phe Ure Et nua Prtde hte as A brary te Wet Ses : Eee “DISTRIBUTION OF BIRDS GREAT BRITAIN, DURING THE NE BY ALEXANDER G. _ REPRINTED F STING SEASON., MORE, F.LS. THE “IBIS,” 1865. Pie bi ; JOP > ‘4 La ‘ . , Me i ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF BIRDS IN GREAT BRITAIN DURING THE NESTING SEASON. Aut books on British ornithology give some indication, more or less exact, of the range or distribution of the several birds. Still I am not aware that any one in this country has yet made this branch of ornithology a special subject of study, interesting as it is in itself, and important in many scientific points of view. Whether we wish to compare the respective range of the different branches of our Fauna and Flora, or to contrast their distribution in Great Britain with their range on the Continent, whether it is our object to estimate the effect of climate, pre- vailing winds, soil, geographical position, or the influence of man, all these most interesting questions can only be properly investi- gated when we have sufficiently exact data in each of the classes. Thus it is hoped that an attempt to illustrate the distribution of our birds on a regular and methodical plan will not be without its use. Our census is necessarily limited to the nesting-season, that being the only time when the birds can be treated as stationary ; and, for the sake of uniformity, we have adopted the districts already employed by Mr. H. C. Watson in his great work on B 2 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds the geographical distribution of British plants, the ‘Cybele Britannica.’ The present outline is confessedly imperfect, not only from the insufficient number of observers, but because it has been thought better in many cases to withhold information of a doubtful character, rather than run the risk of mixing good with bad authority ; and as no pains have been spared to investigate every disputed point, it is hoped that the results may be accepted as tolerably accurate so far as they go. Had our scheme any claim to completeness, it might no doubt be considered partly as a record of the present and past distribu- tion of several species now fast decreasing through the progress of cultivation and drainage, and, we regret to add, the persecu- tion of game-preservers and collectors. It might also become a measure of the future increase of other birds which seem to flourish under the protecting hand of man. The present results might also be used as a means of ascer- taining some particulars of the movements of birds which remain in Britain all the year, and yet are partially migratory. This might be accomplished by noting the districts which a bird fre- quents during summer or winter only, or in which any species is more numerous at one season than another. it is hoped that all who may feel interested in the subject of this paper will not fail to point out any imaccuracy which they may observe, and that they will also endeavour to supply the omissions unavoidable in a first attempt. It is suggested that such additions might form an interesting subject for communi- cation to the ‘Ibis,’ even if only one additional district can be filled up on good authority. Full lists of the nesting-birds of South and North Wales, of the North-west of England, and of almost any part of Scotland are especially desired. In acknowledging how much is due to the kind cooperation of the many friends and correspondents who have assisted in this undertaking, I have especially to thank Dr. J. A. Smith of Edinburgh, the Rev. George Gordon of Birnie, and Mr. Robert Gray, Secretary to the Natural History Society of Glasgow, who have not only furnished me with information themselves, but have taken great pains in collecting lists from various parts of Scotland. wn Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 3 My friend Mr. Alfred Newton has constantly assisted me with his advice and criticism, and I have also to return my warmest thanks to Mr. H. C. Watson, who has been repeatedly consulted in the preparation of this paper, and who has kindly allowed the accompanying map to be borrowed from the ‘ Cybele Britannica.’ The Latin names here used are taken from Mr. G. R. Gray’s ‘ British Museum Catalogue of the Eggs of British Birds’ (1852) ; the order followed is that of Yarrell. Roman numerals represent the larger eighteen districts or “‘ Provinces,” and Arabic figures the thirty-eight smaller “ Subprovinces,” as laid down on the map. When a figure is enclosed in brackets, it is intended to show that the bird has been known to nest in the district, but has not done so of late years. The smaller Arabic figures in- dicate a greater degree of rarity, or that the bird has been ascer- tained to breed in the district only occasionally. The “ Types of Distribution” afford a convenient formula for grouping the different species, according as they appear to pre- vail in the South, North, South-east, or South-west of Great Britain. Thus, “ British type” includes birds which are tolerably general throughout Great Britain, though some of them become scarce or wanting in the north of Scotland. “ English type”? comprises birds more abundant in the south, and which do not reach far north in Scotland. “ Germanic type,” birds which have their head-quarters in the south-east of England, and become scarce as we advance to the north and west ; for example, the Nightingale. “« Atlantic type,” birds which are more abundant on the western side of Great Britain, or which have their head-quarters in the south-west of England. “ Scottish type,” birds more abundant in Scotland than in Eng- land, and which become less numerous as we advance south. “ Highland type,” mountain species, e. g. Snow Bunting, Golden Eagle, and Dotterel. The following are the particulars of Mr. Watson’s “ Provinces” and ‘ Subprovinces,” together with the names of the friends B2 4. Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds and correspondents who have furnished me with lists from each of the districts :— is) “I 12. 13. 14. 15. Province I. “ Peninsula.” . Cornwall, Mr. E. H. Rodd. . Devon, Mr. J. Gatcombe, Mr. W. Ford, Rev. M. A. Mathews. . Somerset, Mr. W. D. Crotch, Mr. W. M. Richards. Province II. “ Channel.” . Wilts, Rev. A. C. Smith. Dorset, Rev. O. Pickard-Cam- bridge, Rev. J. H. Austen, Mr. H. Groves. . Hampshire, Professor Bell, Mr. R. Tindall, Mr. H. Rogers. Isle of Wight, Rev. C. A. Bury, Mr. H. Rogers. . Sussex, Mr. Knox, Mr. Borrer. Province III. “ Thames.” . Kent, Rev. H. Roundell, Mr. C. Gordon, Mr. G. Jell. Surrey, Mr. F. Godman. . Essex, Mr. H. Doubleday, Dr. C. R. Bree, Rev. J. C. Atkin- son. Herts, Mr. F. Bond. Middlesex, Mr. F. Bond. . Berks (no list). Oxford, Rev. A. Matthews. Bucks, Rey. H. Roundell, Rev. B. Burgess, Rev. C. Lowndes. Province IV. “ Ouse.” . Suffolk, Mr. A. Newton, Rev. J. Farr. Up Norfolk, Mr. A. Newton, Mr. T. Southwell, Mr. H. Steven- son, and Messrs. Gurney and Fisher’s List, published in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1846. Cambridge, Mr. F. Bond. Bedford (no list). Huntingdon, Mr. F. Bond. Northampton, Lord Lilford. Province V. “ Severn.” Gloucester, Rey. F. J. Scott. Monmouth (no list). Hereford, Mr. R. M. Lingwood, Mr. W. H. Powell, Mr. A. Hepburn. Worcester, Mr. G. A. Sheppard, Mr. J. Walcot. Warwick, Mr. R. F. Tomes. Stafford, Sir J. H. Crewe, Mr. R. Garner’s ‘ Natural History 16. Ly. 18. 12: Lp we in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 5 of Stafford’ Shropshire, Mr. W. H. Slaney, Mr. H. Shaw. Province VI. “South Wales.” Glamorgan (no list). Brecon (no list). Radnor (no list). Carmarthen (no list). Pembroke, Mr. J. Tracy. Cardigan (no list). Province VII. “North Wales.” Montgomery (no list). Merioneth (no list). Denbigh (no list). Flint (no list). Carnarvon (no list). Anglesea (no list). The only authority for this district is Mr. T. C. Eyton’s “ Attempt to ascertain the Fauna of Shropshire and North Wales,” published in the ‘Annals of Natural History,’ vols. 1. and i. Province VIII. “ Trent.” Lincoln, Rey. R. P. Alington, Mr. G. Adrian. Leicester, Rev. A. Matthews and Mr. J. Harley’s “ Catalogue of the Land-birds of Leicestershire ” in Macgillivray’s ‘British Birds,’ vol. ii. p. 646. Rutland, Mr. W. Bell. Nottingham, Mr. H. Milner, Rev. R. Sutton. Derby, Sir John H. Crewe, Mr. O. Salvin, Rev. H. H. Crewe, Mr. J. J. Briggs. Province IX. “ Mersey.” . Cheshire, Mr. J. F. Brockholes, Mr. C. 8S. Gregson. Lanca- shire (South), Mr. J. F. Brockholes, Mr. C. 8. Gregson. r Province X. “ Humber.” . East Yorkshire, Rev. J. C. Atkinson, Mr. A. S. Bell. 23. West Yorkshire, Mr. Waterton, Mr. H. Smurthwaite, Mr. H. Reid. Province XI. “Tyne.” . Durham, Rev. H. B. Tristram, Mr. J. Hancock. Northum- berland, Mr. Selby, Mr. J. Hancock, Rev. H. B. Tristram. 6 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 30. 34, Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Province XII. “ Lake-lands.” . North Lancashire (no list). Westmoreland, Mr. T. Gough. Cumberland, Mr. C. 8. Gregson, Mr. T. Hope, Dr. Hey- sham in Hutchinson’s ‘ History of Cumberland.’ Js/e of Man, Mr. J. F. Crellin. Province XIII. “ West Lowlands.” . Dumfries, Sir W. Jardine. Kirkcudbright (no list). Wigton, Rev. T. B. Bell. . Ayr, Mr. R. Gray. Renfrew, Mr. M. Young. Lanark, Mr. D. Stewart. Province XIV. “ East Lowlands.” Peebles (no list). Selkirk, Mr. J. F. Whitecross. Roxburgh, Dr. J. A. Smith, Mr. J. F. Whitecross. Berwick, Rev. J. Duns, Mr. R. Gray. Haddington, Mr. A. Hepburn, Mr. R. Gray, Mr. J. R. Pencaitland. Edinburgh, Dr. J. A. Smith. Linlithgow, Mr. T. D. Weir, Rev. J. Duns. Province XV. “ Hast Highlands.” Fife (no list). Kinross (no list). Clackmannan, Dr. P. Bro- therson. Stirling, Dr. D. Dewar, Mr. J. Murray. Perth- shire, Col. Drummond-Hay, Mr. A. Pullar, Mr. J. Lamb. Forfar (no list). Kincardine (no list). Aberdeen, Mr. T. Edward, and the list given in Macgillivray’s ‘ Natural History of Dee-side.’ Banff, Mr. T. Edward. Elgin, Rev. G. Gordon. Nairn, Mr. W.A. Stables. Inverness (east of Loch Erricht), Mr. W. M. Snowie, Mr. W. Dunbar. Province XVI. “ West Highlands.” Inverness (west of Loch Erricht), (no list). Argyle, Captain J. W. P. Orde, Dr..D. Dewar. Dumbarton, Mr. R. Gray. Islay, Jura, Colonsa, &e. (no list). Mull and Iona, &c., Mr. H. D. Graham. Skye, &c. (no list). Province XVII. “ North Highlands.” Ross-shire, Mr. W. Dunbar, Mr. Danford. Cromarty (no list). in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 7 35. Sutherland, Mr. W. Dunbar, and the writings of the late Mr. St. John, MS. of the late Mr. J. Wolley. Cazthness, Mr. R. J. Shearer, Mr. H. Osborne, Mr. W. Dunbar, MS. of the late Mr. J. Wolley. Province XVIII. “ North Isles.” 36. Outer Hebrides (S.& N. Uist, Harris, and Lewis), Captain J. W.P. Orde, Dr. D. Dewar, Sir W. Milner’s List, published in the ‘ Zoologist,’ p. 2054, Mr. J. Macgillivray’s “Zoology of Outer Hebrides,” ‘ Annals & Mag. Nat. Hist.’ vol. vil. p. 7, 1842. 37. Orkney, Low’s ‘Fauna Orcadensis,’ Drs. Baikie and Heddle’s ‘Nat. Hist. of Orkney,’ list from Mr. J. H. Dunn. 38. Shetland, Dr. H. L. Saxby and Mr. J. H. Dunn. Though no list has been obtained from South-east Wales, it has been thought best to assume the Subprovince 16 as filled in, whenever a bird has been found to nest in the surrounding districts. AQUILA cCHRYSAETOS (Paill.). Golden Eagle. Provinces [VII.] [VIII.] [XI.] [XII.] XIII. XV.-XVIII. Subprovinces (18), (20), (24 ?), (25 ?), 26, (27), 29, 30, 31, 32, (33), 34, 35, 36, (37). Lat. 55°-59°. “ Highland” or Mountain type. In the time of Willughby, the Golden EKagle was reported to breed annually upon the high rocks of Snowdon ; the same writer records a nest found in Derbyshire in 1668. Bewick quotes from Wallis the remark that the Golden Hagle formerly had its eyrie on the highest part of Cheviot. Sir W. Jardine, in his ‘British Birds,’ speaks of the precipices of Westmoreland and Cumberland as having once boasted of eyries. In the south and east of Scotland the Golden Eagle appears to be nearly extinct, having ceased to nest in the counties of Dum- fries, Ayr, Forfar, Banff, and Elgin, but still breeds in Kirkeud- bright (Rev. 7. B. Bell) and Stirling (Mr. R. Gray), regularly in Perthshire (Col. Drummond-Hay), Aberdeen (Mr. A. Newton),and the western and northern parts of Scotland and in the Hebrides. 8 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Dr. Moore, writing on the birds of Devonshire (Charles- worth’s Mag. of Nat. Hist. vol. 1. p. 114), mentions that a nest was formerly known on the Dewerstone Rock, close under Dart- moor. This locality is at least ten or twelve miles from the sea ; but the nest is as likely to have belonged to the next species as to the Golden Eagle. Haziantus aLpiciiia (Leach). White-tailed or Sea Eagle. Provinces [I.] [II.] [XII.] [XIII.] [XIV.] XV.-XVIII. Subprovinces (2), (5), (25), (26), (27), (28), 29, (80), 31, 32, (33), 34, 35, 36, 37, 38. Lat. 56°-61°. “Scottish” or Northern type. The Rev. M. A. Mathews informs me that the Sea Eagle formerly nested in Lundy Island. In a ‘ History of the Isle of Wight,’ by the Rev. R. Warner, it is stated that an Eagle has been known to incubate among the crags of the Culver Cliff: the last known to build came there in 1780, when a young bird was taken from the nest. Willughby mentions an eyrie in Whinfield Park, Westmoreland; and in 1692, Mr. Aubrey was told that “ Hagles do breed in the parish of Bampton,” in the same county (‘ Corresp. of John Ray,’ p. 257), which Eagles must have been either this or the preceding species. Dr. Heysham also tells us that in his day this Eagle bred almost every year near Keswick and Ullswater. The late Mr. W. Thomp- son observed a pair of Eagles in the English Lake-district, in July 1835 (Charlesworth’s Mag. Nat. Hist. 1. p. 164) ; and Mr. C.S. Gregson informs me that there is a crag near Grasmere still known as “ Kagles’ Chiff.” Mr. J. F. Crellin has ascertained that a pair of Eagles used to build in the high cliffs at the south end of the Isle of Man: none have bred since this pair was destroyed in a snow-storm, about fifty years ago. In the