their comparative Numbers and Distribution. 625 



I was told this morning that, about two months ago, a per- 

 son offered to the son of my informant " a curious little owl, 

 no bigger than a starling," which had been just knocked down 

 in the county of Essex. The youth not caring to have it, it 

 was offered to another person for 2s. ; who refusing, however, 

 to give Is. 6d. for the specimen, did not obtain it. What 

 finally became of this rara avis, I could not hear ; but, most 

 probably, it was thrown away. Mr. Rennie has seen one of 

 the A'octuae nailed up against a barn in Wiltshire. 



The Swift, and the three species of swallow, are all plentiful 

 in this part of Surrey. I have already noticed, in a former 

 number of this Magazine, the fact of a few individuals of the 

 white-bellied swift, being several times seen to mingle in flight 

 with the common species. 



The Motheater, or Nightjar, is by no means uncommon 

 in the wilder districts. They are occasionally met with near 

 this place ; whence I conclude that they sometimes range to 

 considerable distances for food. I have heard one emit its 

 cry during bright sunshine, at about four o'clock in the after- 

 noon. In the daytime, they frequently sit on lichen- covered 

 palings, and sometimes on hedges ; and will permit of a very 

 near approach. A large proportion of them do not arrive 

 till June i and they are now and then met with late in October. 

 A few seasons ago, at the time of the autumn migration, two 

 or three of them were seen, for above an hour, one evening, 

 playing about opposite the wall of the King's Bench Prison. 



The Kingfisher is not very rare, and would be abundant, 

 were it not to be continually shot down by bird-stufFers and 

 others. I have known it breed a considerable distance from 

 any water. 



The Collarless Pyet, or Pied Flycatcher, is in these parts a 

 very rare summer visitant, arriving in the first week in April. 

 I have known but of two instances of its breeding in this 

 neighbourhood. It is remarkably attached to the place it has 

 once selected for nidification. 



The Grey Flycatcher abounds. The major part arrive about 

 the second week in May, and many remain till the second 

 week in October, being one of the latest of our summer visit- 

 ants to retire. 



The Ash-coloured, or Sentinel Shrike. One was shot, the 

 winter before last, near this place; and I suspect that another 

 was seen last winter. 



The Flusher Shrike is a moderately plentiful species, making 

 its appearance about the first week in May, and departing in 

 September. After, I think, the second general moulting, the 

 females assume the livery of the male bird, and continue to 



