FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. ,83 



(S. C.) S. Creed, Coombe Farm, Shcrbornc. Until 



April 6 Mr. Creed was living at Cheddington, 

 and his notes up to that date refer to that 

 locality. 



(H. S. G.) H. S. Gray, Rushmore (Wilts) ; also at Motcombe, 

 near Shaftesbury. 



(R. F. W.) Rev. Canon R. F. Wheeler, Haselbury Bryan 

 Rectory. 



(E. J. B.) Rev. E. J. Bodington, Osmington Vicarage. 



(J. R. E.) J. R. Eldridge, Poole. 



NOTES ON RARE AND OTHER BIRDS IN 1898. 

 SHOVELLER (Spatula clypeata]. Three young specimens were 

 shot in the river by Mr. E. S. Clark on August 6, and another 

 was seen there by Mr. J. B. Luckham early in September 

 (E. R. B.) 



CROSSBILL (Loxia ciirvirostra]. These have been observed 

 this autumn in W. Dorset and S. Somerset. (E. S. R.) 



ROSE-COLOURED PASTOR (Pastor roseus}. Seen by Mr. A. 

 Murray in the Rectory garden, Shapwick, during August and 

 September. (J. C. M.-P.) 



THRUSH (Turdus musicus}. BLOXWORTH. Numbers of 

 Thrushes suddenly appeared from March igth to 26th, when they 

 disappeared as suddenly. (O. P. C.) 



BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula}. A white-tailed variety observed 

 at Sherborne. (T. R. A.) One at Yeovil with white head and 

 the greater part of the right side white with some blackish 

 spots (S. C.) 



ROOK (Corvus frugilegus}. A white-winged variety observed 

 at Sherborne. (T. R. A.) 



GREAT TIT (Parus major}. An almost white variety has 

 appeared here (Osmington). That it was a Great Tit could not 

 be doubted from size, note, movements, and companions. The 

 only markings on it were blue of the colour of the blue in the 

 Blue Tit, and these were on its back and breast, amounting to 

 the appearance of a shadow only. (E. J. B.) 



