Birds. 9583 



Starling. — Two varieties of this bird have been shot : one a beau- 

 tiful cream-colour, with bright yellowish margins to the feathers ; the. 

 other a light gray. 



House Sparrow. — A fine variety of this bird ; the head pure white, 

 the other parts of the usual colour. 



Turnslone. — One fine immature specimen in Alum Bay. This bird 

 is very scarce with us. 



Bittern. — I have a fine male and female bittern shot on the River 

 Yar. There were three of them together, which is unusual, two being 

 the most I have ever known to have been seen together, though I 

 obtained five specimens shot by the same river in 1855. I consider 

 this the best shooting ground we have in Freshwater for wading birds 

 and wild fowl. 



Little Stint. — I have obtained two specimens of this bird, which is 

 new to our list. 



Temminck's Stint. — I have also obtained two of this species, which 

 is another addition to our Isle of Wight list. 



Purple Sandpiper. — I obtained one specimen of this bird near the 

 Needles, It is here scarce with us. 



Tufted Duck. — I obtained one specimen on the River Yar. It 

 occurs every year, but not in any great numbers. 



Redbreasted Merganser. — I shot one in Freshwater Bay. This 

 bird occurs every year. 



Common SJdeldrake. — Several are shot every year. I obtained a 

 fine male off Yarmouth. 



Guillemot. — This bird has been very numerous. Several I obtained 

 were in full summer plumage, which I consider very unusual, never 

 having obtained one before at this time of the year in the same state. 



Little Auk. — I have a fine specimen shot in Totland Bay. This 

 bird is very rare with us. 



Shag. — A fine immature specimen shot off the Needles. Twenty 

 years ago this bird was common with us, but, like the chough, I fear 

 it will soon be numbered with one of the things of the past. We 

 seldom have a pair breed with us, although the cormorant breeds with 

 us in immense numbers. 



Redthroated Diver. — These birds have been very numerous. One 

 day when shooting off the Needles, they flew by in hundreds. I know 

 one man here who shot fifteen on one day. 



Henry Rogers. 



Freshwater, Isle of Wight. 



