2U4 
:mr. e. bidwell on the isles of scilly. 
vegetable moiikl, in -wliicli tlie Ibiik Thrift {Armeria maritima) 
grows in profusion, as well as the Sea Campion (Silene maritima), 
the Scurvy Grass {Coclitearia officinalis), and the Brake {Pier is 
aquilina) ; while the ahunclance of yellow liock Lichen (ParmeJia 
[jaretina) adds a pleasing variety to the scene. 
The introduction with which we were provided procured a most 
hospitable reception from T. A. Lorricn Smith, Esq., the Lord 
Proprietor, who, having a true naturalist’s hatred of the wanton 
destruction of life, does everything in his power to protect the 
birds wliich frequent his islands, hut who is also always willing to 
assist a brother ornithologist in the pursuit of his study. 
At Mr. Smith’s invitation we at once proceeded to Tresco 
Abbe}'’, a spot known throughout the length and breadth of the 
land for its glorious garden — a garden wliich hears a magnificent 
testimony to tlie skill of him who planned it, and Avhich shows 
abundant proof of the intense interest taken in it by its present 
possessor ; a garden Avhich it is totally beyond my powers to 
describe, hut which the photographs on the table may in some 
measure enable you to realise. 
The late Mr. Edward llcarle Eodd, of Penzance, who for nearly 
forty years rvas the historian of the Birds of Cornwall, obtained 
many of his rarest birds from Scilly, Mr. Dorrien Smith, with great 
generosity, having forwarded every scarce bird that was shot to 
add to his friend’s unrivalled county collection. 
Since Mr. Bodd’s decease, in 1880, Mr. Smith has formed a 
collection of Scillonian birds, and during the five years that he has 
collected he has obtained many of exceeding interest, rare waders 
being a strong feature, the only English killed specimen of the 
Solitary Sandpiper [Tot anus solitarius, Wilson), which was shot 
in 1882, being among the numlier. 
]\Ir. Smith has also kept a record of all the species that have 
been identified ; which list, he informed me, now includes two 
hundred and twelve species, the rarest of all being the Ivilldeer 
ITover (^Piqialiies voci.fera, Linn, j, the only authentic instance of 
this American bird having been met with in Europe. 
In this list I also noticed such rarities as the Lesser Grey 
Shrike, Bed-breasted Flycatcher, Bufous and Great Becd Warblers, 
Buonaparte’s and Pectoral Sandpipers, Wliiskercd and Gulbbillcd 
d’erns, in addition to many interesling birds, as tlie Black Bodstart, 
