SYLVIADJE. 171 



sat a beautiful Golden Oriole, and he had an oppor- 

 tunity of watching it for two or three minutes, until 

 it at last caught sight of him and flew away. 



A nest of this bird is said to have been found near 

 Burnham ; but a supposed Golden Oriole's nest, con- 

 taining eggs, which was taken near Slough a few 

 years ago and purchased by the Rev. C. Wolley, 

 turned out to be that of a Thrush, with the eggs of 

 a white ground colour instead of blue, and having 

 the usual black spots. 



Family — Sylviad^. 



Black Redstart (Phoeniaira Tithys):^ The Black 

 Redstart may be considered a rare winter visitant in 

 England, and, so far as I am aware, its claim to a 

 place in this catalogue rests upon a single instance of 

 its occurrence in Berkshire. 



In a letter to me, dated 21st of November, 1867, 

 my friend Mr. R. B. Sharpe, to whom I am indebted 

 for many ornithological notes from his neighbour- 

 hood, says : ^ I am able to give you an undoubted 

 instance of the occurrence of the Black Redstart at 

 Cookham. Mr. Briggs, the head-gardener at For- 

 mosa, whose name I have before mentioned to you, 

 and from whom I have received so much interesting 

 information, tells me that in the year 1861 he was 



* The Black Redstart is also known by the names of Blackstart, Black 

 Redtail (Jenyns, 'British Vert. An.' p. 105), and Tithys Redstart 

 (Selby, *Brit. Ornith.' vol. i. p. 193). 



