AMPELID^. 51 



A female "Woodchat was captured l>y means of bird-lime at Plymouth 

 in the autumn of 18(36. 



This specimen Mr, Gatcombe stated to be the only one he ever saw that 

 had been killed in Devonshire. He detected it at a birdstuffers, named 

 Rogers, at Plymouth, and it was said to have been taken by a bird-catcher 

 (J. G. in litt. and Zool. 18(36, p. 577, and 1873, p. 3717). This bird is 

 now in the collection of Mr. J. H. Gurney. A specimen in Mr. Byne's 

 collection had the reputation of having been obtained in Devon, but 

 possibly belonged to the same category as other rare birds in that 

 collection. 



An adult specimen in Mr. E. H. Rodd's collection was caught in a boat 

 oif Scilly, in September 1840, and during the autumn of 1849 several 

 birds of the year were captured on the Scilly Islands. The Woodchat has 

 been killed at Ploxworth in Dorset, and has nested twice in the Isle of 

 Wight. 



Family AMPELID^. 

 Waxwing. Ampelis garndus, Linn. 



A casual visitor, appearing at long intervals of time during the winter 

 months. Xonc seem to have occurred in Devonshire since the winter of 

 1849-50, when there was a great visitation of this bird to the Avhole of 

 England. 



If an illustration were needed of the increased knowledge possessed by 

 modern ornithologists of the habits of many birds which were almost 

 unknown at the beginning of the present century, no better one could be 

 furnished than by contrasting the exhaustive history given by Professor 

 Newton of the Waxwing (Yarrells ' British Birds,' 4r.h ed. vol. i. p. 523) 

 with the meagre details which were in the possession of Col. Montagu 

 and the naturalists of his day. No bird was surrounded with more 

 mystery to the past generation of ornithologists than this very beautiful 

 species, which appears in this country from the north at most irregular 

 intervals in the winter months, in some years being seen in flocks on our 

 eastern coasts, and then, perhaps, several years will pass without a single 

 example being noticed. Waxwings are very seldom seen in the Western 

 Counties, but when a great Waxwing year comes round, like 185iJ for 

 instance, a few filter through and reach as far to the west as Devonshire. 

 While wc resided at Bishop's Lydeard in W. Somerset, we knew of two 

 instances of the occurrence of the bird in that village, both in the 

 month of February. 



Polwliele (1707) mentions a speciinon killed in an orcluird at Asliburton ; and one 

 in IT'tMJ at Totncs, two otliers being also killed in Devonsiiire in tliat year. Col. 

 Montagu says that this .sjw'cifs luid occurred as far west as Devonshire, one having 

 been sliot in the park of Lord Uuringdun at Saltrain (Orn. Diet., Siippl.). ])r. E. 

 Moore also states that several liiul been sliot in the neighbourhood ot" I'lynioufh, and 

 especially in the plantations of Mount Edgcuiubo and baltram. Specimens woro 



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