Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/299

Rh formerly of Hampton Lodge, near Puttenham, Godalming, to which, through the kindness of a relative, I have had access. Mr. Long was a well-known naturalist in the very early part of the century, and collected at his country seat a considerable number of rare Surrey birds. He also rendered assistance to the late Mr. Yarrell in the compilation of his wellknown work, particularly with reference to the breeding of the Crossbill in the Holt Forest. Mr. Long says:—"The inhabitants of the Devil's Punch Bowl (Higbcombe Bottom) and Whitmore Bottom know this bird (L. collurio, J.A.B.) by the strange name of 'Horse-match.'" Unfortunately he gives no further particulars of any sort, nor does he hazard any guess (as he does in several other cases) as to the origin of the name. It is nevertheless worthy of remark, as Mr. Swainson ('Folk-lore of British Birds,' p. 9) only applies it to the "Wheatear." The derivation of "horse" equalling "coarse" of Mr. Aplin is probably correct. The most ingenious suggestion, but at the same time a most improbable one, is that of "haws," smash, from the habit which the bird has of impaling its victim on thorn bushes. The etymological derivation will, I am afraid, put an end to this idea. Mr. Long's note was written about 1825. At the present time this name is not, so far as I am aware, in use anywhere in Surrey. May I take a last opportunity of asking any of the readers of 'The Zoologist' to send me any occurrences of rare birds which may have come under their notice in Surrey, so that my little book may be brought up to as recent a date as is possible before publication?— (Hylands House, Epsom).

Woodchat Shrike in Sussex.—I beg to record the occurrence of a male Woodchat Shrike (Lanius pomeranus) on the salts near St. Leonardson-Sea, Sussex, on May 1st. It had been seen on the day previous, and in the same place, close to a brick-field. I believe this is the third time it has been recorded for Sussex. Mr. Borrer mentions one in his 'Birds of Sussex,' and another was recorded by Mr. Parkin in 'The Zoologist' (1892, p. 229), shot at Fairlight Hill, about four miles from the spot where the present one was got. It has been identified by Mr. Bristow, taxidermist, of St. Leonards.— (54, London Street, Reading).

On the Date of the Arrival of the House Martin.— In almost all the books on ornithology which I have examined, the House Martin (Chelidon urbica) is said to arrive a few days later than the Swallow, i.e. about the middle or latter part of April. Stevenson, in the 'Birds of Norfolk,' writes even of the second week in April, though he adds that the 20th may be considered an average date (vol. i. 329). There is indeed a certain amount of irregularity in the arrival as in the departure of this bird, and on the south or west coast it will occasionally appear very early indeed—e.g. my