what a rarity I was watching; the silvery grey, deep black and white of the upper parts, and the delicate pink breast and flanks, looked particularly rich in the sunlight, and in strong contrast with the turf on which it stood. It then flew up and perched on a small hawthorn, from that again to the ground, and then on to a furze-bush. After two or three such movements it disappeared over the brow of the hill. After waiting a short time I saw it again further along the hill-side, chasing a smaller bird, I think a Linnet; but the distance was too great to make sure of the species, though the colouring of the Shrike was plainly visible. From the intensity of the black markings it was clearly a male. I think it very probable that it had taken up its abode on the hill for nesting purposes, for which the character of the place was admirably adapted; and if opportunities had been afforded, I intended paying another visit to the ground later on, with the hopes of seeing more of the bird and perhaps its nest.—F.W. Frohawk (34, Widmore Road, Bromley, Kent).
"Kentish Crow."—Your correspondent, Mr. L.C. Farman (ante, p. 356), mentions "Kentish Crows" visiting the Norfolk fens. I should be very glad to know the scientific name of these birds, as the term is new to me.—C.B. Horsbrugh (4, Richmond Hill, Bath).
[The Crows to which I referred were Hooded or Grey Crows, Corvus cornix. These are known all over Norfolk as Kentish Crows, and remain with us in quantity throughout the winter.—Last C. Farman.]
Crossbills near Bournemouth.—Scarcely a winter passes without this varied plumaged and interesting species occurring in greater or less numbers—sometimes not uncommonly—in the neighbourhood of Ringwood and the New Forest, and on one occasion I saw a small flock of eight or ten busily engaged in discussing the cones which grew on a few Scotch firs not far from Salisbury; but I was somewhat surprised and unprepared to detect its presence near Bournemouth at the end of July. Enforced idleness, caused by indisposition, compelled me to seek change in the beautiful health-giving pine-woods of Branksome and its neighbourhood, where on the sandy heather-clad slopes the Lizards panted, or glided silently along in the hot sunshine, and over them flitted the "grayling" (Satyrus semele) in some abundance, accompanied by a few common blues (Lycæna bellargus), and small coppers (Chrysophanas phlœas), or the tiny fry of Crambus pinetellus, Endotricha flammealis, and other moths of a still lesser bulk. One morning, whilst seated underneath a tree, my attention was taken from the book I was perusing to the notes of some bird which were unfamiliar to my ear, although a number of Sparrows, Tits, and Warblers were chirping and singing in the branches above me. Looking up in the direction from whence the sound proceeded, I could see two or three birds in the tree-tops, but the thickness of the foliage and the bright light shining between the
