156 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



Mr Thomas Edward of Banff has recorded that a large flock 

 appeared near that town in ] 859. The birds in this case seemed 

 to be in a state of great exhaustion, many of them being even 

 unable to cling to the trees on which they perched. About twelve 

 or fifteen years ago my friend Dr Dewar, when sailing from America 

 to this country, observed great numbers of this species crossing 

 the Atlantic before a stiff westerly breeze. Many of the flocks 

 alighted on the rigging and deck of the steamer, which, at the 

 time, was about six hundred miles east of the Newfoundland coast. 

 He secured ten or twelve specimens of the bird, and put them in 

 confinement ; one or two escaped as the ship approached the Irish 

 coast, and made direct for land; two others flew out of their cage 

 when being conveyed in a cab through the streets of Liverpool, 

 and five birds were sent to myself. These turned out very mis- 

 chievous pets, breaking everything within their reach. They 

 lived a few months, and were never at rest. Even at night they 

 were perpetually climbing the wires of their cage, and chirming 

 their monotonous, cricket-like notes, reminding one occasionally 

 of a wheel revolving rapidly on an ungreased axle. Two of these 

 birds are now before me, and on placing them beside our common 

 crossbill and parrot crossbill, they seem more likely birds, from 

 their lighter figure, to sustain a continued flight than those of 

 a heavier make. 



IN8E8SORE8. STURNID^E. 



CONIROSTRES. 



THE RED-WINGED STARLING. 

 AGELAIUS PH(ENICEUS. 



I HAVE but one instance of the capture of this bird in Scotland to 

 chronicle, namely, a specimen which was shot near Banff in 1866 

 by H. A. Eannie, Esq. of Greenlaw, corresponding member of the 

 Natural History Society of Glasgow, and sent by him for exhibition 

 to one of the Society's meetings in the same year. It appeared to 

 be a young male. Mr R. Scot Skirving informs me that one of 

 these birds was seen in Haddington shire a few years ago, and that 

 he is quite satisfied no mistake had been committed in its identi- 

 fication. 



