*Land Rail, Crex pratensis | Goosander, Mergus Merganser |
*Spotted Rail, Crex Porzana | Smew, Mergus albellus |
*Moor Hen, Gallinula chloropus | *Pochard, Fuligula ferina |
*Coot, Fulica atra | Scaup Duck, Fuligula Gesneri |
*Tippet Grebe, Podiceps cristatus | *Tufted Duck, Fuligula cristata |
Eared Grebe, Podiceps auritus | *Golden Eye, Clangula chrysophthalmos |
*Dabchick, Podiceps minor | *Widgeon, Mareca Penelope |
*Black-throated Diver, Colymbus arcticus, | *Teal, Querquedula Crecca |
a young bird | Pintail, Dafila acuta |
*Pomarine Gull, Lestris striatus, young | *Gadwall, Chauliodus Strepera |
*Common Gull, Larus canus | Shoveller, Rhynchaspis clypeata |
Lesser black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus | *Wild Duck, Anas Boschas |
Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ri- | One or other of the grey Geese has oc- |
dibundus | curred several times, but I have not |
*Arctic Tern, Sterna arctica | been able to get hold of one to exa- |
*Common Tern, Sterna marina | mine |
*Little Tern, Sterna minuta | Brent Goose, Anser Brenta |
*Black Tern, Sterna nigra | Wild Swan, Cygnus ferus |
— Fred. Bond; Kingsbury, February, 1843.
Note on the Migration of Birds. The last season has been remarkable for the irregularity attending the appearance of our birds of passage. In this neighbourhood the redstart was unusually abundant; the whinchat I never saw at all. In other seasons whilst the latter are abundant, the redstarts are few in number. Though daily looking out anxiously for the swallows, they did not make their appearance till the 30th of April: they disappeared from this part on the 12th of October, but in the sheltered streets of Bath I saw them till the 30th. I remember seeing one in Jersey on the 20th of November, 1840, and thinking it late even there; but my friend Mr. George Waring tells ine that he saw three at Falmouth on the 5th of December of the last year. Mr. Jesse tells us that the martins stay much later than the swallows; the reverse is, however, the case, so far as my observations have gone.—William C. Hewitson; Bristol, February, 1843.
Enquiry respecting White's Thrush. I would beg to ask whether the rare thrush called "White's" is an accidental variety, or a mule, or a wanderer from its family into England? And if the latter, where are they natives, and what are the sexual marks? My reason for asking these questions is, that I have now, and have had for many weeks past, a bird of this description daily appearing on my lawn in front of my study window. I at first supposed it might be a hen blackbird, being quite as large, with a similar tail; as dark in colour, but with more of a chesnut brown on the breast. It is not a blackbird, for it