PREFACE. IX 



In the November number of the ' Annals and Magazine of Natural 

 History ' is a notice, by Sir William Jardine, of the occurrence of 

 Scolopax Brehmi in Scotland, unaccompanied by any expression of 

 doubt as to this bird being specifically distinct from the common 

 snipe. Turning, however, to Temminck's Manual (part iv. p. 433), I 

 find that eminent ornithologist totally discards the idea that the vari- 

 ation in the number of tail-feathers, among specimens of the common 

 snipe, constitutes a specific difference. Writing of Scolopax Brehmi, 

 he says, " II n'est guere possible de trouver dans les formes, ni dans 

 la coloration du plumage, aucune difference constante ou remarquable 

 entre celui-ci et les individus pourvus de quatorze pennes a la queue." 

 S. Brehmi has sixteen feathers in the tail, S. Gallinago fourteen, and 

 S. Delamotti only twelve. The variation is of common occurrence, 

 and the birds so varying are always found in company with those 

 having the normal number. The difference, not only in number, but 

 in the size and comparative length of the tail-feathers in snipes, is 

 well known to ornithological sportsmen : the last-named discrepancy 

 occurs particularly at this period of the year (October 9th and 10th), 

 when the autumnal moult has scarcely become complete. I am in- 

 debted to Mr. Tomes for a copy of Sir William Jardine's commu- 

 nication (Zool. 2621) : that gentleman's inquiry is answered by the 

 above quotation from Temminck. 



The last addition to our British birds is a new species of warbler 

 (Sylvia Orphea), the occurrence of which at Wetherby, in Yorkshire, 

 is recorded by Mr. Milner in the October number (Zool. 2588). It is 

 very remarkable that this Italian songster should have been first de- 

 tected as British so far north as Yorkshire. Viewed as an addition to 

 our Fauna, this is perhaps the most interesting of the species I have 

 enumerated ; first, because no doubt whatever can be thrown on its 

 genuineness as a voluntary migrant ; secondly, because it was evidently 

 nesting here ; and thirdly, because its occasional occurrence in the 

 alpine regions of central Europe renders its re-appearance here a 

 matter of probability. 



In Ornithology there are four other incidents of so much interest 

 that I think it right to invite more particular attention to them. The 



b 