south of Scotland, the Sea Eagle used to breed in Dumfries (Charlesworth’s Mag. Nat. Hist. i. pp. 119 and 444), in Kirkeudbright (Rev. T. B. Bell), on Ailsa (Mr, R. Gray), on the Bass (J. Wolley, in ‘ Ooth. Woll’ p. 49), and seems to be nearly or quite extinct in the south of Scotland, but is still to be found nesting in various localities in the Highlands and Scottish isles. wu Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 9 PaNDION HALIAETUS (Cuv.). Osprey. Provinces [I.?] [XIII.] XV. XVI. XVII. Subprovinees (3 ?), (27), (29), 31, 32, 34, 35. Lat. 56°-59°. “Scottish” type. Not in Ireland. Mr. W. D. Crotch informs me that a nest was built, eighteen years ago, at Monksilver in Somersetshire : ‘ the keeper shot the birds when making their nest.” Mr. R. Gray tells me that the nest has been found on Loch Doon, in Ayrshire. Other localities might be cited in Stirling, Perth, Elgin, Inverness, Argyle, Dumbarton, Ross, and Suther- land; but the bird and its eggs are so much sought after by collectors that very few pairs continue to nest in any part of Scotland *, Fatco PEREGRINUS (Gmel.). Peregrine Falcon. Provinces I.-ITI. [IV.] V.-VII. X.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1—7, (11), (14), 15, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24-88. Lat. 50°-61°. “British” type, or general. Thinly scattered from the south to the north of Great Britain. More frequent on the rocky headlands of the north and west coasts, and not found in some of the level districts of the middle and south-east of England. HyporriorcHIs suBBUTEO (Bore). Hobby. Provinces 1, 10. LD. iV. V. VIM. .X. Subprovinces 3, 4, 5-12, 14, 15, 19, 20, 22, 23. Lat. 50°-54°. “Germanic” or South-eastern type. Not in Treland. A scarce bird in all the districts where it breeds. Though noticed by Dr. Moore as breeding in Wairleigh Woods, the Hobby is not included in any of the recent lists which I have received from Devonshire, nor have I any record of its nesting in Wales. It seems to be more frequent in the south-eastern and midland counties of England, its distribution thus resem- bling that of the Nightingale. * We doubt if the Osprey has bred in Scotland for more than ten years.— Ep. 10 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds HyporriorcHis &sALON (Bote). Merlin. Provinces IT. III. V.—VIII. X.—X VIII. Subprovinces 5, 8, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “ Scottish ” or Northern type. The Rev. M. A. Mathews informs me that the Merlin has been seen on Exmoor in June. In the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1862 (p. 8159), Mr. W. Farren gives an account of his finding the nest of the Merlin in low trees in the New Forest ; and Mr. H. Rogers has obtained birds and eggs from the same locality. From Essex Dr. C. R. Bree writes that the Merlin breeds in the marshes of the Rochford hundred. Mr. Laver, his informant, has brought up the young birds from the nest. Breeds occasionally in Hereford (Mr. R. M. Lingwood), on the Longmynd Hills in Shropshire (Mr. Shaw), occasionally in Pembrokeshire (Mr. Tracy), regularly in Derbyshire (Mr. O. Salvin), in North Wales (Hyton), and from Yorkshire north- wards is marked as nesting regularly in every county. TINNUNCULUS ALAUDARIUS (G. R. Gray). Kestrel. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “British” type, or general. The commonest and best known of all our birds of prey. Breeds throughout Great Britain, and is marked as nesting regularly in every county. Doubtless breeds in South-east Wales (subprovince 16), the only district from which I have no return. ASTUR PALUMBARIUS (Bechst.). Gos-Hawk. Provinces XIV.? [XV.] Subprovinees 28 ?, (30%), (31). Lat. 55° or 57°-58°. “Scottish” type. Not in Ireland. Mr. Tottenham Lee, writing in Dr. Morris’s ‘ Naturalist’ for 1858 (vol. ili. p. 45), states that a pair once took possession of a Raven’s nest in Roxburghshire, and that he had heard of in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 11 another nest in the same county. Mr. Robert Gray, of Glasgow, who knew Mr. Lee, tells me that he was perfectly familiar with birds of prey, and was not likely to make a mistake as to the species. Macgillivray appears to have met with the Gos-Hawk occa- sionally among the Grampians; and Montagu quotes Colonel Thornton as having obtained a young Gos-Hawk from near the Spey, and as having seen some eyries in the Forest of Glenmoor and Rothiemureus. Mr. W. Dunbar also writes that when he was a boy it “used to breed regularly in the woods of Castle Grant, and in Abernethy and Dulnane forests.” In the ‘ Zoologist? for 1863 (p. 8678) mention is made of a nest found in Yorkshire, supposed to have been that of a Gos- Hawk*. AccipPiTer Nisus (Pall.). Sparrow-Hawk. