FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 261 



by which it may be distinguished from the Gold -crest. The 

 Fire-crest has very rarely been observed in Dorset. (E. R. B.) 



WAX WING (Ampslis garrulus, L.). Two examples of this rare 

 species were seen and watched through field glasses on the lawn 

 at Organford Manor, near Wareham, by Captain M. W. Portman 

 on Mar. 21, 1906 (D.C.C., Mar. 29, 1906), and one was seen 

 at intervals in the garden of Steeple Rectory, in the Isle of 

 Purbeck, by Mrs. James Panton, and others on the previous day. 

 (D.C.C., Ap. 5, 1906.) 



BRAMBLING (Fnngilla montifringilla, L.). Numerous at 

 Compton Valence and neighbourhood. (J. R.) 



HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus, L.) AND OTHER SMALL 

 BIRDS. THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SMALL BIRDS. Under this 

 heading the following note by " Observer " was published in 

 the Dorset County Chronicle of June 2ist, 1906. "A week ago 

 a short paragraph appeared in the Globe, calling attention to the 

 remarkable disappearance of house sparrows in Dorset this 

 summer. This seems to be true of Dorchester, where there can 

 scarcely be one where usually there had been ten ; and other 

 small birds (not black birds and thrushes) are also scarcer than 

 usual. It would be interesting to hear whether this is noticeable 

 throughout the county, and whether it is so generally in the 

 West of England. And it would be most interesting to know 

 where they have gone in their countless and unwelcome 

 legions." (E. R. B.) 



GOLDFINCH (Carduelis elegans, Stephens). Singing Ap. 12. 

 On Oct. 12, I saw at least 50 in a larch at Pulham Rectory. 

 (J. R.) 



CHOUGH (Pyrrhocorax graculus, L.). I am informed on 

 reliable authority that a specimen occurred at Wyke Regis, on 

 or about Oct. 10. (N. M. R.) 



NUTCRACKER (Nucifraga caryocatades, Selby). A specimen 

 of this very rare bird was seen in the middle of November, on 

 the Downs between Bingham's Melcombe and Chesilborne, by 

 Mrs. and Miss Bosworth Smith and two lady friends, one of 

 whom wrote to the Dorset County Chronicle (Nov. 29, 1906), 



