Birds. 1025 



Occurrence of the Pine Grosbeak near Rochdale. A fine specimen of this rare bird 

 was shot last February, in a fir-plantation near Rochdale, Lancashire. It is now in 

 ray collection. — Hamlet Clark ; Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, May 28, 1845. 



Occurrence of the Hoopoe at the Land's End, and the Scilly Isles. During the past 

 and the present week several specimens of this bird have been sent to Mr. Vingoe for 

 preservation. By the Scilly packet, last week, I received from Mr. Smith, the propri- 

 etor of the Islands, a male bird> and this week the female was sent to me by the same 

 gentleman. Both these birds were repeatedly seen together for several days, in the 

 island of Tresco. Mr. Smith has sent me a further notice of his having secured a spe- 

 cimen from St. Mary's island, and of having seen two more in Ganelly, another small 

 island adjacent to Tresco. Another example was obtained on the grounds of James 

 Trembath, Esq., at Mayon, near the Land's End. — Edw. Hearle Rodd; Penzance, 

 Ap-il, 16, 1845. 



Tameness of a Ringdove. A parallel instance to the voluntary domestication of the 

 ringdove before mentioned (Zool. 662), occurred some years since in my own family. 

 One of a pair kept in a cage having made its escape, liberty was given to the other ; 

 but it continued about the grounds, at first descending warily from a tree to take the 

 food left on the ground, then feeding from the hand from the lower branches, till at 

 length it became so perfectly tame and familiar that it tapped with its bill at the win- 

 dows, and would come, though with caution, into the sitting-room. It often ran on 

 foot after one of my sisters, who was its especial favourite, and once, at least, brought 

 her in its beak a glove which she had dropped. To a tame kestril, who was a constant 

 and attached companion of my own, the dove was an object of especial jealousy. He 

 frequently attacked her at the windows, and was strongly suspected of being art and 

 part in her final and sudden disappearance, after this intimacy had continued about a 

 year. — F. Holme. 



Occurrence of the Barbary Partridge in England. I possess a British-killed speci- 

 men of the Barbary partridge, which I purpose sending to Mr. Yarrell, for the forth- 

 coming second edition of his valuable work on British birds. — T. Goatley ; Chipping 

 Norton, June 21, 1845. 



Migration of the Water Rail. With reference to the migration of this bird, to 

 which I find some allusion made in a late number (Zool. 876), perhaps I may be al- 

 lowed to state, that in this neighbourhood I find it throughout the whole year ; and, 

 although not in numbers sufficient for me to say it is very common, still it is by no 

 means rare. — T. W. Barlow. 



Occurrence of Sabine's Snipe in Sussex. I have lately procured a specimen (a ve- 

 ry good one) of the rarest of all British birds — the Scolopax Sabini. It was shot early 

 last month, near one of the estuaries of Chichester-harbour. The person who killed 

 it (a retired serjeant) sold it for five shillings; but its new possessor (fortunately for 

 me, not a collector) became so well aware of its value, that I succeeded with difficulty 

 in procuring it for five pounds. I believe this is the sixth instance of its occurrence, 

 and it has never been obtained out of the British islands. Captain Bonham, of the 

 10th Hussars, who shot the second that was ever killed (vide Yarrell), showed me his 

 bird last month at Brighton. It is, perhaps, a little less dark, but otherwise it is simi- 

 lar in all respects to my specimen. — A. E. Knox. 



Occurrence of the Gadwall in Kent. A male specimen of the gadwall (Chauliodus 

 strepera) was shot in Romney-marsh on the 22nd of February. As far as I am able 



iii 3 P 



