The Zoologist— June, 1869. 1721 



Swallows. — Swallows were observed io this town for the first time on the lOlh of 

 April. 



Cuckoo.— This bird was first beard on the lltb of April. 



Early Singing of Warblers.— The chiffchaff, willow warbler, blackcap and tree 

 pipit were heard singing on the lith of April.— A de Hugel; Florian, Torquay, 

 April 17, 1869. 



Osprey in Norfolk.— X fine bird (probably a male) was shot near one of the broads 

 in this county last September. — T. E. Gunn; Nonvich. 



Early nesting of the Barn Owl in Norfolk. — An unusual instance of the early nesting 

 (if the barn owl has recently come under my notice. On the 26ih of February a nest 

 of two fresh-laid eggs was taken from an old ash tree at Ketteringham, by a lad, who 

 also caught the old bird whilst sitting. — Id. 



Ring Ousel at Muswell Hill.— On the 10th of April a man in this neighbourhood 

 shot a specimen of the ring ousel ; it was in company with the male bird : they were 

 both feeding on some grass-land between Highgate and Muswell Hill : both birds 

 were seen two days before, and the male continued near the spot until the 12th of April. 

 Not having heard of the occurrence of this bird so near London before, I have taken 

 the liberty of sending you this short notice. — Walter Smith; North Lodge, Muswell 

 Hill, rsth April, 1869. 



Cirl Buntings and Crossbills in Devonshire. — In March I received for preservation 

 a beautiful pair of cirl buntings, male and female : they were shot during the earlier 

 part of the month at Knightsbridge, in Devonshire. I also received information of 

 the capture of several crossbills about the same time, in the same neighbourhood. — 

 T. E. Ounn ; Norwich. 



Crossbills in Surrey. — During the middle of February a flock of crossbills, consist- 

 ing of one male and six females, were seen on some firs at Foxwarren, near Cobham, 

 some of which were killed and sent me for preservation. — Id. 



Name of a Finch. — I shall be much obliged if you will be so good as enlighten me 

 as to the species of the bird of which the following is a description : it was shot 

 yesterday near a farmhouse at Mayfield, having been observed in the garden for a day 

 or two previous feeding on groundsel. The bill indicates that it belongs to the bunt- 

 ing family : the length of the bird, from the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail, is five 

 inches and three lines ; forehead, crown, cheeks and throat, bright ultra-marine ; space 

 between the bill and the eye black; back, tail coverts, breast and under parts, bright 

 greenish blue, changing in different lights, of precisely'lhe same tints and varying hue 

 as the tail-coverts of the common kingfisher; primaries brown; the outer web of the 

 fourth white; the outer web of the greater wing-coverts blue ; the inner, which is seen 

 but little when the wings are closed, black; tail dark brown, the outer edge of the 

 central feathers tinged with blue. The bird was in very good condition : I have pre- 

 served it. — H. T. Murdoch Kirby ; Mayfield Rectory, Hurst Green, Sussex, April 

 14, 1869. 



[As well as I can make out the description, I think the bird is the " Nonpareil 

 Finch," a native of parts of South America: they are frequently brought to this 

 country, and live very well in the aviaries of the " Zoo." I know of no other species 

 that answer in any way your query. There can be no doubt that the bird is an 

 escaped specimen. — F. Bond to E. Newman.J 



SECOND SERIES — VOL. IV. 2 H 



