28 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
six years of almost daily acquaintance with Hyde Park and Kensington 
Gardens—of the Spotted Flycatcher. This bird has bred, I believe, in 
this neighbourhood every year, and in 1887 I saw a pair feeding their young 
in Cleveland Gardens, Hyde Park; but last summer I did not observe a 
single one. It is much to be regretted that more attention is not paid to 
the subject of attracting birds, in the mode of planting our public parks and 
gardens. TI have no hesitation in saying that with the exercise of a little 
judgment and trouble, many pleasing songsters, such as the Nightingale, 
Blackcap, Whitethroat, and others which visit us on migration, might easily 
be induced to spend the summer in the parks. Some years ago a laurel 
plantation was made in Kensington Gardens, and during the summer 
the song of the Blackcap was always to be heard there; but the laurels 
disappeared one day, and I have not heard it since. A good nut-grove by 
the side of the Long Water would, I am quite sure, soon attract a pair of 
Nightingales ; and what would be more delightful to Londoners than to sit 
and listen to the prince of songsters! The Lesser Whitethroat has on 
several occasions frequented Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park; and 
were suitable places available, the Common Whitethroat would sojourn 
here, as would also the Chiffchaff, Willov Wren, Wood Wren, and many 
other birds of like interest.—J. Youne (64, Hereford Road, Bayswater). 
Rare Birds in the Isle of Wight.—lI have to record the shooting, 
early in November, of a Greylag Goose, out of a flock of twelve that were 
met with on the coast near Blackgang. ‘This species has not before been 
met with in the island. A Quail was shot in the Undercliff in November; 
whether any of these birds winter here is doubtful. Mr. Smith, the bird- 
stuffer, of Newport, informs me that he saw in June last a Blue-throated 
Warbler. This is the fifth recorded appearance of this rare bird in the 
island: two were observed, as announced at the time, at Bonchurch; one, 
an old male in perfect plumage and in full song; the other a young bird, 
the breast only partially blue; the third was seen at Shanklin; the fourth 
was shot at Steephill. Both this bird and the Hoopoe (which is to be met 
with here in most years) might probably breed in the Undercliff, if protected. 
Both Swallows and Martins are decreasing year by year, and few of either 
species now nest here; nor were many observed last summer in the North 
of England or in Wales. The Starling, now a common bird, was rarely 
met with sixty years ago in the Undercliff. Iam informed by Mr. Henry 
Nogers, of Freshwater, that the following species have been procured there 
last autumn :—Pallas’s Sand Grouse, Black Guillemot, Bulwer’s Petrel, 
Glaucous Gull, Little Tern, and Sandwich Tern. Mr. Smith, of Newport, 
informs me that he has received the following birds for preservation :—On 
Jan. 14th, 1887, a Bohemian Waxwing; on the 18th, a Hawfinch; and om 
March 3d, a Rook, which, strange to say, is new to the island fauna; on 
April 26th, a Pied Flycatcher, and on the 30th another, bird of the same 
