Page:The New Forest - its history and its scenery.djvu/336

 . (Fulco milvus, Lin.) Very scarce. Mr. Farren, however, in April, 1861, was lucky enough to see a solitary bird; and another, as L. H. Cumberbatch, Esq., informs me, was trapped at New Park, about six years ago, in the winter.

. (Falco lagopus, Brün.) Mr. Rake informs me that a specimen was trapped near Fordingbridge, in the summer of 1857. It is, however, more generally noticed later in the year.

. (Strix passerina. Lath.) When Mr. Farren first mentioned this bird as breeding in the Forest, I was somewhat incredulous. Subsequent inquiries, however, have left no doubt on my mind that the bird is sometimes seen, though mistaken for a hawk. Mr. Farren, as far back as 1859, found two eggs in a bole of an oak, which seem to have been those of this bird; and in 1862 I received information of a hawk laying white eggs in a hollow tree, but which were unfortunately broken. I hope, however, some day to be able to give more satisfactory information on the subject.

. (Falco cineraceus, Mont.) Mr. Hart has, during the last twenty years, received three or four specimens to stuff—one in the winter of 1861. Mr. Farren saw a male bird, April, 1861.

. (Lanius excubitor, Lin.) A straggler is now and then killed by the Forest keepers.

. (Lanius rufus, Briss.) As some pairs are sometimes to be seen in the summer, I should not be surprised to hear of its breeding, more especially as Mr. Bond has obtained its eggs in the Isle of Wight.

. (Muscicapa atricapilla, Lin.) A specimen was shot by the late Mr. Toomer, Forest keeper, June, 1857; but I cannot learn whether male or female.

. (Turdus Whitei, Eyton.) Two specimens have been obtained; one in the actual Forest shot by a Forest keeper, and which passed into Mr. Bigge's collection; and the other, not far from its borders at Heron Court, by Lord Malmesbury, and which is figured in Yarrell, vol. i., p. 202. For the best account of this bird see Mr. Tomes' description in the Ibis, vol. i., number iv., p. 379, of a specimen killed in Warwickshire.

. (Oriolus galbula, Lin.) A specimen was killed in the Forest by one of the keepers, some fifteen years ago.

. (Sylvia tithys, Scop.) I am almost inclined to put this, as Mr. Knox has done in his excellent Ornithological Rambles (page 193), and Mr. More in his list of the birds of the Isle of Wight, among the winter visitors, so many examples having occurred.

. (Sylvia turdoides, Meyer.) Mr. Farren, in June, 1858, found between Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst, a nest, containing five eggs, which were supposed to be those of this bird, and were exhibited at a meeting of the Linnæan Society. They are now, I believe, in the collection of Mr. Seeley.

. (Regulus ignicapillus, Nawm.) Sometimes seen in the winter, but rare.

. (Parus cristatus, Lin.) Mr. Hart has once only received a specimen, killed in Stanpit Marsh, near Christchurch. The bird has also been killed in the Isle of Wight.

. (Parus biarmicus, Lin.) I once received the eggs of this bird, taken amongst the reeds of the Boldre stream,—the only instance, I believe, of its breeding so far south. The bird has also been seen near Christchurch, among the rushes close to the mouth of the harbour. 314