57 
of Ireland got as far as 8 degrees west longitude, or thereabouts, 
and this represents in round figures about 4,500 English miles. 
How much further they might have gone if they had not been 
brought up by the Atlantic Ocean it is impossible to say. Professor 
Newton estimates the number of the birds which thus visited 
Europe in 1863 to be 700; and the total number out of these 
which were killed at 500 or thereabouts. The strong indignation 
which the Professor expresses at this wholesale and reckless slaughter 
cannot but be reciprocated by everyone who is at all interested in 
birds and their habits. Professor Newton adds that of these 
500 birds those which were killed in France were mostly eaten ; 
those which were killed in Germany were mostly preserved, but 
in public museums; while those killed in England were mostly 
preserved, but in private collections. The national characteristics 
of the French, German, and English nations thus showed themselves 
even in that comparatively small matter. As regards England, I 
can supplement Professor Newton’s remark by sayinz that there is 
not, at this moment, a single specimen of this species, killed in the 
British Islands, either in the British Museum or in the Museum of 
the College of Surgeons. 
To return to the English birds. It would be very tedious to 
give you a detailed list of all the birds seen and killed in England 
in the summer and autumn of 1853. They are all carefully recorded 
by Professor Newton, in an admirable article in ‘ The [bis "’ of 1864, 
and by Mr. Stephenson, in his work on the Birds of Norfolk, vol. 1, 
p-p. 376 to 404, from both of which articles I have borrowed freely. 
The Scotch specimens are recorded by Mr. Gray in his birds of the 
West of Scotland, p.p. 238 to 240. It will be enough for our 
present purpose if I tell you that between May, 186%, and the 
early part of 1864, a very large number were seen, and about 250 
were killed in various parts of the United Kingdom. | The last of 
these was obtained at Haverford West, on 8th February, 1864. 
The largest flock seen at any one place was one of 100, which was 
seen at Oswestry. 
It is quite possible that some of these birds may have bred 
here in 1863. ‘They certainly bred, in June or July.ofthat year, in 
Denmark, as several nests and eggs were found on the East coast 
ef that country. ‘'hey are also stated to have bred in Holland, 
but no eggs or young birds have ever been seen in England. 
Two birds only are recorded as having been seen in Europe 
in 1864 after February 8th. One of these was killed on the 9th of 
February, 1864, and the other was caught alive in the following 
June. These were no doubt part of the flock of 1863. 
--No more of these birds were seen in England till 1872, A 
small flock are said to have appeared on tho Northumborland 
