MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES, 139 



smaller sizes are not. You cannot be too neat in this respect, or in any 

 other. The labels should be put in very straight and evenly, and the pin 

 as near as may be in the centre of each, the ends being kept down flat 

 on the paper. I also cut the names of the authors off, to this end. It 

 is quite sufficient to have them in the book. 

 April 2lst., 1856. 



Snow Bunting, (Emberiza nivalis.) — As I see a good many ornithological 

 notices in "The Naturalist," I thought it might be worth while to mention 

 that on April 10th., -a Snow Bunting was brought to me by a coast-guards- 

 man, still warm. I have never before met with this bird on the south 

 coast so late in the spring, and it was far advanced towards full summer 

 plumage, retaining only a very faint tinge of brown on the top of the 

 head, a tiny speck of brown on the back, and the white tips of the black 

 feathers on the back. It was a most delicate and beautiful little creature. 

 In hard weather I have repeatedly met with Snow Buntings, but never 

 before at this time, and Swansland, of Brighton, who has preserved the 

 bird, considers it very rare on this coast at this time. — -R. 1^. Dennis, 

 Rectory, Blatchington, Seaford, Sussex, April 17th., 185G. 



Bewick's Swan. — The same coast-guardsman brought me (March 4th.) a 

 specimen of Bewick's Swan, just killed in a neighbouring river: the first 

 Sussex-killed specimen recorded. It still retained a little rust-colour on 

 the head, and a grey feather 'or two on the body. Probably it would 

 have attained its full plumage this spring. — Idem. 



Mealy Redpole. — Two of these beautiful little birds, the Mealy Redpole, 

 paid us a short visit in this neighbourhood on the 16th. of March last, 

 the weather being very cold, and remained with us several days, the chief 

 place of their rendezvous being a small yard, where a hay-stack had stood, 

 surrounded by a high wall, well sheltered from the east and north-easi 

 wind, which blew very keenly from that quarter during their stay with 

 us. They seemed to relish the seeds that had fallen from the hay. So 

 tame were they, and the wind blowing so keenly, that they allowed me 

 to approach within five or six yards of them, to examine their plumage, 

 which was of a lightish grey, and the red upon their head was beautiful. 

 They appeared to be only visitants here, and as soon as the weather cleared 

 up, left us. Their notes are tunable and shrill, not unlike those of the 

 Canary-bird. Having a desire to take one of them alive to examine, two 

 traps were laid for them, but both failed. Like the other species, the 

 Twite, of which we have many here, they are particularly fond of the 

 seeds of hay, which were plentifully supplied to them, and of these they 



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