ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN SURREY. 93 



this conviction. Aug. 6th was the last time I saw the adults, 

 but on the 28th of that month I found two large hawks, which I 

 took to be immature C. cyaneus, near the old spot, but unfortu- 

 nately was unable to identify them owing to their excessive wari- 

 ness ; on the same day I saw two more (possibly the same) some 

 miles distant flying high overhead in a westerly direction. The 

 appearance of these young birds is certainly suggestive, and 

 it makes me deplore the fact that my searches for a nest were 

 fruitless. Mr. C. H. Bentham saw either a female or young 

 male on Oct. 27th at Frensham Little Pond, but it was mobbed 

 and driven away by two Books almost before he could use his 

 glasses. 



Amongst other rare county species may be mentioned the 

 Marsh-Warbler, Curlew- Sandpiper, Black Grouse, Greenshank, 

 Lesser Tern, Blue-headed Wagtail, Spotted Crake, and the 

 Golden-eye. 



In point of rarity, the Marsh-Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris) 

 and Curlew- Sandpiper (Tringa subarquata) are entitled to the 

 premier position, as both are additions. With reference to the 

 former, Mr. Bucknill writes : — " I cannot say that I have any 

 confidence in including it in the list of the Surrey avifauna." I 

 shared his opinion, for, excepting Mr. Blyth's (now discredited) 

 observations during the early seventies in Battersea Park, the 

 species had not the slightest claim to be included. As regards 

 the Sandpiper, there is no authenticated record in ' The Birds of 

 Surrey,' although the author mentions two or three which he 

 presumes to have been taken within the confines of Surrey ; but 

 it is apparent to all that this wader has hitherto been admitted 

 to the list on very meagre grounds indeed. It is therefore with 

 great satisfaction that I record the Frensham example. 



Alas ! Surrey Black-game (cf. Saunders's ' Manual,' 2nd ed. 

 p. 493) are on the verge of extinction, and I am sorely afraid 

 that the present year will see the last of the species stamped out. 

 I have received information — for which I am obliged — from Mr. 

 G. W. Swanton, that in 1905 it still bred in a certain wild tract 

 of country, although in greatly diminished numbers, only two 

 pairs having been seen. I have not been able to examine this 

 district personally to see if it is barren, but intend doing so 

 during the present year. The only news of the species that 



