Birds. 1697 



crash, splitting off one of its largest limbs, and smashing into innumerable pieces its 

 smaller branches, mingled with the scattered remains of a number of nests — the work 

 of the poor unfortunate rooks, now left to seek another abode. — T. Goatley ; Chipping 

 Norton, March \8th, 1847. 



Occurrence of the Hoopoe near Ipswich. — A fine specimen was brought to the Ips- 

 wich Museum, this morning, of the female hoopoe, shot at Hollesley last week : its sto- 

 mach contained portions of earwigs and larvae. On dissection, we found a number of 

 eggs, which, had the bird lived, we think would probably have been hatched in this 

 country. Is it not of unusual occurrence so early in the year? — George Ransome ; 

 Ipsivich, March 22nd, 1847. 



Occurrence of the Hoopoe in Ireland. — Four specimens of the hoopoe have lately 

 been sent me for preservation ; two of them killed by Thomas Bate, Esq., on the 17th 

 and 24th of March, at Ballyhin, twelve miles south of Wexford : a third was caught 

 at Ballykillaboy, about four miles from Waterford, by a boy who chased it for a mile 

 and back again ; the boy says, it never rose more than two feet from the ground : the 

 fourth was sent me by Mrs. J. Power, of Old Court, in the county of Waterford. — 

 Richard Glennon ; Dublin, April 3rd, 1847. 



Supposed New British Lark. — It seems worth while to send you the following let- 

 ter, in case it has not yet met your eye ; I copied it from the ' Kentish Gazette,' of 

 February 2nd, 1847, to the Editor of which it is addressed. 



"New species of the Lark. — About a month since was brought me a lark of a 

 most singular colour, which I believed to be a variety of the common lark (Alauda 

 arvensis). On dissection, it proved to be a male adult bird. A few days after, Dr. 

 Case, of this town, procured another, corresponding in every respect as to colour and 

 form with the first. I then made an anatomical observation, and compared the 

 anatomy of the common skylark, and found a vast distinction : the second was a female. 

 About ten days since I found another, which is also a female, and of precisely the same 

 structure and colour. All three of the above birds have been examined by the Com- 

 mittee of the Margate Literary and Scientific Institution, to which I am Naturalist, 

 and they agree at once that they are a new species of British bird : this / am able to 

 prove. They are all of them of an uniform cream-brown. The name I have given 

 them is Alauda Isabellina. Any person wishing to see them may do so by calling at 

 my residence. Hoping you will give this publication, 



" I am, Sir, Yours, &c, 

 " Margate, Jan. 24th, 1847." " S. Mummery." 



Should the species prove a new one, it is to be hoped you will give your subscribers 

 the advantage of a figure and descriptive measurements, &c. — Edward H. M. S laden ; 

 Warnford, Feb. 12th, 1847. 



Occurrence of the Black Redstart and Harlequin Duck near Torquay. — Among the 

 rarer British birds which have visited us this winter, I have noticed three pair of black 

 redstarts; and during the same period a small flock of harlequin ducks have frequented 

 our bay, of which, I have been fortunate enough to procure two specimens, a male 

 and female.— Robert Battersby, M.D. ; Torquay, Feb. 20th, 1847. 



Occurrence of the Gray Phalarope at Mitcheldean. — Last January a specimen of 

 this bird was killed at Mitcheldean on a small duck-pond, close to a farm-house. It 

 was very tame, and had been associating with the ducks some days before it was shot ; 

 this bird was sent to me, and is now in my possession. — J. N. Beadles ; Broad wau, 

 Worcestershire, March '3rd, 1847. 



