[ :io'J ] 



shrikes and pied Hycatcbers had been taken. The latter was u 

 frequent summer visitor. The g(jlden oriole was of rare occurrence; 

 besides those mentioned in Knox, one was shot at Pi-eston by Mr. 

 Pratt, on May 4th, 1866 {Zoologist, S.S., p. 267), and one was picked 

 np dead at East Grinstead, May 14th of the same year. Several 

 specimens of the black redstart had been taken. The fire-crested 

 regulus was shot near Brighton, January, 1869, (Wonfoi*, Zoologist, 

 S.S., 1513), two were shot at St. Leonards on April 9th, 1869 

 (Zoologist, S.S., 1683). Knox stated the bearded tit had now become 

 rare. The Bohemian waxwing was shot in Januai-y, 1848, at 

 Newhaven, and others have been obtained in the month of 

 January. Three wagtails were shot by Mr. Swaysland, at Hove, in 

 April, 1853. The crested lark was shot at Shorehaui, October 20th, 

 1853. (S. D. Rowley, Ibis, 1864, p. 224). The crossbill had been 

 seen seveivd times, and it had once nested in the county. Of the 

 rose coloured pastor, two were shot by a farmer near Brighton, on 

 August 20th, 1870 {Zoologist, S.S., p. 2,344) One specimen of the 

 nutcracker had occurred ; the bee-eater was shot near Chichester, 

 May 6th, 1829. The little bustard had once been obtained. The 

 purple heron was shot at Worthing, on April 28th, 1848. An adult 

 male of the little bittern was shot at Runcton, near Chichester, on 

 April 11th, 1869. The avocet was now rare, Markwick stated that 

 in his time it was not uncommon on the coast. The gray phalarope 

 appeared in unusual numbers in 1866, they began to ai-rive in the 

 third week in August, and continued to the second week in October, 

 and during this period 250 were taken in Sussex ! The purple 

 sandpiper is frequently found at Eastbourne, and Mr. Button thinks 

 it is a regular winter visitor. The Sclavonian grebe was taken in a 

 garden at Worthing, on March 7th, 1865, (Gurney, Zoologist, p. 

 9,540). The black-throated diver and red-breasted diver have been 

 found. The common guillemot and the razor-bill are said to breed 

 at Beachy Head. Several specimens of the foi'k-tailed petrel had 

 been taken after heavy gales in November, and have been picked up 

 dead on the sea shore. 



There were not many proverbs or superstitions in connection 

 with birds in the county. It was said that '• tlie old woman takes 

 the cuckoo in her basket to Heathfield Fair and there turns it out." 

 Heathfield Fair was held on April 14th, and aliout that day the 

 cuckoo arrived in Sussex. In White's "Natural History of 



