vil 
leave its own region for these cold shores; but it has not 
been supposed, I imagine, that rare birds which have 
visited Britain have done so always, or perhaps even often 
of their own free will; and Brewer, in his North American 
Oology, says of this bird “zt 7s a great wanderer.” We 
are promised, I believe, another splendid work from able 
Naturalists, to which Lord Lilford’s name is appended, 
may we not hope that many difficulties, and seeming 
inconsistencies will be removed, and reconciled; and 
above all things the question which affects the Arztish 
authenticity of certain species set at rest. 
I have no right to do more than express a desire for 
information, having had but little experience; and being 
far removed, not only from persons who do understand 
these matters, but also from any library to which I could 
have resort to save me from errors on a complicated sub- 
ject ; except when, during a short holiday, I have been 
able to spend a few hours in the British Museum, or the 
University Library (Cambridge). 
To resume the consideration of the title of certain 
Birds to be enrolled upon the British List, there is the 
case of the Gallinules: these beautiful birds are not un- 
frequently imported, and kept in confiement ; if they are 
_unpinioned we may presume they are placed in enclosed 
aviaries, where surely they are carefully preserved, being 
valuable and expensive birds: if they are Jzmzoned they 
may be placed in open enclosures ; if hese escape they 
would be known at once to be ‘escaped.’ Nor could they 
range ‘far from their owner’s preserves; long-legged 
skulkers though they be,before by their brilliant appearance 
they would be observed, and claimed. 
Neither I presume can it be said, as has been said 
concerning the innumerable Geese that have been rejected 
amongst the ‘escapeds,’ that the pinioned parents pro- 
bably bred on some of the ornamental waters in parks, 
