AMERICAN MEADOW-STARLING. 245 



STURNELLA LUDOVICIANA (Linnteus). 



AMEEICAN MEADOW-STARLING. 



The first example of tliis handsome species known 

 to have been killed in the British isles (or, I believe, in 

 Europe), was obtained in Suffolk in the spring of 1860, 

 as recorded in the " Ibis" for the following year (vol. iii., 

 p. 177) by Mr. Sclater, the indefatigable secretary of 

 the Zoological Society. In the interesting paper in 

 which the above fact is communicated, the same gentle- 

 man also refers to the appearance, on several occasions 

 in 1854, at South Walsham, in this county, of a similar 

 bird, and from the authority on which tliis further 

 evidence is given, I feel justified in placing it also in the 

 Norfolk " List." The following are the particulars given 

 by Mr. Sclater of the occurrence of this rarity in both this 

 and the adjoining county : — " A short time ago the Rev. 

 Henry Temple Frere, of Burston rectory, near Diss, in 

 Norfolk, forwarded for my inspection a specimen of the 

 Meadow- Starling of North America (Sturnella ludovi- 

 ciana), stated to have been killed in this country in the 

 course of last year. Its plumage was in fine condition, 

 and did not show the slightest traces of the bird having 

 been in captivity. Indeed, though living examples of 

 this species have been occasionally brought to this 

 country, the meadow-starling is certainly not an ordi- 

 nary cage bird. I may mention that the aviaries of 

 the Zoological Society of London do not at present 

 contain a specimen of it. Being convinced, therefore, 

 that if the bird had really been killed in England it 

 might be regarded as a fresh addition to the already 

 numerous list of "accidental visitors" to these shores 

 from the New World, I requested Mr. Frere kindly to 



