NOTES, ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
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Whither were they wending their way? What birds were they? Perhaps
some of your readers can answer these questions." These were clearly not swans ;
we shall be glad to hear from any ornithological reader on the subject.—ED.].
The Immigration of Bustards during the Past Winter.—In the
"Zoologist" for March, Mr. Harting gives some interesting particulars of the
recent. visitation of Bustards, which recalls that of 1879-80 (during which a
Bustard was shot in Essex, see Trans. E.F.C, i. 59), when seven or eight speci-
mens were recorded in the "Zoologist." Details of the occurrence of seven birds
in different parts of England during the past winter are given by Mr. Harting,
including the one shot at Tillingham, in Essex, already noticed in the Essex
Naturalist (vol. iv. p. 214.) He refers to the curious fact that, although Bus-
tards formerly bred in England, it is not during the breeding season that they now
visit us ; they come as winter guests ; why, it is not easy to guess.
Flock of Wild Swans passing over the Lea, Jan. 19TH.—Drawn by H. A Cole.
Grey Phalarope at Stratford.—Mr. Arthur F. Gates, of Marsh Gate Lane,
Stratford, records in the "Zoologist" for March that a specimen of Phalaropus
fulicarius was shot on the marshes near Stratford on November 8th, 1890.
Supposed Occurrence of the Sand Lizard at Woodford : a Correc-
tion.—The specimen exhibited by Mr. Oldham at the meeting of the Club, on
November 8th last (E.N. vol. iv. p. 225), as a Sand Lizard (Lacerter agilis), has
been submitted by Dr. Laver to Mr. Boulanger of the British Museum, who
writes that it "is a South European species, L. muralis, possibly from Italy." The
lizard must have escaped from some vivarium or fern-case in Woodford, and the
supposed record of L. agilis must be struck out.