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-37, 38. Lat. 50°-61°. “British” type, or general. Throughout Great Britain, extending to the Outer Hebrides and North Scottish isles. Mitvus recauis (Briss.). Kite. Provinces I.—VIII. X. XI. XIII. XV.—XVII. Subprovinces 1-9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17-20, 22-26, 29-32, 34, 35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British” type, or general. Not now in Ireland. The Kite has become so scarce, that it is impossible to distin- guish between the districts where it is quite extinct, and those where a few pairs may still continue to breed. “In Perthshire the Kite is not only destroyed for the sake of the game, but for its feathers, which are used in making salmon-flies ; so that, from being, within my recollection, quite a common bird, it is now nearly extinct.” (Colonel Drummond-Hay.) * It seems reasonable to suppose that, in the days when forests of Pinus sylvestris flourished naturally in Scotland, the Gos-Hawk inhabited the districts so occupied ; and Colonel Thornton’s evidence as to the fact of its breeding there must be considered satisfactory. It is well known among ornithologists that m some places this bird has bequeathed its common name to Falco peregrinus, and hence much confusion has arisen.—Ep. 12 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Burro vuxearis (Bechst.). Common Buzzard. Provinces I.—VIIT. X.-X VII. Subprovinces 2-8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17-20, 22-25, 26-85. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British” type, or general. By no means common, and nearly exterminated in the eastern and midland counties of England. Still breeds regularly in several parts of the west and north of England and in Scotland, where it has a better chance of escaping the vigilance of the gamekeeper. ARCHIBUTEO LAGoPUS (G. R. Gray). Rough-legged Buzzard. Provinces [X.] XV. Subprovinces (22), 31. Lat. 54°-58°. “Scottish” type. Not in Ireland. A single pair bred for several years in succession at Hackness, where they appeared as summer visitors. Mr. Alwin S. Bell, of Scarborough, has kindly furnished the following particulars :—“ Mr, John Smith, who was gamekeeper for twenty years on the estate of Sir J. V. B. Johnstone, remem- bers the Rough-legged Buzzards perfectly well: there was no mistake as to the species, as they were feathered right down to the toe-ends. They used to breed, year after year, on the ground, amongst the heather, in the moor-dells near Ash Hay Gill, Whisperdale, about three miles from Hackness. One pair only bred every year during most of the time that Mr. Smith was keeper (twenty-four years ago). They were not seen except in the breeding-season. Mr. Smith has himself shot them from the vest, and remembers that they sometimes had young.” Mr. Williamson, the Curator of the Museum at Scarborough, confirms this statement, and remembers a male Rough-legged Buzzard being trapped by the keeper and brought alive to Scarborough. This bird escaped; but soon afterwards its mate was shot ; and in the following spring the same male returned, with another partner, when both were taken, and on the male was found distinctly the mark inflicted by the trap. Mr. Thomas Edward, in his account of the Birds of Banffshire (Zoologist, 1856, p. 5201), writes that the nest has been rarely in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 13 found in Banffshire ; and in confirmation of this statement it may be added that Mr. Edward has this season (1864) seen three young, which were taken by a boy from a nest in a wood about six miles from Banff. PERNIS APIVORUS (Cuv.). Honey Buzzard. Provinces II, III. IV. V. XI. XII.? XV.? Subprovinces 5, 9, 12, 14, 15, 24, 25 ?, 30? Lat. 50°-56° or 58°. “English” type. Not in Ireland. This bird is well known to build occasionally in the New Forest, Hampshire. A nest, found at Selborne in 1780, is re- corded by White. The nest has also been taken in Oxfordshire (Rev. A. Mat- thews). At Burnham Beeches, Berks (Mr. Blyth, in Charles- worth’s Mag. of Nat. Hist. i. p.539). In Northamptonshire, twice within the last ten years (Lord Lilford). Formerly in Warwick- shire (Mr. R. F. Tomes). Stafford (Zoologist, p.5097). Shrop- shire (Mr. H. Shaw). Northumberland (Mr. J. Hancock). In Cumberland, Mr. Heysham was informed that it bred in the woods at Lowther; and in Macgillivray’s ‘ British Birds’ (i. p- 261) mention is made of a nest taken by Mr. J. M. Brown in the woods of Abergeldie, in Aberdeenshire. Circus #ruGinosus (Sav.). Marsh Harrier. Provinces, I PL. (Til. EV. V. (VIA, Vil. (VILE), [X.] XE. [XII.] [XIV.] XV. XVIII. ? Subprovinces 1-5, (7), (10), 11, (12), 15, (17), 18, (19), (23), 24, (25), (28), 30, 31, 37? Lat. 50°-58° or 60°. “ British” type, or general. Once frequent, now nearly exterminated ; but still breeds oc- ceasionally in a few English counties. Much rarer in Scotland, where the nest has been found only in Haddington (Mr. d. Hepburn), in Perthshire (Mr. A. Pullar and Mr. J. Lamb), in Aberdeen and Banff (Mr. 7. Edward), and in Orkney (Mr. J. Dunn). From its scarcity in Scotland, the distribution of this species approaches to the English or southern type. 14 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Circus cyaneus (Bote). Hen Harrier. Provinces L.