142 NOTES—ORIGINAL AND SELECTED.
Bridge, at the sight of a large number of porpoises sporting themselves in the
Thames close by the bridge. Their antics were most amusing. After remain-
ing for a time in the vicinity of the bridge, they made off in the direction of
Westminster, It is an indication of the improving condition of the Thames
that this gregarious Cetacean, common enough off the Essex coast, should
ascend so far up London's river. The porpoises probably did so in the
pursuit of some kinds of fish.
AVES.
Little Owl (Athene noctua, Scopoli), at Harlow.—A specimen of this
exceedingly rare bird is reported (in the Essex County Chronicle for October
27th, 1899), as having been caught in a rabbit trap at Harlow. It is in the
hands of Messrs. Tyler and Ringer, of Bishop Stortford, for preservation.
We hope to obtain further details. The bird has only occurred about 20
times in England, and according to Mr. Saunders there is some doubt as to
the truly wild nature of at least some of these examples. In Essex, according
to Christy (Birds of Essex, 161), the only really authentic specimen is that in
Mr. G. P. Hope's collection at Havering Grange, found dead in a plantation
in Chigwell, in 1865.
The Sea-Gulls on the Thames.— "London's sea-gulls have just returned
to town, and the pigeons on the Embankment, near Blackfriars Bridge, are
once more turning green with envy. The gulls have nearly all arrived, and
yesterday (October 12th), during the dinner hour, the bridge and the
Embankment near it were lined with spectators, who threw morsels of food to
the welcome birds. The gulls—there were a couple of hundred of them—
wheeled about in the air in thorough enjoyment of the fun, and screamed
shrilly as they swooped down and carried off the scraps. The game lasted
about an hour, and everybody enjoyed it—except the hundred pigeons who
live on the Embankment, near Blackfriars Bridge, all the year round. To the
pigeons the winter brings feelings of disgust and despair. The gulls turn up
in scores and monopolise public attention, and the pigeons vainly endeavour,
in their longing for notoriety, to try and look like sea-gulls. They start below
the bridge, come flying up at lightning speed, and then, spreading their
wings, try and float about in the air like their more buoyant antagonists.
But it generally ends in failure. A sudden gust upsets the sailing pigeon's
balance, and either flings him perilously near the bridge or sweeps him away
up stream."—Daily Mail, October 13th, 1899. A note by Mr. Howard Saun-
ders, on the species of Gulls frequenting the Thames during the last three or
four years, will be found in the last volume (E. N., vol. x., p. 392). The
Gulls are now (November) very much in evidence in the air opposite Somer-
set House ; they may be seen also by dozens resting on the floating barges
keenly on the look-out for passing food.—B. G.Cole.
BATRACHIA
Palmated Newt (Molge palmata) at Buckhurst Hill, Essex.—During
a hunt for pond animals in this neighbourhood in June last, I was
delighted to find Molge palmata somewhat commonly. The merit of first
discovering the species in the Forest belongs to Dr. G. A. Boulanger, F.R.S.,
who found it in a small pit near Chingford Station (see Essex Naturalist
vol. 1., p. 8). This pretty newt will probably be detected in other parts of