264 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



some twittering. In October many Song-Thrushes begin to sing : and 

 they don't stop, weather permitting, all the winter, but gradually attain all 

 that excellence of variety and mimicry which makes their music as instruc- 

 tive as beautiful. 



I beg humbly to protest, though my voice may sound as wheezy as those 

 of Mr, Warde Fowler's female Thrushes (and I never heard such in song), 

 against the separation of the autumn and winter singing of this species. 

 So far as a number singing at once is concerned, emulation may have much 

 to do with it, as it seemingly has with the sweet " chiming " of Willow- 

 Wrens, and the musical rivalry of Robins. 



For how much longer (and why) shall we continue to deny to the 

 Thrush and other such songsters an artistic sense and love of their art — 

 a sense which induces a marvellous variety when a dull repetition would 

 seem as effective, and a love which leads to study hour by hour and day by 

 day? — Charles A. Witchell (St. George's Place, Cheltenham). 



The Occurrence of the Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) in 

 Ireland. — When T was on the west coast of Ireland, on May 26th, 1895, 

 I found, on a lonely mountain side in Co. Mayo, a Pipit which at the 

 very first glance I was satisfied was quite new to me, being distinct 

 in appearance to any Pipit I had ever seen before. The bird perched 

 on a spray of a whin-bush, and looked full face at me, not more than 

 fifteen yards away. The general outline of the bird, its huffish chestnut 

 throat, extending also to sides of head and breast, and bold black-looking 

 stripes on neck and breast, were so striking, that I was at once convinced 

 that there was something new in front of me, and secured the bird. At that 

 time I had never seen an identified skin of Anthus cervinus, and the 

 only plate that of Bree (' Birds of Europe,' vol. ii. p. 155), which misled 

 me somewhat, as he figures an adult male bird without much striping 

 on neck and breast ; and, being busy at the time of my return, the result 

 was that my bird was placed away in a cabinet for future identification 

 and overlooked, until I secured the autumn-plumaged specimen which 

 was shot at St. Leonards, and identified by Dr. Bowdler Sharpe {ante, 1896, 

 p. 101). An examination of this bird, and the investigation I then made, 

 at once suggested to me what my own specimen was. I sent my bird at 

 that time for identification to a gentleman who then did not fully confirm 

 my views, stating only that it was a " queer specimen," which disconcerted 

 me, as I was convinced from descriptions I had read that my bird must be A. 

 cervinus; later, however, he has agreed with me, after another examination 

 of the bird. My specimen is a male, and, according to Seebohm's excellent 

 descriptions (' British Birds,' vol. ii. pp. 228-232), is in the second year's 

 plumage, which is much worn and abraded, the tail especially showing signs 

 of wear and tear, and would undoubtedly have been moulted that season. 



