50 
possession.” It was shot at Amesbury, in Wiltshire, im 
the Autumn of 1836. 
Here we have five occurrences, of three sorts of 
Woodpeckers, a bird like the Cuckoo very rarely kept 
long in confinement, by reason of its insectivorous diet ; 
And, considering as I have already observed, that 
probably a small per centage of birds which escape are 
killed, and recorded, it seems impossible to conclude that — 
the birds were escaped specimens. 
How few Woodpeckers are kept in confinement ; 
How few of these are permitted to escape ; 
How few of those which escape are ever seen again; 
How many of those which are seen, and killed; are 
killed by persons who take the trouble to record them ? 
The consideration seems to reduce the probability to 
a vanishing point. 
The eggs are of exceeding beauty, and polish; My 
clutch were taken in Shelter Island, N.A., 27 May, 1883, 
from a nest composed of fine chips of wood, in a Locust 
tree, 8 feet from the ground; the hen bird was seen to 
leave the nest. 9 eggsina clutch. They measure 1.09 
by .88 inches. 
THE BLACK-BILLED CUCKOG: 
(Coccyzus ERYTHROPTHALMUS.) 
Admitted to the B.O.U. List. 
Rejected by Newton. 
Undecided upon by Seebohm. 
Professor Newton admits that it has occurred once in 
Britain, and once in Europe. 
Mr. Seebohm states that ‘‘7¢ was shot by Dr. Rea at 
Killead, ten miles from Belfast, September 1871, 1t was 
