Birds. 3753 



The Osprey (Falco Halisetus) in Surrey. — One of these rare birds was shot on the 

 18th of October in the grounds of Milford House, near Godalming. It had just cap* 

 tured a fish of nearly a pound weight. Another was seen in the neighbourhood about 

 the same time. — G. J. Webb ; Brasenose College, Oxford, November 15, 1852. 



Occurrence of the Long-eared Owl (Strix Otus) and Fire-crested Regulus (Regulus 

 ignicapillus) near Penzance. — A specimen of the first-mentioned species occurred a 

 day or two since at Trevayler, and proved to be a male in fine plumage, with the tufts 

 well developed. The fire-crested Regulus appears to visit us in greater or less num- 

 bers about this time every year ; one was observed near Marazion a few days since by 

 Mr. Vingue. — Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, December 8, 1852. 



Occurrence of the Black Redstart (Sylvia Tithys) at Bembridge. — On the 9th of 

 December last I met with a single individual of this species, on the sea-shore here, in 

 company with several rock pipits. This is quite confirmatory of the bird being an ac- 

 cidental winter visitor to our southern coast. — A. G. More ; Bembridge, Isle of Wight, 

 January 10, 1853. 



Note on the late Occurrence of the Blackcap Warbler. — On the 22nd of December 

 a gentleman in this county, while walking in his garden, knocked down with his stick 

 a male blackcap warbler, in full plumage : the bird was fat, but the stomach empty. 

 — J. H. Gurney ; Easton, Norfolk, January 4, 1853. 



Note on the Cole Titmouse (Parus ater). — This summer 1 have had many clumps 

 of sun-flowers about the place, which have of late been a great attraction to several 

 species of titmouse, and thus a source of much pleasure to myself. The cole titmouse 

 especially, which I had seen little of until I came here, has been so abundant that T 

 have seen two or three at a time digging away with their bills at the head of the same 

 flower, and now that they have left them like an empty honey-comb, they are in num- 

 bers under the beech-trees, feeding on the fallen mast. — William C. Hewitson ; Oat- 

 lands, November 21, 1852. 



Supposed Occurrence of the Rufous Swallow (Hirundo rufula) near Penzance. — A 

 circumstance was mentioned to me yesterday, which may be regarded as interesting 

 and worth a place in the ' Zoologist,' as coming from a naturalist whose general accu- 

 racy may be depended upon implicitly. Mr. Vingoe, of this place, whose name has 

 before frequently appeared in your pages, introduced the subject by remarking that 

 he had a strong suspicion that he had discovered, in the later months of the past sum- 

 mer, the rufous swallow. His attention was for some time directed to an individual 

 amongst several others, that exhibited an uniform copper colour over the whole of the 

 under parts. At the time he had not seen a figure of the bird in Gould's work, but 

 having occasion afterwards to refer to one of the numbers, he accidentally saw the 

 figure of the rufous swallow, and at once recognized it as the new bird he had seen. 

 At a subsequent period I may have to refer to this subject again, and it will then be 

 probably when the bird is captured, and the authority of Mr. Vingoe supported by the 

 fact. — Edward Hearle Rodd ; Penzance, November 27, 1852. 



Swallows in November. — I have never before this year had the pleasure of seeing 

 swallows in November, and had therefore, with the last days of October, most reluc- 

 tantly wished them farewell, not expecting to see them again before the sunny days of 

 spring ; they are however yet here, and to-day (November 21) I have had four house- 

 martins about the house. On the 18th I saw two chimney-swallows at Esher. — W. C. 

 Hewitson; Oatlands, November 21, 1852, 



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