good luck to their fishing.”—Id.

on the

Note on the occurrence of the Crested Grebe in Middlesex. I have received a specimen of the great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus), which was shot in that part of the Thames called Penton-hook, near Laleham, Middlesex. It is a young bird in its first winter, and consequently the crest is imperfect. Whole length 22 inches, from the carpal joint to end of the longest feathers 8 inches. I mention this because it is the first I ever knew captured in this part of the country.-F. A. Chennell; Stoke, Guildford, February 16, 1844.

Note on the occurrence of the Iceland Gull at Yarmouth. The occurrence of the Iceland gull so far south as Yarmouth, is so rare, that a notice of its capture, though not recent, will perhaps be interesting. Three birds of this species were killed near the harbour's mouth on the 14th of January, 1830, by Mr. D. B. Preston of this town, and several others were obtained about the same time, one of which was in adult plumage. I learn from Mr. Preston that the birds which he killed were all immature, apparently in the plumage of the second year, and he adds that they are immediately known by their flight, which resembles that of a hawk. I should have mentioned in my notice of the fire-crested Regulus, that it forms an addition to the list of birds found in this neighbourhood.-William R. Fisher; Great Yarmouth, February 7, 1844.

A Fauna of Moray. By the Rev. G. GORDON.

(Concluded from p. 429)

II. BIRDS.

THE Province of Moray, particularly that part of it which surrounds its capital, the town of Elgin, has been long famed for the salubrity of its climate. Its Ornithology, as shown in the following list, will not detract from this celebrity. And perhaps by no more impartial or stronger criterion could it be tested. The Grampians may prevent the more tender plants of southern Floras from crossing their lofty range, but they present no barrier to the migrations of the feathered tribes in search of a genial summer clime. The growth and flourish

ing of exotics are often liable to challenge, as sufficient proof, on the score of their suspected natural hardihood or of the artificial heat or protection they may receive: or, the favouring tradition, or the love of fatherland, might unconsciously influence the native, or make sceptical the foreigner; but no such prepossessions or antipathies can regulate the determinations of any species of bird to select our woods or waters for their winter abodes. The stated occurrence here in summer of the quail, the redstart, &c., and the permanent or winter residence of the creeper, the golden-crested wren, the two Motacilla, and some others, mark the superiority of the "flat of Moray" over the same parallels, and even over many a more southern degree of latitude. The knowledge of the Ornithology of Moray was greatly extended by the discoveries of the late Henry S. Foljambe, Esq., of Nottingham, who, during the few years that he resided at Grant-lodge, in the vicinity of Elgin, detected many species formerly unknown to the Province. Possessing an intimate acquaintance with many branches of Natural History, this department seemed to be his favourite study. Having devoted his leisure hours, while in England, to the observation of their characters and habits, he was able at once to point out and name several distinct species which had hitherto been overlooked or mistaken by observers in this district of Scotland.

When a

Golden eagle, Aquila Chrysaetos. Resident only in the alpine districts of the Province, and even there becoming more scarce every year through the unremitting warfare waged against them by the shepherd and gamekeeper. A splendid specimen was trapped last year on Lord Cawdor's moors, in the Streens on the Findhorn. nest with young has been discovered, a most barbarous practice is in some places adopted. The poor fledgelings are maimed, shackled, or have ligatures tied tightly around different parts of their bodies, so as to make them keep up a constant screaming. The parents, thinking that this arises from the cravings of hunger, cease not to bring in a supply, chiefly of grouse, which, being unheeded by the tortured family, are daily carried off by their inhuman tormentor, in numbers and with an ease not experienced by any other mode of poaching.

The Erne, A. albicilla. The southern shores of the Moray-frith afford no cliffs suitable for the permanent abode of this species; but stragglers have been occasionally seen. A few years ago Mr. Martin observed one in a disabled state on the sandy beach near Innes-house, which was supposed to have been the one afterwards taken in the neighbourhood of Pitgaveny.

Osprey, A. Haliaetos. Builds on the ruins of the castle in Lochaneilan, Badenoch-the "Lochandhu" of Sir Thos. Dick Lauder. The nest of the osprey has also been found at Almore, in Glenmore, by Mr. Grigor, Forres; and the bird itself along the line of the Caledonian canal.

Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus. Occasionally met with in the upland districts. Many specimens have at different times been killed at the falls of Glenlatterach, and especially in 1834, 5, 6 and 8, when one or two were annually obtained by Mr. Foljambe.

Merlin, or stone falcon, F. Esalon. Not unfrequent throughout the county. It is generally seen to skim along the ground, and to perch on dikes, and the larger stones and mole-hills. Although one of our smallest hawks, yet the merlin often pursues and strikes down the partridge for its prey.

Kestril, windhover, F. Tinnunculus.

This is the most abundant

of the hawk tribe at all seasons of the year; often seen about rocks and precipitous cliffs, where it builds, as at Covesea, &c. Feeding chiefly on mice and insects, it is of much more service by their destruction than the damage, if any, done to the young of poultry or game; yet it is as ruthlessly persecuted, and its extirpation as eagerly desired, as that of some of its really injurious congeners.

Sparrow-hawk, Accipiter fringillarius. In the north of Scotland the kestril and merlin share the name of sparrow-hawk in common with this species.

Kite, Milvus Ictinus. Sparingly diffused over the more wooded parts of the country. A beautiful specimen, noticed by Professor M'Gillivray in his work on the Rapacious Birds, was killed in the wood near Cawdor-castle, where it had its nest, in 1832. Another was killed by Mr. Foljambe's gamekeeper, in the hill near Rothes, in 1838.

