112 FRINGJLLTDTE. 



1853, p. 20), who said that a male was caught, in April 

 1852, near Eastney Fort, about a mile from Portsmouth, and 

 having been paired with a hen Canary-bird produced a brood 

 of mules, which unfortunately deceased. On June 20th, 

 1859, as recorded by Mr. Bond (Zool. p. 7105), a Serin, 

 believed to be a female, was caught near Brighton and taken to 

 Mr. Pratt of that town, while Mr. Kowley stated (Ibis, 1861, 

 p. 113) that he had been told of three other examples of the 

 species, taken by Brighton birdcatchers and cast aside from 

 ignorance of their value. Mr. Bond also in the same com- 

 munication mentions having seen a male captured soon after 

 the severe storm in October, 1859, near London. Mr. Cecil 

 Smith (B. Comers, p. 180) states that in January or 

 February, 1866, he was shewn an example said to have 

 been shot at Taunton, which passed into the possession of 

 Mr. Byne, of Bishop's Hull, and was by him submitted to 

 Mr. Gould's inspection. Mr. Monk announced (Zool. s.s. 

 p. 229) the capture, at Hove near Brighton, on April 19th, 

 1866, of a hen Serin, which he saw alive a few hours after- 

 wards, and this, with another of those obtained in that 

 neighbourhood, is now in his collection, where, thanks to 

 his kindness, the Editor has seen them. Mr. Bond too re- 

 corded (Zool. s.s. p. 1984) another example which he saw 

 at a bird-stuffer's at Brighton, taken, he was told, in April 

 1869. This is very likely the same as one noticed, according 

 to Mr. Harting (Handb. Br. B. p. 112), by Mr. Lucas as 

 obtained at Worthing on May 4th in that year though, as will 

 be seen, the dates do not agree. On April 16th, 1873, a hen, 

 which was afterwards brought to the Editor by Mr. Borrer, 

 was procured at Brighton and is now in his collection. 



In regarding all these occurrences it must, however, be 



incidentally, mentions the first occurrence of the Serin, he stated that he pos- 

 sessed an example of Crithagra chrysopyga (a West-African bird) taken near 

 Portsmouth, and also that a specimen either of Passer hispaniolensis or of 

 Petronia sluttalae seems uncertain which was killed a few years before, about 

 five miles from that place, and was then in the Museum of its Philosophical 

 Society. Notice of this last, he added, he sent to the Author of this work, but 

 as he did not think fit to include it in his last Edition, the present Editor deems 

 it unnecessary to give the statement any further attention. ' 



