46 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. x. 



In spite of this fiat contradiction by the Rev. A. C. Smith, 

 Howard Saunders wrote (Manual, 1st edition, p. 479) : " still 

 maintain themselves in Wiltsliire," and repeated this state- 

 ment in the second edition of the Manual (p. 493). Sub- 

 sequent writers have followed Saunders ; thus the Hand-List 

 (p. 215) says " some Wilts," while the new B.O.U. List (p. 317) 

 assures us that "in Wiltshire it has become very scarce," 



It seems impossible to think that Howard Saimders would 

 have made such definite statements unless he had some 

 reliable information ; but where this came from I cannot tell, 

 and Mr. Eagle Clarke can give me no help from Saunders's 

 notes. At all events, absolutely the last Wiltshire specimen 

 of the bird was a Greyhen which was killed against wire near 

 Warminster on April 8th, 1906, as recorded in the Field of 

 the following week. G. Bathurst Hony. 



[Mr. J. E. HartJng in the 2nd Edition of his Handbook 

 of British Birds (p. 133, 1901) gives the followmg list of 

 Wiltshire localities for this species : — " Winterslow Woods 

 and EUesbourne formerly ; Redholm, Vale of Pewsey and 

 Compton Bassett ; occasional stragglers from Hants and 

 Somerset." As Mr. Hartmg in the 1st Edition oi the Hand- 

 book (p. 38, 1872) does not mention Wiltshire, the above 

 statement is probably fomided on notes contributed to the 

 Field in the interim. Possibly this was the source of Howard 

 Saunders's information. — F. C. R, Joijrdain.] 



LAND-RAILS IN SOMERSET. 

 In comiexion with the recent enquiry into the status of the 

 Land-Rail (Crex crex) in the British Isles (Vol. VIII., pp. 83- 

 92), it may be worth recording that we have had more Com- 

 Crakes this spring (1916) in this district than we have had 

 for many years. For a fortnight, or more, two or three birds 

 were calling incessantly in the meadows romid iny house, 

 in the parish of Weare, and I heard others in the neighbour- 

 hood. I am afraid most of these birds have passed on, as I 

 have only heard one of them lately. H. W. Mapleton . 



British Tree-Creeper est Lewis, Outer Hebrides. — 

 Mr. W. E. Clarke records [Scot. Nat., 1916, p. 76) that an 

 example of Certhia f. brittanica was accidentally killed in a 

 stack of hay at Galson, Lewis, on October 13th, 1915, during 

 a terrific gale, by which it had no doubt been blown to the 

 island. 



Late Stay of Great Grey Shrike in Essex. — ^Mr. W. 

 Howlett states [Fie^d 3.6. '16, p. 881) that he saw a Lanius 

 excubitor at Chingford, Essex, on May 24th, 1916 — a very late 

 date. 



