Mr. Yanell on some rare British Birds* 497 



The blue-breasted Warbler. 



Sylvia Suectca, Lath. 



The account of the capture of this species being already noticed, 

 in the late annual address to the Zoological Club, I have only 

 further to mention that the specimen (which was taken on New- 

 castle Town Moor, in May, 1826), though decidedly of the species 

 here mentioned, yet differs from the description of authors in 

 some respects. The whole of the breast from the chin is bright 

 azure, except a triangular russet-coloured spot in the middle of 

 the blue, which spot is usually found white. This has not, that I 

 am aware of, been noticed in any description. The colour of the 

 whole of the upper parts is darker than in the specimens and des- 

 criptions with which I have been able to compare it ; though 

 the well-defined russet of the upper half of the tail agrees. The 

 zones of black and white over the blue on the breast are only in- 

 cipient. Young birds being mostly subject to migration, I am 

 induced to consider this as an additional proof of this bird being 

 only in its early stage. 



Art. lit. On the occurrence of some rare British Birds. 

 By William Yarrell, Esq.^ F.L.S. 



Believing that an occasional record of the appearance of some 

 of our scarce British Birds is not entirely without its use, I again 

 venture to transmit to the Zoological Journal a brief notice of 

 such as have occurred to my own knowledge within the last six 

 months. 



Lestris Pomarinus. Early in the month of September, 1827, 

 a young specimen of this gull was shot on the Norfolk Coast and 

 brought to London for preservation. Of this rare bird, but few 

 British examples have occurred. The late collection of Mr. 

 Bullock at the Egyptian Hall contained but two, one killed at 

 Dover, the second at Brighton. Only three others have come to 

 my knowledge since, one killed in Hackney Marsh, and now in 

 the collection of a gentleman at Wanstead ; one killed during last 



Vol. III. 2 i 



