4296 Birds. 



mixed breed, and that in confinement it is sometimes obtained, but 

 very rarely. Also, in the ■ Natural History of Ireland,' vol. ii., Birds, 

 by W. Thompson, it is stated as a reason for the golden pheasant not 

 doing well in a wild state in this country, if introduced where 

 the common pheasant abounds, that they are so shy and timid a bird, 

 that they are easily driven off by the other species. The fact of these 

 two birds rather proves the contrary, as not only the half-bred birds 

 but the golden hen drove all the other pheasants, as was frequently 

 seen by the keeper. I believe the golden pheasant to be a very pug- 

 nacious bird. These birds were so cunning and so well able to take 

 care of themselves, that after it was known they were there, and the 

 mischief they did, the covert was beat closely in the usual way 

 for pheasant, in the hope of being able to destroy them, but without 

 meeting with them, and the keeper received orders at last to watch for 

 them and shoot them at feed, which he did. These birds are now in 

 my collection, through the kindness of Mr. Halsey. 



Since these notes were written, I have seen a specimen of the same 

 hybrid between a common and golden pheasant, which was sent to 

 Mr. Leadbeater for preserving, but bred in an aviary. He is rather 

 larger and handsomer than my two birds, but very similar in plumage. 

 A specimen has also been recorded in the 6 Zoologist,' if I remember 

 right, since the date of my birds being shot, and this was also bred in 

 confinement. 



John W. G. Spicer. 



Willey House, near Farnham, Surrey. 

 April 2, 1854. 



Occurrence of the American Stint (Tringa pusilla) near Penzance. 

 By E. H. Rodd, Esq. 



I think that an undoubted example of this Tringa, new to the 

 British Fauna, may be recorded as having been obtained from 

 Mount's Bay during the month of October last ; and having this day 

 minutely examined the specimen as preserved by Mr. W. H. Vingoe, 

 who shot the bird, and drew my attention to its specific value, I have 

 no hesitation in sending to you a few particulars of this new Tringa. 

 The bird was found singly in a piece of wet grass-land adjoining the 

 sea-shore, and when it rose, Mr. Vingoe observed that it was silent; 

 whereas in the other two species, viz., the little and Temminck's 