Common buzzard, Buteo vulgaris. Although regarded as a common British bird, yet it is believed that its actual occurrence in this district was first ascertained by Mr. Foljambe, whose gamekeeper trapped three specimens in the hills between Rothes and Knockando.

Hen harrier, " Grey gled," B. cyaneus. The most abundant and destructive of our larger hawks. Resident throughout the year; and in common with the peregrine falcon, buzzard and kite, has the name of" gled" applied to it. It is the male that is the "

grey gled." Long-eared owl, Otus vulgaris. This appears to be by far the most abundant species of the owl tribe in this part of Scotland. It is resi

dent, and almost invariably the species found in the keeping of our

young bird-fanciers.

Short-eared owl, O. brachyotos.

"One killed between Elgin and

the Mannoch-hill in 1836," Mr. Foljambe.

White owl, Strix flammea. "A live specimen taken at Pluscarden

in 1836," Mr. Foljambe.

Tawny owl, Syrnium Aluco.

Foljambe.

"Killed near Elgin in 1837," Mr.

Snowy owl, Noctua nyctea. In the spring of 1833, after a severe gale from the north-east, an individual of this rare and splendid species of owl was wounded and caught among the sands of Culbin. Supposed to have been driven by the storm from the Shetland or Orkney Isles. Another specimen of this beautiful bird was found about four years ago on the shore of the Moray-firth near Innes house driven likely from the Northern Isles, also by stress of weather.

Cinereous shrike, Lanius Excubitor. Of two specimens known to have been seen north of the Grampians, one is now in the Elgin museum, and was presented by the Rev. C. W. Barclay, of Easter Calcots, where it was killed in December, 1836. "This shrike was also shot at Glenmoriston in Lochness, in November, 1843, by Mr. Birkinshaw, gamekeeper to Sir H. Meux, Bart." Mr. Snowie, Inverness. Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa grisola.

Discovered by Mr. Foljambe at Grant-lodge, Elgin, where it is a regular summer visitor. Two pair hatched their young there in 1838.

Water-ouzel, "Water-cock," Cinclus aquaticus.

Frequent on the

Lossie and other streams, where it remains all the year. The rocks of Kellas on the Lossie is a favorite haunt of the ouzel: it was observed there, by one of the water-bailiffs, to contend with the common trout in carrying off and eating the ova of the sea-trout (Salmo Trutta), even at the very time that the latter (the sea-trout) was lying and shedding its spawn on the "redds" or spawning-ground. From its known partiality to, and destruction of the spawn of, the salmon tribe, this bird has probably obtained no enviable place in the following ancient distich :

-

"The Gordon, the guile, and the water-craw,

Are the three warst ills that Moray ever saw."

The hooded crow is sometimes erroneously substituted for the watercrow or ouzel in these lines. The former, it is believed, is a comparatively late importation from the western shores of Scotland, and in Moray has only increased in consequence of the extended plantations of fir which afford it shelter. The "guile" is Chrysanthemum sege

tum, a weed which must have been very destructive to corn-fields under the old system of husbandry: while the "Gordon," as well as the neighbouring Highland clans, no doubt paid a visit to "the bonny land of Moray, where," it is said that of old, “every man might take his prey."

Missel thrush, Turdus viscivorus. Often mistaken for the common thrush, and on that account deemed less common than it really is. "Breeds every season at Grant-lodge &c.," Mr. Foljambe.

Fieldfare, "Feltifer," T. pilaris. In Mudie's 'Feathered Tribes' Moray is justly particularized as a favorite winter haunt of this bird. Before the frosts set in it keeps to the open fields, and after that they eagerly seek the fruit of the mountain-ash and hawthorn.

Common thrush, "Mavis," T. musicus. Abundant wherever there is any plantation or natural brush-wood, and resident throughout the

year.

Red-wing, T. iliacus. A winter visitant, often mistaken for the preceding. "Seen at Grant-lodge in 1839," Mr. Foljambe.

Blackbird, T. Merula.

Ring-ouzel, T. torquatus. A regular summer visitor, but only seen sparingly dispersed over the range of hills immediately above the cultivated districts, where it remains and breeds.

Hedge-sparrow, "Wren," Accentor modularis. Common, resident. "Robin Redbreast," Sylvia Rubecula. Redstart, S. Phænicurus.

An interesting addition made to our Fauna by Mr. Foljambe, who observed it remaining throughout the summers of 1834, 5, and 8, at Grant-lodge, near Elgin, where it annually brought out its young. It is not known to have been met with elsewhere in Scotland north of the Grampians. Dumfriesshire has been recorded as a locality for it, and this is not the only species said to be confined in Scotland to the counties of Elgin and Dumfries.

Sedge-warbler, S. Phragmitis. Not uncommon during summer in marshy and sedgy grounds, where it continues its song throughout the whole nights of Midsummer.

Blackcap warbler, S. atricapilla. "Frequents Grant-lodge; bred there in 1838," Mr. Foljambe.

Greater pettychaps, S. hortensis.

Foljambe.

"Seen at Grant-lodge," Mr.

"Frequents whins in the neigh

Whitethroat, S. cinerea. "Met with in summer," Mr. Martin.

Lesser whitethroat, S. Curruca.

bourhood of Elgin," Mr. Foljambe.