A HISTORY OF SUSSEX 13. Bluethroat. Cyunecula suecica (Linn.) A female of this species is recorded by Yarrell as having been killed near Worthing May 2, 1853, and there is a most beautiful old male in the Borrer collection at Cowfold, which was caught by a boy between Stanmore Park and Brighton on October, 1862. I have lately seen a bluethroat in the hands of Mr. Wells of Worthing that was undoubtedly killed in Sussex some years ago, although particulars of its capture are wanting. 14. Redbreast. Erithacus ruhecula (Linn.) Very common. In the autumn the males fight desperately with others of their own species coming on to their own beat, and I have even caught a pair in my hand who were thus wrangling on the ground. 15. Nightingale. Daulias luscinia (Linn.) A fairly common summer visitor to east and west Sussex. Though found in places along the edge of St. Leonards Forest it seldom penetrates far into the less frequented parts, rather preferring the long strips of coppice and the pits near some path or thoroughfare. 16. Whitethroat. Sylvia cinerea (Bechstein). A very abundant summer visitor. 17. Lesser Whitethroat, Sylvia curruca (Linn.) Though not a common species the lesser whitethroat is more abundant in Sussex than in any other county. It is easily recognized by its song, and is very tame on its first arrival in summer. 18. Blackcap. Sylvia atricapilla (Linn.) Rather a scarce summer visitor to west Sussex and in no part of the county very common, except about St. Leonards. 1 9. Garden-Warbler. Sylvia hortensis (Bech- stein). A somewhat scarce and local visitor, and is the last warbler to arrive. 20. Dartford Warbler. Sylvia undata (Bod- daert). Found locally in small numbers along the South Downs. It is to be feared that this interesting little resident must be classed amongst the diminishing species. Mr. Wells, the Worthing naturalist, states that he has not seen a specimen near that town for twenty years. Mr. Butterfield also informs me that Mr. Thomas Sorrell of Hastings used to find the nest regularly near that town until the year 1886, so that the rapid diminution in the numbers of Dartford warblers must have commenced about that date. 21. Goldcrest. Regulus cristatus, Koch. Common throughout the year and, in the winter months, associating with flocks of tits. In 1899 the nest of a goldcrest in the garden at Denne Park was so placed on the trailing branches of some honeysuckle that the hats of passers-by brushed against it without disturbing the female bird, who successfully hatched out her numerous pro- geny. 22. Firecrest. Regulus ignicapillui (Brehm.) Probably an irregular visitor. Two males were shot by Mr. R. Butterfield on February 24, 1 90 1, at St. Helen's, Hastings. 23. ChiffchafF. Phylloscopus rufus (Bech- stein). The first warbler to arrive in Sussex, nest- ing in small numbers throughout the county. 24. Willow- Warbler. Phylloscopus trochilus (Linn.) The most numerous of the common war- blers. 25. Wood- Warbler. Phylloscopus sihilatrix (Bechstein). This species, which is one of the last to arrive and to depart, is common in all the large beech and oak groves of St. Leonards Forest. Its beautiful wild song is the most noticeable of bird sounds which one hears on a summer day's ramble in the forest. The wood-warbler is far more diflicult to ap- proach than the willow-warbler or the chifFchaff. In east Sussex this bird is very local. 26. Rufous Warbler. Aedon galactodes {licm- minck). The first example of this species obtained in England was shot by Mr. Swaysland at Plumpton Besthill near Brighton on Septem- ber 16, 1854. It was a male preparing to moult (Borrer). A note in Mr. Borrer's handwriting occurs in his book, ' Rufous warbler on downs, September, 1899.' 27. Icterine Warbler. Hypolais icterina (Vieillot). Although this little warbler is common on the continent to the south and also in Norway, where I have seen many even within the arctic circle, it has rarely visited our shores. Only one example has been obtained in Sussex. The specimen, a female, was shot at Burwash on April 30, 1897, and was 276
