49fi The Zoologist— November, 1866. 



have generally been regarded as escaped birds. One was shot near Campbelton, in 

 Argyleshire, iu 1863, and was exhibited by n)y friend Dr. Dewar to tlie Natural 

 History Society of Glasf,'ow, on tbe 29th ol' December of thai year. I have examined 

 this specimen, which showed no marks of confinement, and was in beautifnl plumage. 

 Another was killed in Hampshire, on the 10th of August, 18G3 (Zool. 9418). As this 

 species is plentiful in many parts of Europe, there seems to be nothing improbable in 

 its accidentally visiting Britain. 



Water Ouzel. — ('Dictionary,' p. 214). The "elegant variety" killed near Edin- 

 burgh, and the " Penryth Ouzel " of Lutiiam (Diet. p. 213) were certainly not varieties, 

 but merely the first plumage of the young water ouzel (see Zool. S. S. 20). 



Owl, Hawk. — (' Dictionary,' p. 217). A third British specimen, shot near Mary- 

 hill, in Lanarkshire, was exhibited by Dr. Dewar to the Natural History Society of 

 Glasgow, in December, 1863, and is now in his collection. 



Pipit, Pennsylvanian (Anthus ludovicianiis), is included in the list at the end of 

 the ' Dictionary,' but omitted in the body of the work. It has undoubtedly occurred 

 several limes, and is the bird described by Macgiliivray as A. spinolella. (See Bree's 

 'Birds of Europe,' vol. ii. p. 170.) 



Warbler, Marsh (S) Ivia paluslris, Ueclist. ; Calamoherpe paliistris, Boie.). — Omitted 

 in the \Diciionary.' A specimen of this warbler was ol)taiae(l in Caml)ridgeshireby the 

 late James Hamilton, jun., of Minard,aiid was exhibited at a meeting of the Natural 

 History Society of Glasgow, in February, 1865. As it had been submitted to Mr. 

 Gould, there could be no mistake in identification. Very possibly this species may 

 have been generally overlooked, owing to its resemblance to the reed warbler; Dr. 

 Bree says, " 1 think I have myself taken the nest" (in England), " and Mr. Sweet's 

 bir<i, mentioned by Mr. Yarrell, was probal)ly of this species." (Bree, ' Birds of Europe,' 

 ii. p. 74). 



Warbler, Thruxh-like. — (' Dictionary,' p. 373). The unsatisfactory slate of the 

 history of this bird seems to be caused by the confusion of two perfectly distinct 

 species, viz. the great sedge warbler {Sylvia lurdoides, Meyer; Calamoherpe arun- 

 dinacea, G. R. Gray), and the greater nightingale or thrush nightingale {Si/lvia philo- 

 mela, Becbst. ; Philomela turdoides, Blyth). Both these birds seem to have occurred 

 in Britain. Temminck's and probably Yarrell's birds belonged to the first-named 

 species, while the Dartford specimen (Zool. 3476) would appear to have been the 

 greater nightingale. Both species are said to have bred in Britain: Yarrell tells of a 

 nest of the great sedge warbler taken near Dorking, and Mr. F. Bond informed 

 Mr. A. G. More that he had seen eggs from Hertfordshire and Nottinghamshire 

 ('Ibis,' 1865, p. 24). Morris states that eggs of the greater nightingale have been 

 taken in Devonshire and Kent, but makes sad havoc of all nomenclature by describing 

 both species under the same name, Sylvia turdoides ; he also figures his " thrush 

 nightingale" with a spotted breast. A good description of both birds and of their 

 eggs appended to the ' Dictionary' might clear up much of this confusion. 



Wren,Rubycrested{MQlAc\\\^ calendula, Linn.; Regulus calendula, Xii At. ; Ruby- 

 crowned kinglet, firee).— Omitted in the ' Dictionary.' This pretty little American 

 kinglet was killed on Loch Lomond, in 1852, by my friend Dr. Dewar, who subse- 

 quently presented the specimen to Mr. Gould. Mr. R. Gray, Secretary to the Natural 

 History Society of Glasgow, communicated the fact to Dr. Bree, who has given all 

 particulars iu his ' Birds of Europe,' vol. ii. p. 109. The Rev. H. B. Tristram has 



