from the Continent for comparison, were two specimens of
Montagu’s Rock Pipit, besides the true A. aquations. Mr.
Gould’s supposition, therefore, seems confirmed, and we may
expect to obtain A. aquaticus on our shores. M. de Selys
Lonchamp includes both species in his recently-published
Fauna of Belgium, pp. 85 and 86.
T he Short-toed L ark. Alauda brachydactyla. A
single example of this species, caught near Shrewsbury, is
new to our British catalogue. A figure and further particulars
are given on a single leaf, to be inserted in the first
volume after page 416.
T he Snow B unting. Plectrophanes nivalis, vol. i. p.
425. An example of this species, in its fine white summer-
plumage, was killed at Royston in Hertfordshire, on the
22nd of May, 1840. The bird was given to me by my
friend Thomas Wortham, Esq. on whose grounds it was
shot. In this state of plumage it is very rare, except in high
northern latitudes.
T he Ortolan B unting. Emberiza hortulana, vol. i.
p. 455. On the 29th of April a very perfect example of
this rare British Bird was shot whilst sitting on the parapet
of the viaduct of the Brighton and London Railway, near
the Brighton terminus. The specimen is now in the possession
of William Borrer, Esq., Jun., at Henfield Sussex.—
Annals of Natural History, vol. vii. p. 524.
T he W hite-winged Crossbill. Loxia leucoptera,
vol. ii. p. 88. An example of this rare bird was killed a few
years since at Lariggan, near Penzance, and was saved from
destruction by E. H. Rodd, Esq., as noticed in a communication
dated October 31st, 1840, and read before the Royal
Institute of Cornwall.
T he R oller. Coracias garrula, vol. ii. p. 195. A
specimen of this beautifully coloured bird was shot in September
1841, at Budleigh Salterton, on the Devonshire
coast. The stomach contained the legs of the common dung
beetle. I am indebted for this communication to the kindness
of R. T. Abraham, Esq., of Heavitree, near Exeter.
T he A merican P urple Mar tin. Hirundo purpurea.
Three examples of this bird have now come under notice;
one killed in Ireland, and two in England. A figure and
particulars are given on a single leaf, to be inserted in thé
second volume after page 232.
T he A l p in e , Swift. Cypselus alpinus, vol. ii. p. 289.
A fine specimen of this bird was killed at Oakingham on the
8th of October, 1841. I saw it before it was skinned, Mr.
Gould having brought the bird to London to preserve it for
his friend, who shot it.
T he B arbary P artridge. Perdix petrosa, Gould’s
Birds of Europe, Part I. A bird of this species was picked
up dead by a man that was hedging near Melton Mowbray,
in the spring of 1842. The plumage did not exhibit the
slightest indication that the bird had been in confinement,
the ends of the wings and tail being clean and quite perfect.
It was a female, and the eggs inside were as large as sloes.
I received this information from Mr. Robert Widdowson of
Melton Mowbray, who possesses this specimen, and who
sent me up a coloured drawing, taken from the bird, by
which the species was immediately recognised. Two or three
years ago, a bird of this same species was shot by a gentleman
during the sporting season on the estate of the Marquis
of Hertford, at Sudbourn in Suffolk. The Barbary
Partridge, a red-legged species, inhabits North Africa, the
Islands of the Mediterranean, the South of Europe, and the
rocky mountainous parts of Spain. A few have probably
been introduced to this country with the other more common
red-legged species. ■
T he Great B ustard. Otis tarda, vol. ii. p. 362.
Early in February last, 1843, E, H. Rodd, Esq. of Pen