LETTERS 



To the Editors of British Birds. 

 THE " IRISH JAY." 



Sirs, — The first reference to the coloration of Irish specimens 

 ■of the common EngUsh Jay is in a MS. note of the late Mr. A. G. More 

 in his owTi interleaved copy in mj^ possession of his List of Irish Birds 

 ■contained in the Science and Art Museum, Dublin, 1885. It runs thus : — 

 " The Irish Jay is of a warmer and richer colour than the English 

 bird. E.W." " E.W." stands for Edward Williams, whose practical 

 knowledge of Irish birds was extensive and reliable. The inference 

 of doubt due to the word " thinks " in the quotation in British Birds, 

 Vol. IV., p. 234, is absent. 



In the second edition of the same list, 1890, which contains the first 

 published mention of the distinction, it is referred to thus : — -" Mr. 

 Edward Williams has noticed that the Irish Jay is of a warmer and 

 richer colour than the English bird." 



Thus it will be seen that Williams drew our attention nearly thirty 

 years ago to a distinction which we were since all familiar with, and 

 which is now made responsible for yet another trinomial in the British 

 bird list. The perplexity and confusion which have resulted from the 

 never-ending multiplication of varieties were, I suppose, inevitable, 

 but it will end in a common English name being the best method of 

 identification. Richd. M. B.ajirington. 



Fassaroe, Bray, 



To the Editors of British Birds. 

 WARBLER WITH DOUBLE-BARRED WIXG IX SUSSEX. 



Sirs, — On December 31st, 1910, in the company of Midshipman 

 •Charles V. Jack, H.M.S. " Agamemnon " — a very competent and 

 careful field-naturalist — I was walking along the road between Seaford 

 and Litlington, Sussex, when my attention was drawn to a small, 

 warbler-like bird which was feeding in some low brambles quite close 

 to the roadside. It invariably tried to take its prey on the wing, but 

 the day was cold and raw, with a southerly wind, so that an occasional 

 gnat was its only chance. 



We watched it for nearly fifteen minutes. The whole of the jjlumage 

 was oUve or greenish, including the breast, which, however, paled off 

 towards the belly. There was a very distinct white band over the eye, 

 and two bands on the wing, and the bird was in size midway between a 

 Goldcrest and a Willow- Wren, but was short and squat. 



I took it to be a Yellow-browed Warbler, except that the breast was 

 so dark. Perhaps a correspondent can help me ? I tried to secure it 

 next day, but it was nowhere to be found. 



I may say in conclusion that the Black Redstart is quite abundant 

 here this winter. Xorman Gilroy. 



Seaford, Sussex. 



