204 RARER BIRDS IN ISLE OF WIGHT. [PART II. 



larly enough, found under similar circumstances 

 only about three weeks before, within a mile of 

 the same place. The White-fronted or Laughing 

 Goose (Anser albifrons). The Black Redstart (Phce- 

 nicura tithys), (two shot the same day, about 1850, 

 in the neighbourhood of the Undercliif ) : of its 

 cogener, the common Redstart, though so much 

 more common in some localities than the black 

 variety, I believe I have never known above a 

 single specimen obtained in the Island. The 

 Hoopoe (several instances). The Snow Bunting 

 (Plectrophcwies nivalis). The Girl Bunting (Em- 

 beriza tirlus) ; I saw two of these birds feeding 

 together on the gravel- walk close to a house near 

 East Cowes, in February, 1858, and having watched 

 them for some time through a good glass, am 

 able to speak positively as to their identity. The 

 Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) I have also 

 seen on more than one occasion. Though I do 

 not remember to have heard of the Merlin for 

 some time past, yet until within the last few years 

 it was by no means an unfrequent occurrence for 

 one to pay the penalty to which his predatory 

 habits rendered him liable, I having been myself 

 on several occasions his executioner. The Hobby 

 appears to be much more rare in the Island than 