—VIII. X.—X VIII. Subprovinces 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, (10), 11, (12), 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23-32, 34-37, 38. Lat. 50°-61°. “ British” type, or general. Scarce in the south-eastern and midland counties, and already extirpated in many of them; frequent in the north and some parts of the west of England, and still more common in Scotland. Crrcus cINERACEUS (Naum.). Montagu’s Harrier. Provinces I.-IV. V.? VIII. X. XVII.? Subprovinces (2), 3, 4; 7, (10), 11, (12), 15 ?, (19),.22, 25,055 Lat. 50°-55° or 58°. “ English” type. Not in Ireland. A scarce species. Until recently, appears to have been a regular summer visitant to some of the southern and eastern counties. Formerly found nesting in Devonshire by Montagu, and still breeds occasionally in Somerset, Dorset, Kent, and Norfolk. Extinct in Devon, Suffolk, Cambridge, Huntingdon, and Lincoln. In Shropshire Mr. Shaw once obtained a female that had been recently sitting ; and a nest, found on the Whitby Moors, near Scarborough, is recorded in Dr. Morris’s ‘ Naturalist’ fer 1855. Mr. Hancock writes that he has two young birds which were bred in Cumberland. There appears to be some doubt whether the species has been properly identified in Scotland, though Mr. Dunbar tells me that he has “eggs and birds from Sutherland.” Sir W. Milner also includes it in his list of birds found in that county (Zoologist, p. 2014). This species is believed to have occurred once in Ayrshire, according to Thompson’s ‘ Birds of Ireland’ (vol. i. p. 83). Orus vutearis (Flem.). Long-eared Owl. Provinces I.—X VII. Subprovinces 2, 3, 4, 6, (8), 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21-32, 34, 35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British” type, or general. Apparently more frequent in the north of England and in in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 15 Scotland, perhaps owing to the greater prevalence of fir and pine woods, which are its favourite resort. Scarce during the breeding- season in the southern and midland counties, where it is better known as a winter visitor. Mr. A. Newton considers it the commonest Owl in the eastern counties. Orus BRracuyorus (Bote). Short-eared Owl. Provinces IV. X. XI. XII.? XIII-XVITII. Subprovinces 10, 11, 12, 22, 24, 25 ?, 26-29, 34-387. Lat. 52°-60°. “Scottish”? or Northern type. Not in Ireland. Breeds in Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridge; formerly also in Huntingdon (Mr. F. Bond). The nest has been once or twice taken near Scarborough (Mr. A. S. Bell). In Durham and Northumberland (Mr. Hancock and Rev. H. B. Tristram). Sir W. Jardine also mentions the moorland ranges of Westmoreland and Cumberland as probable breeding-places. In Scotland, the Short-eared Owl nests regularly in Dumfries (Sir W. Jardine), on Ailsa (Mr. R. Gray); in the counties of Selkirk and Roxburgh occasionally (Mr. J. F. Whiteeross) ; in Stirling (Mr. J. Murray), Clackmannan (Dr. P. Brotherson) ; in Perth (Mr. A. Pullar); in Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Hebrides, and Orkney. Strix rLAMMEA (L.). Barn- or White Owl. Provinces I.—X VII. Subprovinces 1-29, 30, 31, 32, 33-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “British” type, or general. Very rare in the north of Scotland, and nests only occasionally in Ross and Caithness. Low states that it used to breed in Hoy ; but the bird has not been recently seen in the Orkneys. SyrniuM aLuco (Cuv.). Tawny Owl. Provinces I.—X VII. Subprovinces 1-32, 34, 35, 37! Lat. 50°-59°. “British” type, or general. Not in Ireland. Scarce in the north of Scotland, according to Macgillivray ; 16 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds but is reported by various correspondents as nesting regularly in the counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Elgin, Nairn, Inverness, Ross, Sutherland, and even in Caithness; Low describes it as found in the more hilly part of Orkney in summer. It is singular that this Owl should be so scarce in Ireland, Thompson giving | only a single instance of its occurrence. Obs.