Vertebrata. Zoological Collections. 299 



still feel very diffident as to its claim to rank as a British bird in tbe list of 

 rare and occasional visitants, being one of those species very generally kept 

 in ponds and artificial pieces of water, and, unless pinioned, veiy apt to fiy 

 and roam abroad. These birds, I know, are kept in considerable numbers 

 at Gosforth, the seat of the Earl of Wemyss, no very great distance from 

 Berwick, where they annually breed, and, as I am informed, are never 

 pinioned, or have their wings cut, but are in the constant habit of flying 

 about the park ; I therefore feel strongly inclined to suspeet, that the five 

 individuals which appeared upon the Fern Islands in Feb. 1830, four of which 

 were killed by the keeper of the lighthouse, and the late one from the Tweedy 

 were birds which had escaped, or quitted this state of semi-domestication 5 

 and this supposition is farther strengthened by the tameness they exhibited* 

 allowing, without difficulty, of a near approach. — P. J. Selbij. 



Additions to the Catalogue of British Birds. By William Yarrell, Esq. 



1. Falco rufipes, (Bechstein.) — Ingrian falcon of Latham, Si/n. vol. i, 

 p. 102 ; orange-legged hobby. Lath. Sijn. Sup. vol. ii, p. 46 ; faucon a 

 pieds rouges, Temm. Mail. vol. i, p. 38. 



Three examples of this small falcon were observed together at Homing 

 in Norfolk, in the month of May, 1830, and, fortunately, all three were 

 obtained. On examination, they proved to be an adult male and female, 

 and a young male in immature plumage. A fourth specimen, a female, has 

 also been shot in Holkham Park ; and others will probably be found in 

 preserved collections, on close examination, as some little difficulty occurs in 

 detecting them, from their resemblance to other British species. The old 

 male is somewhat like our hobby, but smaller ; and the female resembles the 

 merlin. A figure of the male, in the Planches enluminees of BufFon, No. 431, 

 is called " variete singuliere du hobreau." A living female is now in the 

 garden of the Zoological Society in the Regent's Park, which was brought 

 from the European continent during the last summer ; and I possess a male 

 and female preserved, which were given me by my friend Mr John Morgan. 

 These last were brought from Russia, where they are said to be plentiful. 



2. Alauda alpestris, (Linn.) — Shore lark of Pennant's Arctic Zoologj/, 

 vol. ii, p. 392, and of Lath. Si/n. vol. iv, p. 385 ; alouette a hausse-col noir, 

 Tem. Mayiu d'Orn. vol. i, p. 279; Wilson's Birds of the United StateSy 

 vol. i, p. 85, plate 5, fig. 4. 



A specimen of this lark was killed on the beach near Sherringham, in 

 March last, which passed into the hands of Mr Sims of Norwich, by Avhora 

 it was preserved ; and it is now in the collection of Edward Lombe, Esq. 

 of Great Melton, who also possesses one of the males of Falco rufipes, before 

 mentioned. The north of Europe and Asia is frequented by this lark ; and 

 Wilson gives a characteristic description and representation of it among his 

 Birds of the United States, vol. i, p. 85, plate 5, fig. iv. 



3. Western Duck, {Anas Stelleri of Pallas. ) — Anas occidua of the Naturalises 

 Miscellajiy, No. 34 ; western duck of Pennant's Arctic Zoology, vol. ii, 

 p. 497, plate 23 ; id. Lath. Srjn. vol. vi, p. 532 ; id. Lath. Supp. vol. i, 

 p. 275 ; anas dispar. Lath. Ind. Orn. vol. ii, p. 866, sp. 83. 



A male of this beautiful species was shot by a collector near Yarmouth, 

 and is now in the possession of a gentleman at Acle. This bird has been 

 found on the western coast of America ; it is also an inhabitant of Kamt- 

 schatka, where it breeds among rocks. It is said to fly in flocks, confining 

 itself to the sea-coast, and near the mouths of large rivers. M. Temminck 

 has not included this species in his manual of the birds of Europe. 



4. Sterna Caspia of Pallas. — Id. Lath. Ind. Orn. vol. ii, p. 803, sp. 1 ; 

 Caspian tern of Pennant's Arct. Zool. vol. ii, p. 526 ; id. Lath. Syn. vol. vi, 

 p. 350 ; hirondelle-de-mer tschegrava, Tem. Man. d" Orn. vol. ii, p. 733. 



Two examples of this tern, the largest of the European species, have been 

 killed at Yarmouth : one of them is in the collection of a gentleman residing 



