204 RARER BIRDS IN ISLE OF WIGHT. [PART IL. 
larly enough, found under similar circumstances 
only about three weeks before, within a mile of 
the same place. The White-fronted or Laughing 
Goose (Anser albifrons). The Black Redstart (Pha- 
nicura tithys), (two shot the same day, about 1850, 
in the neighbourhood of the Undercliff): of its 
cogener, the common Redstart, though so much 
more common in some localities than the black 
variety, I believe I have never known above a 
single specimen obtained in the Island. The 
Hoopoe (several instances). The Snow Bunting 
(Plectrophanes nivalis). The Cirl Bunting (Lm- 
beriza cirlus) ;—I saw two of these birds feeding 
together on the gravel-walk close to a house near 
East Cowes, in February, 1858, and having watched 
them for some time through a good glass, am 
able to speak positively as to their identity. The 
Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) I have also 
seen on more than one occasion. Though I do 
not remember to have heard of the Merlin for 
some time past, yet until within the last few years 
it was by no means an unfrequent occurrence for 
one to pay the penalty to which his predatory 
habits rendered him liable, I having been myself 
on several occasions his executioner. The Hobby 
appears to be much more rare in the Island than 
