640 Birds. 



of Mr. Grapes, of Newport : it was killed about fifteen years ago not 

 far from Yarmouth. 



The Vied Wagtail is found here throughout the year, but only 

 sparingly in winter. In the autumn, flocks of from eighteen to twen- 

 ty birds make their appearance, and mostly frequent the sea-shore : 

 after remaining about a fortnight they disappear, and are not seen 

 again till the following spring. I am perfectly satisfied of the migra- 

 tion of this bird ; though doubtless every individual does not leave 

 the country. 



The Grey Wagtail is a winter visitor with us, and in no great 

 numbers. I have observed it usually in pairs, frequenting the mouths 

 of rills on the sea-shore. 



Ray's Wagtail, or the Yellow Wagtail, I usually see pretty fre- 

 quently following the plough, on its arrival in the spring ; but I re- 

 member to have met with it but once during summer. It, as well as 

 the wryneck, is here called the " Barley-bird," in consequence of its 

 making its appearance at the time of barley sowing. 



The Meadoiu-pipit is very common. I know no small bird which 

 varies so much both in size and shade ; I think I might add, in note 

 also. I have sometimes mistaken it for the tree-pipit (which, strange 

 to say, I cannot find). At other times I have shot it, at a loss to de- 

 cide what it was ; and once I felt almost certain I was in pursuit of 

 Richard's pipit, nor was it till I reached home, and compared the spe- 

 cimen I had been at no little trouble in obtaining, with Mr. Yarrell's 

 plate and description, that the illusion vanished. Once, too (for my 

 mistakes have been almost as numerous as the birds themselves are), 

 I was asked to decide whether certain small birds flying abont on the 

 shore at Yarmouth, were rock or meadow pipits ; I pronounced them, 

 though with some hesitation, to be the former. Two or three were 

 shot : I retained my opinion ; but was not surprised to find, on reach- 

 ing home, and comparing the birds we had shot with a specimen of 

 the rock pipit, that I was again mistaken. I do not find this diversi- 

 sity alluded to by writers on Ornithology ; and yet, I cannot believe 

 myself singular in noticing it. 



The Rock-pipit abounds along our southern coast, but is seldom, if 

 ever, seen on the northern shore of the island. 



The Skylark is, I think, equally common in summer and winter. 



The Wood-lark is far from common ; it was not till this last winter 

 that I succeeded in obtaining specimens. On February 3, 1844, there 

 had been a fall of snow, and, as is always the case at such times, ma- 

 ny birds resorted to the UnderclifF for food and shelter. I was stalk- 



