A HISTORY OF SURREY 



There have, however, been several books published, all more or less deal- 

 ing with the avifauna of the county, and the chief of these was a little 

 work, published in 1 849, under the title of The Letters of Rusticus. This 

 treated very fully of the avifauna of the Godalming district, and was 

 the joint production of a group of enthusiastic naturalists in that town 

 Messrs. Newman, Kidd, Salmon and Stafford. The last-named gentle- 

 man brought together a large local collection of birds during a very long 

 residence in that neighbourhood, and his ornithological museum passed 

 at his death practically intact into the possession of Charterhouse School, 

 where it now remains. It is by far the most interesting and, in fact, the 

 only really important collection in the county of local interest. 



Although since and before the publication of The Letters of Rusticus 

 there have been issued several works possessing some local references, the 

 only attempt to bring together all the county history and ornithological 

 records under one cover has been that of Mr. John A. Bucknill, in his 

 recently published work on the Birds of Surrey, from which have been 

 quoted in the ensuing catalogue of species the occurrences of most of the 

 rarer local visitors. 



i. Missel-Thrush. Turdus viscivorus, Linn. been regarded by the classic authors as of 



A common resident in the rural districts, more or less authentic origin, but the circum- 



but rapidly decreases in numbers near the stances attending its capture are not wholly 



metropolis. Locally largely reinforced by uniformly stated by the prominent ornitho- 



autumnal immigration. 



logical authors. 



2. Song-Thrush. Turdus musicus, Linn. 6. Blackbird. Turdus merula, Linn. 



A very common resident in the county, A very common resident, its numbers being 



penetrating also to the parks and gardens of swelled by considerable parties of autumnal 



even the most thickly-populated suburban migrants. It may be found in many of the 



areas. Receives some additional strength by Surrey metropolitan parks. Very subject to 



migrants in autumn. albinism, pied varieties being quite common. 



3. Redwing. Turdus iliacus, Linn. 



A common winter visitor to the open parts 

 of Surrey, but being essentially a bird of the 

 fields is comparatively seldom observed in the 

 immediate neighbourhood of London. Ar- 

 rives in October and leaves at the end of 

 March. It has been reported to have nested 

 in the county, but on evidence which is not 

 now regarded as accurate (Bucknill, p. 5). 



4. Fieldfare. Turdus pilaris, Linn. 



A common winter visitor, resembling in its 

 habits and distribution the preceding species ; 

 known in Surrey by several names, ' felter- 

 birds,' ' blue felt,' etc. 



5. Siberian Thrush. Turdus sibiricus, Pallas. 

 The late Mr. Frederick Bond had in his 



collection a bird of this species. The speci- 

 men, which is now in the National Collection, 

 is a female and was shot near Guildford, in 

 February, 1865 (Bucknill, pp. 15-17). It is 

 the only British-taken example which has 



7. Ring-Ousel. Turdus torquatus, Linn. 



In former years this beautiful species was a 

 regular visitor to many parts of Surrey on its 

 spring and autumnal migrations, and may 

 have at one time bred on the western hills 

 (Bucknill, p. n). It is now much restricted 

 in the county localities which it visits, and 

 may be said to be practically confined to the 

 high hills of the south and the west. On 

 these it may sometimes be observed at the 

 proper seasons, but it can nowhere in Surrey 

 be regarded at the present day other than of 

 somewhat unusual appearance, its diminishing 

 occurrence being due to the many causes 

 which have assisted towards the decrease of 

 the rarer of the avifauna of the county. 



8. Wheatear. Saxicola cenanthe (Linn.). 



A regular summer visitor, breeding not un- 

 commonly on some of the commons and 

 downs of the county. Rather local in its 

 distribution. 



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