9104 Birds. 
greyhounds; these birds are now only a matter of history in the East of England, 
From the same causes assigned to account for the scarcity of the kite, magpies and 
carrion crows are greatly reduced in numbers, both in Eugland and Scotland.—H. W. 
Newman; Hillside, Cheltenham. : 
Montagu’s Harrier at Eastbourne.—A fine female specimen of Montagu’s harrier 
was trapped on Monday, April 15, 1861, at Pevensey Levels, and came into the 
possession of Mr. Albert Vidlow, of South Street, Eastbourne. It had already killed 
three young hares, and it was caught in a trap baited with one of them.—John Dutton. 
Great Gray Shrike near Norwich.—Two specimens of the great gray shrike were 
seen in this neighbourhood on the 2nd of April last, one of which was caught in a trap- 
cage by a young man: it was kept alive till within a few days since, when it died.— 
T. E. Gunn; Norwich, May 6, 1864. 
Redwing singing in England.—Since my former communication was written I have 
read the notes on the singing of the redwing published in the April number of the 
‘Zoologist’ (Zovl. 9021). Any communication from Mr. Bond is sure to meet with 
the respect which his well-known science as an ornithologist must always command ; 
but in answer to his vbservations I beg to say that it was no twittering of the redwing 
to which I have many times listened with much pleasure, but a full and continued 
song, poured forth with open bill and largely-distended throat, and that in more than 
one instance the bird in the act of singing was within three or four yards of my head. 
Without pretending to compare my own experience or ornithological knowledge with 
that of Mr. Bond, to whose opinion in any doubtful matter I would most readily defer, 
I may venture to say that I am as fully competent to judge of the difference between 
a redwing and a song thrush as any naturalist can possibly be. It is not in garden 
shrubberies or in trees by the road-side that I should ever expect to hear the redwing 
sing; such places abound here, those in my own garden are unusually extensive, and 
redwings are not uncommon ; but the deep solitude of the great woods in Oxfordshire, 
where much of my leisure time was formerly spent, offers a much more suitable 
locality; and I have no doubt that any one who would take the trouble of seeking 
them in their favourite haunts in such places, at a similar period of the year, and 
under the circumstances detailed in my former note, would be amply repaid by hearing 
the redwing in full song. My story is now told, its truth and accuracy in every par- 
ticular I most positively affirm, and I think I know enough of Mr. Bond to feel sure 
that be at least will believe that I have heard the redwing, not twittering, but in full 
song. If Colonel Newman will refer to my first note (Zool. 8946) he will see that I 
did not speak of any resemblance between the song of the redwing and that of the 
nightingale, I merely compared them on the score of excellence; but that, as he 
expected, I did point out its general similarity to the song of the thrush, asserting the 
superiority of the former in richness of tone. The observations of Mr. Cooper tend in 
the main to corroborate my own statement. I will now only add that I do not intend 
to allude again to this subject, unless specially invited to dv so.— A. Matthews ; 
April 2, 1864. 
{Received in ample time for insertion in the May number, but after the pages 
touching the redwing were printed, and it would have occasioned inconvenience to the 
reader had I placed it elsewhere. I see no occasion to alter my last editorial note on 
the subject: it is perfectly evident that all the interlocutors seek to establish the truth, 
indeed I never can believe any true naturalist could entertain for a single moment 
any other design.—Edward Newman.} 
