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RUPPELL'S WARBLER IN SUSSEX. 



A New British Bird. 



On May 6th, 1914, I was shown a couple of small birds 

 in the flesh that had been obtained the previous day 

 in an old stone-quarry at Baldsiow, Hastings, Sussex. 

 Upon examination, I came to the conclusion that 

 they were undoubtedly examples of the rare RiippeU's 

 Warbler {Sylvia ri'ippelli). Not having any work giving 

 an illustration of this species, I took one of the birds 

 after it had been set up to Mr. T. Parkin, who sup- 

 ported my theory that it was a RiippeU's Warbler. 



On referring to Dresser's Birds of Europe, we found 

 a very good plate given, and there could be no doubt 

 about the species. 



It seems remarkable that these two birds should 

 have wandered so far west, but I consider that the 

 unusual heat and absence of wind at tliis period had 

 a very marked effect on migrating birds. This view 

 is strengthened by the fact that a large number of 

 rare birds were recorded about this time. Living as 

 I do on the south coast, and having studied the move- 

 ments of migrants on arrival and departure for many 

 years, I am convinced that we get more erratic visitors 

 during a period of excessive heat and no wind. Such 

 birds I always look upon as wanderers, and of more 

 interest than those that are blown ashore in a gale, 

 and are, after aU, only blown out of their course and 

 naturally aUght if lucky enough to reach land. 



In the case of these two RiippeU's Warblers, the 

 place where they were shot was just the spot for any 

 wanderers to our coasts to drop in, being a very large, 

 open, disused stone-quarry, situated in the midst of 

 a very large wood, and overgrown with brambles and 

 thick undergrowth, the accumulation of years. In 

 addition to having seen the birds in the flesh, I happen 

 to know the man who shot them, and am quite satisfied 



