294 THE ZOOLOGIS'T, 
we may take the case of White’s Thrush, for though its proper home is far 
distant it is a bird of wandering habits, considerable powers of flight, is 
migratory within certain limits, and has been taken in several intermediate 
localities. Prof. Newton, I think, has enumerated about twenty captures on 
the continent of Europe, and it has been taken several times in England. 
Under these circumstances; I think, on sufficient evidence of the bird 
having been taken in an apparently wild state, and with no traces of con- 
finement about it, we should be disposed to admit it; but should a supposed 
British-killed White’s Thrush turn out on examination to be the allied Turdus 
lunulatus of Australia, I think, though the evidence as to the capture might 
be the same, we should he disposed to reject its claims to be British, on the 
ground of its still more distant habitat and the greater difficulties which 
would have to be encountered during the flight, its not having been taken in 
intermediate places (I believe it has not occurred even in India); moreover, 
there is only one extremely doubtful occurrence in England—in fact, so 
doubtful that it is not worth consideration. Numbers alone might be some 
guide, as in the case of the Sand Grouse, where the birds arrived in such 
numbers as to preclude the possibility of their all being escapes; some 
stragglers, however, were taken along the line of route, but in spite of that, 
had only a’ few appeared here, we should have been much more sceptical 
about them as their habitat is distant, and they are not much given to 
such erratic proceedings, and they can be, and sometimes are, kept in 
confinement. As to signs of captivity, where such are apparent I should 
consider them conclusive evidence of the bird being an escape; but where 
no such signs are apparent I should not at all consider their absence as 
conclusive evidence of such an event not having happened. Birds are now 
so well kept, and indeed occasionally allowed such perfect Jiberty, that no 
signs of captivity appear about them when they take it into their heads to 
wander, and, as unfortunately too often happens, are shot and recorded as 
British specimens. ‘This is very much the case with ducks and other wild 
fowl. Many Canada Geese were shot about here the winter before last, 
and not one of those that I saw bore the slightest sign of having escaped 
from confinement, yet in all probability they were escapes; at least, 
for my own part I always feel very sceptical about Canada Geese, though 
the numbers that were then shot rather shook my scepticism. A few 
Egyptian Geese were also shot at the same time; these probably have a 
better standing ground than the Canada Geese, but still it is impossible to 
say that any particular individual which may be obtained is not an escape. 
To show how soon escapes are made into bond fide rare specimens, [ may 
give an instance of my own, which is only one among several. This last 
spring I lost a Scaup Duck from my pond; three days afterwards I saw 
the skin at the Taunton Museum, just in time to stop a note to the local 
papers—and perhaps to ‘The Zoologist’ also—on the appearance of the 