—Several supposed instances of the Snowy Owl (Nyctea nivea, Bonap.) breeding im the British Islands are on record. In the ‘ Zoologist’? for 1856 (p. 5201), Mr. T. Edward gives an account of a nest, contaiming two young birds, which was found in 1845 in a narrow chasm on the promontory of Loggie Head, Banffshire ; but in a letter which I have lately received from Mr. Edward, he tells me that he did not see the birds himself. Mr. J. H. Dunn tells me that the Snowy Owl bred on the hills of Orphir, near Stromness, about thirty-five years ago. He knows the person well who took different nests. Dr. Saxby writes that the Snowy Owl was first obtained in Shetland in 1808 by Dr. Edmonston, “ who neither had nor has any doubt that the bird bred at that time. The spot where the nest used to be found is still pointed out.” In Macgillivray’s ‘ British Birds’ (vol. iii. p. 412) mention is made of a nest and three young birds found in Shetland, and reported to Dr. Ed- monston, who, however, is there quoted as saying, “ I have always doubted whether it bred here.” Mr. Robert Gray thinks that the Snowy Owl may breed in the Hebrides, where it is by no means rare. It has been re- peatedly seen at Benbecula; and specimens have been recently obtained in Skye, Harris, and Benbecula. On the Continent the Snowy Owl is strictly an Arctic species, breeding only at Alpine elevations, and these north of latitude 60°, hence its nesting in any part of the British Isles appears highly improbable. The Scops Eared Owl (Kphialtes scops, Keys. et Blas.) is recorded by Mr. Hogg (Brewster’s ‘ History of Stockton-on- Tees,’ App. p. 14), on the information of Mr. Winch, as having been known to breed once, forty years ago, in Castle-Kden Dene, Durham. in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. IZ EnNeEoctonus cotturio (Bote). Red-backed Shrike. Provinces I.—XIJ. XIV. Subprovinces 1, 2-15, 17, 18, 20, 21-25, 28. Lat. 50°-55° or 56°. “ English” type. Not in Ireland. Breeds only occasionally in Cornwall, and is apparently not found in Lincolnshire. Mr. Eyton describes the Red-backed Shrike as very common in Wales. Thence northwards it becomes rare, nesting only occasionally in Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Durham, and is not included in the Northumberland list. A very few imstances are known of it breeding in Scotland. The Rev. J. Duns has once seen a pair during the summer in Berwickshire. Mr. Robert Gray tells me that a pair frequented a hedge-row near Dunbar during the breeding-season of 1852 ; and Mr. J. R. Pencaitland has ascertained that the nest has been once found in Haddingtonshire. Obs.—The Woodchat (#. rufus) is thought to have once or twice nested at Freshwater, in the Isle of Wight, where Mr. H. Rogers has twice taken a nest which Mr. F. Bond refers to this species; and Mr. Rogers believes that he saw the parent bird about the same locality. A young bird of the year was shot, in 1856, in the vicinity of the spot where the nest had been taken. The Ash-coloured Shrike (Lanius excubitor) is also supposed to have bred in this country, from the circumstance of old birds having been noticed during the summer months. In his ‘ British Birds,’ Lewin writes, “I have seen it in Wiltshire, and have no doubt of its breeding there.” Yarrell mentions its occurrence during summer in Essex and Northumberland. The Rev. J. Duns has seen the bird in summer, in Linlithgow ; and the Rev. T. M. Richards informs me that he once found the nest and young of the larger Butcher-bird in Somerset, and killed the old birds before he was aware of their rarity. I learn from my friend, the Rev. W. H. Hawker, that the nest recorded by him in the ‘ Ibis’ for 1859 (p. 830) has proved to be that of the Red-backed, not the Ash-coloured, Shrike. Muscicapa Grisoua (L.). Spotted Flycatcher. Provinces I.-X VII. 18 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “British” type, or general. Less frequent in Scotland ; but Mr. Dunbar finds it breeding as far north as Sutherland and Caithness. Muscicapa atricaPiLia (L.). Pied Flycatcher. Provinces I.—V. VII. VIII. X.-XII. XIV. ? XV.? Subprovinces 2-5, 7, 9, I1, 13, 14, 15, 18, 20, 22, 28, 24, 25, 2BES 20.8 Lat. 50°-55° or 58°. Type uncertain. Not in Ireland. A very local species. The nest has been occasionally found in North Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Isle of Wight, Surrey, Ox- ford, Norfolk, Gloucester, Shropshire, Leicester, and Derby. The bird breeds regularly in a few counties of the north and west of England. In Scotland, the Rev. J. Duns is assured by a friend, upon whom he can rely, that the Pied Flycatcher has occasionally bred in the neighbourhood of Torphichen. Mr. T. Edward has seen the young which were taken near Aberdeen, where the bird is said to breed occasionally ; and the species has several times come under his notice in the counties of Banff and Aberdeen. Hyprosata crncius (G. R. Gray). Dipper. Provinces I. II. V.