Birds. 2953 



Occurrence of the Ash coloured Harrier (Circus cineraceus) near Arundel. — Not 

 long since I obtained a female specimen of this bird, which was shot in company with 

 a male near the above place. I regret to add it was very much hurt. — /. B. Ellman ; 

 Lewes, October 18, 1850. 



Early appearance of the Merlin (Falco jEsalon) at Lewes. — I have this season had 

 this bird brought me unusually early : it was caught alive on the 13th of September, 

 near this town. — Id. 



Occurrence of the Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata) at Lewes. — On Saturday last 

 I obtained the Dartford warbler among some furze bushes on the Downs. I have 

 often searched for it in vain previously. Its form and note when once seen can never 

 be mistaken. — Id. 



[Will Mr. Ellman please give a description of its song, as some difference of 

 opinion prevails on the subject. — E. NJ] 



Occurrence of the Twite (Fringilla montium) at Lewes. — On the 11th instant, I 

 received a specimen of the " Scotch linnet,'' as the twite is called among the profes- 

 sionals in this county. I have never before observed it so early. — Id. 



White Variety of the Twite. — About a month since, a pair of twites, perfectly white, 

 were shot at Bewerly Moor, near Pately, and were forwarded to Mr. Stubbs, bird-stuffer, 

 of Ripon, for preservation. — James C Garth; Knaresborough, October 14, 1850. 



Cream-coloured variety of the Rook (Comus frugilegus). — When at Harewood, a 

 few weeks ago, I saw, at a birdstuffer's of that place, a cream-coloured rook, which had 

 been sent there by Viscount Neville, of Woodhall, in the rookery of which place it 

 had been shot last spring : it is a young bird of the year. — Id. 



A Magpie's delicate attention to its Mistress. — A favourite magpie had been ac- 

 customed to receive dainty bits from the mouth of its mistress. The other day it 

 perched as usual on her shoulder, and inserted its beak between her lips ; not, as it 

 proved, to receive, for, as one good turn deserves another, the grateful bird dropped an 

 immense green fat caterpillar into the lady's mouth. — Literary Gazette, Oct. 12, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Hoopoe (Upupa Epops) near Stowmarket. — A specimen of the 

 hoopoe was shot at Westhorpe, near this town, on Sunday (!) the 20th instant, by a 

 labouring man ; it had kept about his house, in a ploughed field, for about a week. 

 The bird was much shot and moulting, and, therefore, unfit for setting up. — C. R. 

 Bree ; Stowmarket, October, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Bee Eater (Merops A piaster) at Icklesham, Sussex. — A specimen 

 of this scarce bird, shot at the above place, has recently come into my possession. It 

 has only once been observed previously in this county. — /. B. Ellman ; Lewes, Oc- 

 tober 18, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius minor) near Whixley. — On 

 the 30th of July last, a specimen of the little ringed plover was shot in a ploughing 

 field, near Whixley, by Mr. James Styan, of that place : it was shot at a distance of 

 twenty-five yards. It was observed to run very quickly over the land, and occasion- 

 ally uttering a plaintive whistle. On dissection, it proved a male bird. I have 

 noticed golden plovers in the same ground, during the winter months. — James C. 

 Garth ; Knaresborough, October 14, 1850. 



Occurrence of the Glossy Ibis (Ibis falcinellus) at Piddinghoe, Sussex. — A beautiful 

 male specimen of this scarce bird was shot at the above place, on the 21st of May last, 

 and is now in my possession. A day or two previous, a pair were seen, and I have no 

 doubt that the female specimen, mentioned in the 'Zoologist' (Zool. 2879), killed in 



