360 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



A bird that has been in captivity and has escaped or been 

 released is obviously not entitled to inclusion, unless it succeeds 

 in establishing itself, remaining to breed and so becoming a 

 resident species. Many ornithologists, including those serving 

 on the B.O.U. Committee who drew up the latest list, are 

 hardly consistent on this point. The Little Owl, Red-legged 

 Partridge and Pheasant are in most lists ; the Canada Goose 

 is generally thrown out on the argument that it must have 

 escaped from ornamental waters. Vet the Canada, undoubtedly 

 originally introduced, lives a perfectly free and unartificial life 

 in many districts, acknowledging no owner and annually rearing 

 broods of " wild " geese. Some who reject this bird include the 

 Mute Swan. 



As stated in the Introduction, the belief has been strong for 

 many generations that no land bird can, unaided, cross the 

 Atlantic, although it is known that certain species, such as the 

 White Wagtail and Wheatear, breed in Greenland and pro- 

 bably annually reach us via Iceland and the Faroes, and an 

 American Redpoll is supposed to have used this route. The 

 repeated appearance of a number of American waders, of two 

 cuckoos and a Goshawk, have modified this view, but it is still 

 strong against many species. It appears to me to be inconsistent 

 to conclude that any American bird must have escaped from cap- 

 tivity, and to accept as genuine unaided wanderers many species, 

 however far they may be from their home or normal migration 

 routes, if they have reached us from the east. The argument of 

 assisted passage should apply to Asiatic and African as well as 

 American species. It is true that these last, when out of their 

 course, have often taken temporary refuge on eastward-bound 

 vessels. In August, 1913, two large curlews, probably the Long- 

 billed Curlew, joined the ill-fated Liisitaniawhen ^yo miles east 

 of the "Banks," and flew alongside for two days. My in- 

 formant, an experienced wild-fowler, did not see them come 

 aboard, but suspected that they rested on the ship at night ; he 



