BIRDS OF GUERNSEY. 101 



as they may be interesting to any of my Guernsey 

 readers into whose hands a Cuckoo may fall in a 

 state of change and prove a puzzle as to its identity. 

 The Cuckoo departs from the Channel Islands much 

 about the same time that it does from England on 

 its southern migration in August or September. 

 Occasionally, however, this southern migration 

 during the winter seems to be doubted, as a clerical 

 friend of mine once told me that a brother clergy- 

 man, a well educated and even a learned man, told 

 him, when talking about Cuckoos and what became 

 of them. in winter, that " it was a mistake to suppose 

 they migrated, but that they all turned into Sparrow- 

 hawks in the winter." As my friend said, could 

 any one believe this of a well-educated man in the 

 nineteenth century ? 



The Cuckoo is mentioned in Professor Ansted's 

 list, but only marked as occurring in Guernsey and 

 Sark. There are three specimens, one adult and 

 two young, in the Museum, as well as some very 

 ordinary eggs. 



85. Kingfisher. Alcedo ispida, hirmaenQ. French, 

 *' Martin Pecheur." — The Kingfisher is by no means 

 uncommon, is generally spread over the Islands, 

 and is resident and breeds at all events in Guernsey, 

 if not in the other Islands also. It is generally to 

 be seen amongst the wild rocks which surround 

 L'Ancresse Common, where it feeds on the small 



