OF BKITISH BIKDS 6 1 



to visit us accidentally than those which are non-migratory ; and 

 it must also be admitted that most accidental visitors from America 

 or Asia which have been caught in Europe are those which breed 

 in the Arctic Regions, and have, consequently, to deviate less from 

 their usual course in straying to our shores. 



Supposed Accidental Visitors. 



In a score of cases I have admitted the existence of some 

 evidence in favour of a species having paid a voluntary visit to 

 the British Islands by recording it as a supposed accidental visitor. 

 It is impossible to say how much doubt ought to cause the com- 

 plete rejection of a species, or what amount of evidence may justify 

 its being admitted to the rank of a supposed visitor ; but I have 

 endeavoured to draw the line as fairly as possible, and have 

 included the following species in this doubtful class. 



Eleven of these are supposed to have visited our Islands from 

 Arctic or Subarctic America 



Ceryle alcyon, 

 Agelaius phceniceus, 

 Sturnella mayna, 

 Scolecophagus ferrugineus, 

 Progne purpurea, 

 Manoides furcatus, 

 Falco sparverius, 

 Cygnus americanus, 

 Bernida canadensis, 

 Anas americana, 

 Anas discors ; 



five from Central or Southern Europe 



Turnix sylvatica, 

 Phcenicopterus roseics, 

 Porphyrio cceruleus, 

 Pyrrhocorax alpinus, 

 Fringilla serinus ; 



one from East Siberia 



Eviberiza cioides ; 



