362 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



firmly believe that our advancing knowledge of the power of 

 flight of birds, when aided by strong wind, may prove that many 

 Western forms reach us accidentally, certainly, but by natural 

 means. 



Alpine Chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus (Linn.). Oxford, 

 1 88 1. Rejected as, probably, an escaped captive. Mr. Aplin 

 examined it in the flesh, and found no trace of captivity ; 

 though a sedentary species, it has wandered to Heligoland. It 

 should have the benefit of the doubt. 



Indian Mynah, Gracula 7-eligiosa (Linn.). An excellent 

 talker, frequently imported. All occurrences suspicious. 



Red-winged Starling, Agelaus phceniceus (Linn.). An 

 American species captured and shot many times — Mr. Harting 

 cites thirteen instances, and Yarrell and Newton included it 

 with reserve. It is a favourite cage-bird, and even the example 

 taken at the Nash Light, Glamorgan, may have escaped from 

 a ship, but time may prove that it can fly or be carried 1700 

 miles on a strong wind. 



Black Starling, Sttirmis imicolo?- Temm. Included by 

 Lydekker on the strength of a record in " The Country Side." 

 I investigated this record and believe that the bird was a 

 melanistic S. viilgai'is. 



Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula (Linn.). Shetland, 

 September, 1890. Supposed to have escaped from a ship. 

 Possibly, but it may have been wind-borne or wandered via 

 Greenland and Iceland. It is not fair argument that it has not 

 been met with in Greenland and that that is north of its normal 

 route, when we accept as British the Subalpine Warbler at 

 St. Kilda and Fair Island or the Masked Shrike in Kent. 



Meadow-Lark, Shwiiella magna (Linn.). 



Rusty Grackle, Euphagus carolinus (Miill.). 



Painted Bunting, Passerina ciris (Linn.). 



American Goldfinch, Astragaliims tristis (Linn.). All four 

 are American birds which had, presumably, been brought over 



