8034 Birds. 



secoirle niue, qui a lien en Avril ou Mai," &c. It therefore appears tliat Temminck 

 was fully aware that " the red plumage is only an iutermediale stage." Mr. Wheel- 

 wright then remarks, " I have never yet seen more than two examples of the mature 

 green pine grosbeak : one was this last winter in a cage, where he had been confined 

 ten years; he was a red bird when he was caught in the winter, but in the ensuing 

 autumn be changed to bright yellow-green, and since then has undergone little or no 

 change in his plumage ; the other was shot in a wild state," Stc. This sudden trans- 

 formation in a caged bird is no sign of maturity. Until Mr. Wheelwright has further 

 proof to offer in support of his views, we cannot ignore or discredit Temminck, who 

 thus describes the old male, Pyrrhula enucleator: — "Tete, gorge et parties superieures 

 du cou d'un rouge orange, qui devient plus clair sur le devant du cou," &c. We may 

 reasonably protest against caged birds being cited as instances, for we well know the 

 variations of plumage they are subject to under confinement. The brown linnet loses 

 all traces of its crimson dress. But one more lo the point is that of the bullfinch, 

 which not unfrequently is transformed from red to black by confinement. Need I 

 cite more to prove that Mr. Wheelwright is not justified in assuming, ihat because a 

 caged pine grosbeak lost under confinement its more brilliant hues, it would have 

 done so had it remained at large. Having, I think, disposed of the first — i.e. the 

 caged bird — I would only suggest the possibility, not to say probability, of the second, 

 i. e. the wild bird, being a female (or a variety, as it is said to " varie accidentelle- 

 ment"), as Mr. Wheelwright admils that " It is not easy at this season (winter) to 

 ascertain the males from the females by dissection." — Henry Hadfield ; Ventnor,Isle 

 of Wight, May 8, 1862. 



Occurrence of the Black Redstart in the County of Dublin. — This bird is considered 

 exceedingly rare in this country, yet in this neighbourhood it is not so uncommon. 

 In the winter of 1858-9 I saw four examples, three catching insects upon a sunny wall 

 in December ; the fourth was caught under the slates of an outhouse. They were all 

 females or birds of the year. The next winter none were seen. In the autumn of 

 18fi0 and the winter of 18(i0-61 they were absolntely common. I am sure I saw from 

 twenty to thirty, on the average of one adult male to five females or birds of the year. 

 This year none visited us. I am inclined to think from this that they come at periods 

 of two years. What appears very strange to me is their wintering with us, appearing 

 about October and leaving in the middle or latter end of January. The only reason 

 I can adduce for this is the number of flies which hybernate in the crevices of the sea- 

 coast rocks about here, and to which locality the bird is very partial, as well as to dung- 

 hills anrl sunny walls. The stomachs of birds dissected in I860 (the ground at the 

 lime being covered with snow) were stuffed with flies, showing how plentiful the supply 

 must be in mild winters. This bird about here is very local ; I never met one beyond 

 the limits of an imaginary circle with a diameter of about six hundred yards. The 

 common redstart is rare, I believe, in all parts of Ireland alike. — H. Blake-Knox ; 

 Bartragh, Dalltey, Co. Dublin; May 17, 186-2. 



Occurrence of the Hoopoe in Essex. — A specimen of this bird was shot by the Eev. 

 Mr. Keen, Rector of Erwarton, Suffolk, the beginning of the month. Mr. Keen 

 saw the bird in his jiarden, and when he went with bis gun the bird seemed inclined 

 to dispute possession of the ground with its owner, as it raised its crest at him in a 

 menacing manner, I do not know the ses of this bird. Erwarton is situated on the 

 Stour, near Harwich. — C. R. Bree ; Colchester, May 16, 1862. 



First Appearance of the Cuckoo. — The cuckoo was heard for the first time in the ] 

 neigbbouvhood of Shipton, on the 25th of April.— J. Ransom; York. 



