8032 



Birds, 



the other as generally the corners of woods. It must not, however, 

 be inferred that either of these could by any means be the greater or 

 true " thrush nightingale " of the Continent (Motacilla philomela, 

 Grael.), the " sprosser " of the Germans. 



Alfred Charles Smith. 



Yaiesbury Rectory, Calne, 

 May 5, 1862. 



Occurrence of the Golden Oriole in Essex. — A fine male specimen of the golden 

 oriole (Oriolus galbula), in fresh breeding plumage, was shot last week at Tiptree, 

 near this place. The specimen, which I saw in the flesh, was sent to Mr. Cator, of 

 this town, to be preserved. There is uo doubt, I think, but that this bird was after 

 breeding. I hope the female will meet with a better fate than her mate. — 

 C. R. Bree; Colchester, May 16, 1862. 



Occurrence of the Black Redstart at Southampton. — A specimen of the black red- 

 start {Sylvia tithys) was shot at Sholing Common, near Southampton, on the 20th of 

 March last, by a young man named George Ward : he is an invalid, and was sitting 

 by the door of the house where he and his parents live, when the bird flew round the 

 comer of the house and settled on the ground ; he went in directly and brought out a 

 gun and shot it. It was stuffed by Mr. Taylor, of the Strand, and may now be seen, 

 by any gentleman who is desirous of doing so, at 97, High Street, Southampton. 

 Sholing Common is an extensive place, dotted here and there with houses and with 

 pieces of broken-up land. The hawfinch and the crossbill have been rather numerous 

 in this neighbourhood lately. One day a man brought ten or twelve of the crossbill 

 to Mr. Taylor ; they were tied by the neck, and looked something like a bunch of 

 carrots dangling from the man's hand by a striug : they were offered for sale, but 

 were so much injured that no bargain could be made. — J. Goatley ; 97, High Street, 

 Southampton. 



Occurrence of the Lapland Bunting in Norfolk. — A fine male of this rare and 

 handsome bunting was netted near Norwich about two months since. The bird- 

 catcher, unaware of its specific rarity, sold it soon afterwards, as a variety of the black- 

 headed bunting, to the Rev. E. J. Bell, of Crostwich. In that gentleman's aviary 

 the bird soon began to exhibit some of the peculiar markings of its breeding plumage, 

 and a reference to Yarrell's plate and description identified it at once as Emberiza 

 lapponica and not E. schceniclus. I know of but one previous instance of the Lap- 

 land bunting having been met with in Norfolk: a male, also netted near this city, in 

 June, 1855, as noticed at the time in the 'Zoologist' (Zool. 4631). — H. Stevenson; 

 Norwich, April 21, 1862. 



Occurrence of the Parrot Crossbill near Colchester. — Three specimens of the above 

 so-called species of crossbill (Loxia pityopsittacus) were brought to me in the flesh on 

 the 21st of February last. They were one male and two females, and were killed on 

 the Lexden or London road, just south of this town. As there is a good deal of 

 interest attached to the natural history of the crossbill, and more particularly as to the 

 specific difference of the common and parrot, I will, with your permission, give a 

 description of the birds captured at Colchester, with one or two remarks. The male 

 bird (all the measurements were taken in the flesh) was of the following dimensions : — 



