The Zoologist — May, 1867. 735 



species and a permanent resident, for not only has it been seen at 

 Bonchurch, both summer and winter, but I have now to record its 

 appearance at Shanklin, one having been observed on the 17th near 

 the church : it allowed me to get within a few yards before taking 

 wing and alighting on the trees skirting the rivulet which flows through 

 the village to the Chine. 1 believe it to have been a male, but as no 

 song was heard I could not be sure, for the old females, according to 

 Temminck, have the breast blue. It is said to frequent low moist 

 places skirling woods, and this I have found to be the case, the Bon- 

 church birds seldom wandering far from the brook or pond, where one 

 may be generally met with, particularly towards nightfall, among the 

 lower branches of the trees overhanging the stream. To one who has 

 had opportunities of observing the bird and studying its habits, it 

 seems most strange and unaccountable to find one writer calling it 

 a redstart, and another a wagtail ! It is most decidedly a robin, and 

 but for the colour not one person in twenty would know the difference. 

 Though a trifle smaller than the redbreast, it is of the same form, and 

 resembles it in its habits, but is more restless and active, and oftener 

 seen knee-deep in the stream splashing the water over-head till the 

 plumage is saturated. Macgillivray says " its song is represented as 

 lively and pleasantly modulated :" it is, to my ear, so like that of the 

 robin that even now I find a difficulty in distinguishing it, nor have I 

 heard of one person noticing the difference, or having an idea of its 

 being other than a redbreast warbling overhead. This similarity in 

 song, manner and habits, may prove its security, and save it from the 

 fate of other rare migrants and wanderers. 



Swallow. — September 19th. Seen in great numbers hawking over 

 the Downs : they were mostly birds of the season, the tails being but 

 slightly forked. 27th. Numbers of swallows and a few martins 

 observed this morning about Shanklin and Sandown, but the gathering 

 has been for some time noticed, and commenced about the usual 

 period, namely, the beginning of September. The congregating, if 

 not migrating, of the young birds before the old, I have already 

 recorded and remarked on. 



Pied Wagtail. — September 21st. A considerable flock observed at 

 Bonchurch flying to the eastward. 



Meadow Pipit. — A large flock seen to-day about the cliffs at 

 Luccombe. 



Wood Wren. — September 23rd. Several seen in the garden, mostly 

 birds of the season ; the plumage but faintly shaded with yellow. 



