14 THE BIKDS OF DEVOX. 



Goodrington Sands, Babbacoinbe, Watpoiube, and Teignmoutli (Zool. 1851, p. 3234); 

 and had five whicli were shot in the winter of 1852-53 near Torquaj- (op. clt. p. 3807). 

 Dr. Robert Battersby noticed three pairs in the winter of 1846— i7 near there {op. cit. 

 J). iri97). One occurred at Paignton in February 1870, and two adult males at 

 Torquay in 1873 [op.cif. 1870, p. 2098, and 1874, p. 3907). 



Messrs. R. and 0. Jordan shot specimens at Teignmouth in January 1844, January 

 1850, January and February 1851, and January 1852 (Zool. 1844, p. 494; 1851, 

 p. 3112: and Trans. Devon. Assoc, vi. p. 710). One occurred at Dawlish in 1867 

 (Zool. 1867, p. 703). 



One was shot at Exraouth iu December 1882 (' Field ' for December 16th, 1882), 

 and another in December 1889. We saw a young male there November 2nd, 1890. 

 An adult male was obtained at Seaton on March 1st, 1883. If, occurs occasionally 

 near Exeter, where individuals were seen in 1874-75-76 ; and Bellamy states that it 

 had been known to breed there (Nat. Hist. S. Devon, p. 206). One which we saw was 

 taken alive, on a limed twig, by a bird-catcher, October 7th, 1882. This species has 

 been seen at, Barnstaple and Instow, but appears to be rare in North Devon (VV. S. H., 

 in ' Natiiralist; 1866, p. 358 ; M. A. M., Zool. 1867, p. 1017; and G. F. M., Zool. 

 1873, p. 2917). 



Ked-spotted Blue-throat. Cyanecula suecica (Linn.). 



An accidental visitor of very rare occurrence. A Blue-throat was shot 

 iu a furze-brake, Uf^ar "Whimple, about eight miles from Exeter, about 

 September loth, 1852, by the late Mr. Wentworth W. Duller (T. L. P., 

 Zool. 1852, p. 3709). One was seen by a lady in a garden on the Topsham 

 lload near Exeter about 18G9. The blue on the throat was distinctly 

 noticed, and the bird identified at the time, by means of Gould's ' Birds of 

 Great Britain,' as a Ci/anecula. A doubtful occurrence is recorded from 

 Devon by M, C, Cooke (' Naturalist,' vol. iii. 1853, p. 203). It is supposed 

 to have occurred in the neighbouring counties of Cornwall, Dorset, and 

 Somerset, but there is more or less doubt regarding nearly all of the 

 reputed occurrences in the south-western counties. 



^Ir. Cecil Smith mentions a young bird of the year, now in the A. M. M., 

 said to have been shot in Somerset in 1S5G (' B. of Somerset,' p. 84). It 

 was formerly iu the collection of Mr. Boss, of Topsham. 



Kofe. — During the month of July 1877 our vicarage garden at Bishop's Lydeard, 

 near Taunton, was tenanted by a Blue-throat. Our attention was first directed to it 

 by the ])'.ignacity displayed towards it by the Redstarts frequenting our grounds. 

 One afternoon getthig a close view of the stranger when it was perched on the roof of 

 the conservatory we distinctly recognized its blue throat with a patch of white in the 

 centre, proving it to be an example of C. hucocj/ana, the southern form of this warbler. 

 We only saw this interesting little visitor on one subsequent occasion, and suppose it 

 to have been either driven away by the jealous Redstarts, or to have fallen a victim to 

 our garden cat. (M. A. M.) 



Redbreast. Erithacus mhecula (Linn.). 



[Robin, Bcdocke, Euddock : Dcv.'] 



Resident, generally distributed and abundant. Breeds. 

 Mr. Gatcombe noticed that Robins are very numerous on wild rocky 

 parts of the sea-coast near Plymouth during the winter months (Zool. 



