290 On the Occurrence of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 



and has trapped one or two of them, with the Bramblings, but only 

 on one or two occasions. One was procured by Hart, in 1876, but 

 in some years, as he says, they occur in any numbers. The colours 

 of these birds vary indescribably, the adult plumage of the cock 

 bird being" rosy red, the female being of a greenish hue; and ac- 

 cording to age and sex they are found of all kinds of tints, in which 

 grey, green, yellow, orange, and red predominate in turn. 



I have no notice of the two rarer sorts, " The Parrot Crossbill/' 

 Loxia Pgtiojosittacus, or the white winged species, Loxia Leucoptera, 

 occurring in our neighbourhood. 



Ampelidje (Dentirostres) . 



Ampelis Garrulus. "The Bohemian Waxwing." I have only 

 heard of one instance of this rare bird having been killed in our 

 more immediate neighbourhood, and one has to travel back a long 

 time ago for this one. The specimen I allude to was brought in to 

 King for preservation now some forty years ago. It was a beautiful 

 cock bird in fine preservation, and had been killed by Mr. Fussle, at 

 Corsley, about two miles from Warminster, and, as the old stuffer 

 described it in his own words, " when it was brought in to me it quite 

 made my hair stand on end, and I remember it as though it were 

 yesterday," When it does come among us it sometimes comes in 

 large flocks, but it has not been common of late years. Hart in- 

 forms me that one was killed near Christchurch, in 1872, this being 

 the only instance occurring lately in his district. 



Sturnim. 



Sturnus Vulgaris. "The Starling." No birds would make a 

 more interesting case in their various stages of plumage than the 

 Starlings. The plain grey dress of the young bird, the mottled garb 

 of the first moult, and the dark suit of the adult with its handsome 

 metallic lustre forming some charming contrasts. Observe an old 

 cock Starling some fine morning in spring, carolling forth his pecu- 

 liar song of praise, and surely you will seem to have witnessed the 

 perfection of happiness. He cannot keep still a minute, his quivering 

 wings open and shut in indescribable attitudes, and he seems to be 



