—=— ~~ Fre 
BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT. 303 
Pastor roseus. RoOSE-COLOURED STARLING. 
Mr. A. Dick notes that one was ‘‘killed at Point of Air 
(circ. December), 1862, at lighthouse.” [A.O.W.’s diary. | 
Pyrrhocorax graculus. CHouGH. 
PENNANT says: *‘ Several of the Welsh and Cornish families 
bear this bird in their coats of arms. It is found in Cornwall, 
Flinishire, Carnarvonshire, and Anglesey, on the cliffs and castles 
along the shores.” (Brit. Zoology, Ed. 1812, vol. t., p. 295+) 
Mr. R. NEWSTEAD suggests that it may have nested in Flint 
Castle; but the statement in ‘‘YARRELL” (British Birds, 
Ed. 4. tt., p. 255) that ‘‘round Wales a good many spots, 
chiefly in the counties of Glamorgan, Pembroke, Anglesey, 
Flini, and Denbigh, appear to be still inhabited by the Chough,” 
cannot, I feel sure, be now correct as regards the two last 
counties; still less Mr. SEEBoHm’s statement (Brit. Bds., vol. z., 
p. 576), that it still breeds in them. 
The latest record of its occurrence in our district, which I 
have been able to discover, is that of BRocKHOLES, who says— 
“« Some years ago I met with a flock of these birds in a field at 
Leasowe.” (Br. p. 8.) 
There is, however, evidence that it formerly bred in Denbigh- 
shire and on the Orme’s Heads. Monvacu states (Dict. of 
Brit. Birds, NewMan’s Ed., 1886, p. 41): “A pair of these 
birds had for many years bred in the ruins of Crow Castle, in 
the vale of Llangollen, in Denbighshire. By accident one of 
them was killed, and the other continued to haunt the same 
place for two or three years without finding another mate”; 
and the Rev. R. WILLIAMs writes in his “‘ History of Aberconwy,” 
published in 1835—‘“‘ Corvus graculus. Chough. Sran big Coch. 
These birds are rather numerous in this neighbourhood, and 
they breed on all the rocks.” 
* Nucifraga caryocatactes. NuTCRACKER. 
The first known occurrence of this species in the British Isles 
was in our district, being recorded by PENNANT as shot near 
Mostyn, Flintshire, October 5th, 1753 (British Zoology, ed. 1812, 
vol. t., p. 298.) 
We cannot boast of having this very ancient specimen in our 
Museum Collection, but we have a more recent one, a male 
(No. 1617), which was shot at Vale Royal, Delamere, Cheshire, 
in the year 1860, and sent in the flesh to the late Mr. Wm. 
Tuompson, of Chester, who afterwards sold it to Mr. A. O. 
WALKER. The exact date was unfortunately not kept. For this 
information I am indebted to Mr. NEwsTEAD, who obtained it 
direct from Mr. THOMPSON. 
