Page:The New Forest - its history and its scenery.djvu/337

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III.]
The Rarer Visitors and Stragglers.

Bohemian Waxwing. (Bombycilla garrula, Flem.) Mr. Hart tells me that a specimen was shot about twelve years ago at Milton, on the south border of the Forest.

Grayheaded Wagtail. (Motacilla neglecta, Gould.) Very rare; but has, on Mr. Hart's authority, been killed.

Short-toed Lark. (Alauda brachydactyla, Leisl.) A specimen, caught not far from the Forest boundary, is now in the Rev. J. Bartlett's aviary. See The Zoologist, March, 1862, p. 7930.

Snow Bunting. (Emberiza nicalis, Lin.) A few are occasionally seen during hard winters.

Brambling. (Fringilla montifringilla, Lin.) Occurs like the former bird only during severe frosts. Mr. Rake informs me that a pair were killed near Fordingbridge, in February, 1853.

Tree Sparrow. (Fringilla montana, Lin.) Rare.

Mealy Redpole. (Fringilla borealis, Tem.) Sometimes caught by the birdcatchers.

Parrot Crossbill. (Loxia pityopsittacus, Bechst.) Mr. Rake informs me that one was killed at Breamore, Nov. 28th, 1855, out of a flock of a dozen, and that a few days afterwards several more were killed.

Rose-coloured Pastor. (Pastor roseus, Tem.) A fine male was shot some twenty years ago, by Mr. Hart's brother, at Purewell.

Chough. (Pyrrhocorax graculus, Tem.) Becoming every year more scarce. See Chapter XXII., pp. 274, 275.

Great Black Woodpecker. (Picus martius, Lin.) On its breeding habits in Sweden, see Mr. Simpson's account in the Ibis, vol. i., p. 264, which agrees about the bird not making a fresh hole, as described at pp. 272, 273.

Hoopoe. (Upupa epops, Lin.) See Chapter XXII, p. 274.

White-bellied Swift. (Cypselus alpinus, Tem.) Mr. Hart informs me that a specimen was killed about ten years ago over Christchurch harbour.

Rock Dove. (Columba livia, Briss.)

Red-legged Partridge. (Perdix rubra, Briss) Introduced many years ago by the late Mr. Baring, of Somerley; but very few, if any, are left.

Quail. (Perdix coturnix, Lath.) Sometimes to be seen amongst the covies of partridges in the fields adjoining the Forest.

Great Bustard. (Otis tarda, Lin._) The last bustard, as mentioned in Chapter II., p. 14, footnote, was seen about twenty five years ago by one of the Forest keepers, near Eyeworth Wood; but though on horseback, he could not overtake the bird, which ran across Butt's Plain, aiding itself by flapping its wings.

Little Bustard. (Otis tetrax, Lin.) A female was shot some years ago near Heron Court; and is in Lord Malmesbury's collection. See Eyton's Rarer British Birds, p. 99.

Kildeer Plover. (Charadrius vociferus, Lin.) This rare straggler, the only one ever known to have been seen in England, was shot, April, 1859, in a potato field close to Knapp Mill, near Christchurch, by a man of the name of Dowding, who was attracted to it by its peculiar flight, such as is described by Audubon, as also by its monotonous cry, from which its name is taken. The bird was brought in the flesh to Mr. Hart, and is now in the collection of J. Tanner, Esq. The vignette at p. 318 well shows its difference from the common ring dotterel.

Little Ringed Plover. (Charadrius minor, Meyer.) Very rare. Mr. Hart has only had one specimen, brought to him many years ago.

Grey Plover. (Vanellus melanogaster, Bechst.) Not uncommon during severe winters in the harbours along the coast.

Turnstone. (Strepsilas interpres,

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