cetacea.
The Common Rorqual on Lincolnshire Coast.—An example of the Common Rorqual, Balænoptera musculus, came ashore at North Cotes on Nov. 2nd, 1896. It was first seen by a Grimsby fishing-smack in a dead or dying condition floating in the North Sea and towed into the Humber by means of a hawser attached to its tail. Before, however, it reached Great Grimsby the tail came off, with the result that the carcass went ashore as above stated. The animal measured about forty feet in length. — G.H. Caton Haigh (Grainsby Hall, Great Grimsby).
Correction.—Mr. T. Southwell desires to correct a local and a vessel's name in his "Notes on the Seal and Whale Fishery, 1896":—p. 58, line 4, for Fogs Head read Fogo Head; line 14 from foot, for 'Arctic' read 'Active.'
AVES.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo in the Isle of Wight.—In 'The Zoologist' for 1896 (p. 473) I mentioned the reported occurrence of Coccyzus americanus at Ventnor in October. I have since, through the kindness of Mr. Smith, at Newport, and Mr. Kent, at Ventnor, been able to verify this report. Mr. Smith writes:—"I beg to say there is no doubt whatever as to the proper identification of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo; it was found dead at a cottage-door by Mr. Kent, of Old Park, Ventnor, who may let you see it if you still have a doubt." Answering my letter asking for particulars, Mr. Kent writes:—"I picked up the bird early in October, 1896. It was lying in the pathway outside my door. The place is in an exposed situation, and about 400 yards from the sea facing west. There had been a storm and strong winds from the west, and most probably the bird was drifted here by the force of the wind coming across the sea. It could not have been dead more than an hour or so, as it was in a perfect state of preservation, and an hour previous was not in the place where I found it. The bird is an adult male." I have not actually heard of the occurrence of this bird in the Isle of Wight before, but several instances of its appearance in Devonshire and other counties on that coast are known.—G.W. Smith (College, Winchester).
Egg of South African Golden Cuckoo in Nest of Cape Wagtail.—For some four years past a pair of Cape Wagtails, Motacilla capensis, have nested in the shrubs in my garden, and have generally succeeded in rearing a fairly large family during the season. They are so tame as to come within a couple of yards of the observer when in search of the insects upon which they feed. This season they have nested in a hedge consisting of roses and pomegranates, and have been somewhat seriously imposed upon. A female Golden Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus, has deposited an egg in the
