The Zoologist— May, 1866. 229 



Redwinged Starling at Brighton. — A verj' handsome redwinged starling; {Agelaius 

 phaniceus) was caught at Hove, on Wednesday, March 21, and broutiht alive to 

 Mr. G. Swayslaiid, the eminent i)i id-preserver, of Queen's Road, Brigiiton, and by 

 him transferred to his aviary, wliere I have twice bad the pleasure of seeing the 

 interestiufT captive. This rare bird is an adult male, in fine plumage and condition, 

 with the beautiful red and in-antfe colouring of the wing strongly defined. He pined and 

 moped so much during the first two days after his capture that it was feared he would 

 die: being treated, however, with great care and attention be revived, and has since 

 become more reconciled to his new abode, and now cracks the canary-seed with great 

 gusto. It is noticed by Swaysland that the bird makes a noise or " cheep" similar to 

 that of the young of the ringed plover, that he scratches with his feet like a foyl, and 

 is very partial to a bath, in which he frequently indulges. I saw him to-day snon 

 after concluding his ablutions, and had ample opportunity of seeing him to ad- 

 vantage: when smoothing his feathers he is certainly well worth a visit. — T.J. 

 Monk; Mounljield House, Lewes, March 27, 1866. 



Serin Finch near Brighton. — A beautiful example of the Serin finch (Fringilla 

 serinus) was caught to-day in the parish of Hove, near Brighton. It was taken in a 

 clap-net by a man catching linnets and goldfinches, and brought by him to Mr. G. 

 Swaysland, Queen's Road, Brighton, who purchased the bird, and kindly sent me a 

 message respecting this rare visitor, and at whose house I had the pleasure of seeing 

 the same alive, and within a few hours of its capture. It is in fine summer plumage, 

 and a ])erfecl specimen ; and answers in all respects, save size, to the description and 

 drawing of this pretty finch in Bree's ' Birds of Europe.' The bird now belongs to me, 

 and I need scarcely add will prove an ornament to my collectioD. — Id.; April 19, 

 1866. 



Little Ringed Plover near Lewes, — On Saturday, March 17th, when in the brook- 

 lands between Lewes and Newhaven, I came upon a wing of nearly twenty of the 

 little rin;:ed plover, and succeeded in shooting three specimens, which are now with 

 Mr Swaysland, of Brighton, for preservation. — Id. 



Purple Waterhen near Southampton. — I had the extreme pleasure, on Thursday 

 last, of inspecting a magnificent specimen of Ihat lovely bird, the purple waterhen or 

 violet gallinule {Pqrphyrio hyacinthinus), which had been shot during the month of 

 February, 1864, in the parish of Redbridjie, near Southampton. The bird is still in 

 the hands of its captor, James Ridges, of Redbridge, who will be delighted to show it 

 to any of your readers. It has been set up in a very life-like mann.er by that excellent 

 taxidermist, Mr. C. Hendy, of Southampton, than whom no man is more competent. 

 The characteristic lameness of the purple waterhen was well exemplified in this 

 specimen : it was feeding in a bed of cabbage near the Southampton Water, and the 

 gun with which Ridges killed it missed fire several times before it discharged, and yet 

 the bird look little notice of it, although not more than fifteen paces distant. 

 I believe ihe above will be interesting, as the first recorded instance of the capture of 

 this handsome bird iu Great Britain. — Henry Reeks; Manor House, Thruxton, 

 April 16, 1866. 



Forlctailed Petrel at Elmore. — An individual of this rare petrel was taken, iu an 

 exhausted condition, last week, at Elmore, near Gloucester. — W. V. Guise ; Elmore 

 Court; April 18, 1866. 



