916 . Birds. . 



with it in winter time in Apse copse, and Shanklin copse, associating 

 with the cole tit, blue tit, and gold-crest ; and T have seen it several 

 times in Bonchurch. 



The Wren abounds. 



The Hoopoe has occurred several times. Ten or twelve years ago 

 two specimens were obtained by G. Hatfield, Esq., in Bonchurch ; 

 one of these birds is now in the British Museum. April 12th, 1839, 

 a hoopoe was shot at Westbrook, near Ryde. Three have been 

 obtained by Mr. Butler, of Yarmouth. A fine specimen is preserved 

 at Thorley Farm, killed two or three years back by the tenant, Mr. 

 Gibbs. August 1st, 1843, a hoopoe was seen and shot at in Bord- 

 wood Forest : it remained in the neighbourhood for several days. 

 And lastly, April 15th, 1844, a hoopoe was seen by myself in Bon- 

 church. I was standing on my lawn, giving some directions to my 

 boatman, when the bird suddenly made its appearance over the cliff, 

 as if just come in from the sea. It was pursued by two or three 

 small birds, which were immediately joined in the chase by a black- 

 bird and a missel thrush. Mr. Yarrell has said truly, " so remarkable 

 is the appearance of the hoopoe, that once having seen a specimen of 

 the bird, it is not likely to be forgotten :" but 1 verily believe that, 

 even if I had never seen the bird, I must have known it. Bidding 

 my boatman keep a sharp look out, I ran to the house for my gun ; 

 and, on my return, found the bird flying hurriedly about in an adjoin- 

 ing orchard, apparently endeavouring to escape from its persecutors, 

 alighting for a second, and then taking wing again. It either did 

 not observe me, or did not regard my presence ; and seeing its evi- 

 dent wish to settle, I would not risk an uncertain shot at it on the 

 wing ; presently it did settle, and within twenty yards, most favour- 

 ably for a shot, except that just beyond it, and, as I feared, in a line, 

 on the opposite side of the hedge, stood my worthy boatman, a friend, 

 and his little boy ; and therefore, with all my anxiety to obtain the 

 bird, prudence forbade my firing, as I had no wish to make specimens 

 of my friend, his child, and my boatman : though the last, by the 

 way, is not an ordinary example of his species, fulfilling, as he does 

 most creditably, the threefold office of gardener, groom and boatman. 

 His nautical skill and experience he acquired in His late Majesty's 

 service, having been sent in early life on board a man-of-war, for, as 

 he assures me, the smuggling delinquencies of his mother ! But to 

 return to the hoopoe, and record my disappointment, for naturalists, 

 like other men, are subject to occasional disappointments ; the bird, 

 after remaining perched for a short time, during which it continued to 

 erect and depress its beautiful crest, took wing, and baffled my 



