9580 Birds. 



the head, but not much crest, was killed about the 22ud of 

 Febiuary, 



Red throated Diver. — One seen in Chichester Market on the 22nd 

 of February. This species has been scarce on this coast during the 

 past winter: I have not seen more than three specimens all through 

 the winter, and in these the red patch on the throat has been absent, 

 as is almost invariably the case with Sussex-killed birds. 1 have only 

 known three specimens with any red on the throat to have been killed 

 in Sussex during the last five years. Will Captain Hadfield excuse 

 my asking the question. Has it been satisfactorily proved that this 

 species, after having obtained the red patch, retains it through the 

 winter ? The Captain's note (Zool. 9499) would lead one to suppose 

 that it is so ; but Yarrell appears to have been undecided on this 

 point, as he quotes evidence on both sides of the question. 



Although we have had several pretty sharp attacks of frost this 

 winter we have had no great quantity of Anatidae on the coast, and 

 what few have visited us have been of the commoner species, wild 

 duck, widgeon, teal and a few pochards. I have heard of three wild 

 swans having been seen at two places, probably the same three. 



March, 1865. 

 Redwing. — I have frequently, during the month, hear-<l this bird 

 twittering; one day in particular (the 13th of March), about noon, 

 1 met with a congregation of iheui in some trees in a low meadow; 

 there was scarcely any wind, and the sun was shining brightly ; it 

 was, in fact, a spring-like morning, and the redwings appeared to be 

 quite aware of it. As I was quietly walking closer to get a belter 

 view of them one or two of the birds nearest me gave the alarm-note, 

 a kind of "chook," and in an instant the concert was slopped. After 

 waiting a few moments some of the more distant birds began again, 

 and soon they were all on twittering as before ; the least movement 

 on my part, however, caused the signal "chook" to be given, and 

 again all was stopped, or nearly so. Occasionally a bird near me flew 

 to a tree further off, uttering a note on starting somewhat resembling 

 "ceele." In Bechslein's 'Handbook of Cage-Birds,' by Mr. H. G. 

 Adams, this twittering is called "recording." The author says, at 

 page 151, " In favourable weather it may sometimes, during its sojourn 

 in tliis country, be heard ' recording,' as the bird-dealers term it; that 

 is, running over its mo(hilations, in a low, subdued lone, like one that 

 is striving to recover the notes of some hall'-fiugotten tune, or prac- 

 tising a yet imperfectly-learned musical lesson. The ordinary note of 



