NOTICES OF NEW BOOKS. ] 15 



is stated to have been only seen once, and not procured ; and the 

 Capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus, which is included in the list 

 (p. 325) on the strength of the occurrence of a single specimen 

 at Winterslow, in 1841, which was supposed to have escaped from 

 Mr. Baring's park, where several have been introduced. Two 

 other species should be expunged from the list, namely, the King 

 Duck, Somateria spectabilis (p. 485), and the Cayenne Rail, 

 Aramides cayennensis (p. 445). 



The records of the former nesting haunts of the Kite in 

 Wiltshire are interesting now that this bird has ceased to breed 

 there, and has become so scarce in other parts of England. At 

 one time it would seem to have been not uncommon in the 

 county, and is known to have nested in Clarendon Woods, at 

 Lavington, Martinsell, Fiddington Down, and West Lavington. 

 At Lydiard Millicent, the seat of Lord Bolingbroke, there was 

 a tree, perhaps still in existence, called the " Kite-tree," where 

 these birds had a nest from time immemorial, and where they 

 might always be seen in the spring only " a few years ago." 

 There is also a wood lying between the villages of Erchfont and 

 Potterne, still known as " Kite Wood," which doubtless was 

 originally so-called from its having been formerly a breeding 

 haunt of this fine bird. 



The nesting of Montagu's Harrier in Wiltshire is another 

 fact of interest to which due importance is attached (p. 96). The 

 author was informed by Mr. Tyndall Powell that a pair of old 

 birds of this species, and two young ones now preserved at 

 Hurdcott, and other young birds preserved at Sutton Veny, were 

 taken from his rabbit-warren above Fifield Bavant, and had their 

 nest in the gorse where they were shot and trapped. 



That very local little bird, the Dartford Warbler, is noted 

 (p. 166) as remaining throughout the year in Wiltshire, where it 

 has been observed, and specimens procured, at Amesbury and 

 Chippenham, as well as on the downs at Mere, where some are 

 almost certain to be roused from the gorse when the hounds are 

 drawing cover. 



" Seen against a dark hill-side or a lowering sky, a flock 

 of Snow Buntings presents an exceedingly beautiful appearance ; 

 and it may then be seen how aptly the term ' Snow-flake ' has 

 been applied to the species. No more pleasing combination 

 of sight and sound can be afforded than when a cloud of these 