-X VIII. Subprovinees 1, 2, 3, 4, 13-15, 17, 18, 20-36. Lat. 50°-59°. “Scottish” or Northern type. In all the hilly districts of the west and north of England, and throughout Scotland, reaching also to the Hebrides. Breeds on one river in Dorsetshire, as I am informed by Mr. H. Groves, who has eggs from this locality. Turpus viscivorus (L.). Mistletoe-Thrush. Provinces I.—X VII. ‘Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British” type, or general. in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 19 Apparently still increasing in Scotland, as it is now recorded as breeding regularly even in the most northern counties. Turpvus musicus (Z.). Song-Thrush. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-37. Lat. 50°-60°. “ British” type, or general. Extends to the Outer Hebrides and Orkney, but does not breed in Shetland. Turpus meRvLA (L.). Blackbird. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-35, 37. Lat. 50°-60°. “British” type, or general. Nests regularly even in the most northern parts of Scotland and in Orkney ; but apparently does not extend to Shetland, nor to “the northern and more remote Hebrides ” (Macgillivray). Obs.—It has been thought that a few pairs of the Redwing (Turdus iliacus) occasionally remain during summer and nest in this country. Mr. Blyth, in Charlesworth’s ‘ Mag. of Nat. Hist. states that he had known several such instances in Surrey: he also quotes (vol. i. p. 440) the statement of a dealer, that a nest was taken at Barnet. Yarrell mentions a nest found at Godalming; and one taken in Leicestershire is recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1864, p. 9248. In Shropshire, Mr. Eyton has noticed that some remain all the summer near Eyton. - In the summer of 1855, Dr. Saxby found a nest in North Wales. It was placed in a tall Portugal laurel ; and he ‘re- peatedly observed the bird sitting on her eggs, which he after- wards took (see Zoologist, 1861, p. 7427). In the Outer Hebrides, Mr. Bullock stated that he had found a nest in Harris; and in Orkney, Mr. Low observed a pair “in Hoy through the greatest part of summer” (Faun. Ore. p- 58). The Fieldfare (Twrdus pilaris) also is recorded by Mr. Blyth to have bred at Merton in Surrey (Charlesworth’s Mag. Nat. C2 20 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Hist. iii. p. 467), but unfortunately that gentleman did not see the birds himself. In his ‘ Tour in Sutherland’ (i. p. 206) Mr. St. John says, “I was shown a nest and eggs from near the Spey.” Other instances of supposed nests or of the bird having been observed in summer may be found in the ‘ Zoologist,’ the ‘Field, and other periodicals, but there is little doubt that in nearly all cases the Mistletoe-Thrush has been mistaken for the Fieldfare. Turpvus torquatus (L.). Ring-Ouzel. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20-35, 36 ?, 37. Lat. 50°-59°. “Scottish” or Northern type. Nests regularly in the hilly parts of the west and north of England, and throughout Scotland. The nest has also been found occasionally in the Isle of Wight, Kent, Suffolk, Norfolk, Warwick, and Leicester. Mr. Dunn tells me that the Ring- Ouzel breeds occasionally in Hoy; and Yarrell mentions that Mr. Bullock found the nest in the Hebrides. Orto.us GALBuLA (L.). Golden Oriole. Provinces I. II. ? IIT. IV. Subprovinces 2, 4?, 7, 10, 11. Lat. 50°-53°. “English” or Southern type. Not in Ireland. The Rev. M. A. Mathews writes that the Golden Oriole has been known to breed in some pleasure-grounds near Barnstaple. In Dorsetshire a male Golden Oriole was seen frequenting a garden near Blandford for more than a week, and was supposed to have a nest (Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge, in ‘ Zoologist,’ 1854, p- 4366). In Kent the nest has several times been found : in a planta- tion near Ord, in 1836 (Zoologist, p. 834); near Elmstone, in 1849 (Zoologist, p. 2496) ; near Sandwich (Zoologist, p. 3034). Mr. Charles Gordon, of the Museum, Dover, mentions a nest taken near Elmstead ; and adds that the bird appeared again in the same locality in 1861. Meyer, in his ‘ Illustrations of British Birds, figures a nest in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 21 taken in Suffolk ; and Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear speak of a nest found in a garden at Ormsby, in Norfolk. Mr. Alfred Newton tells me that the eggs in Mr. Scales’s collection, which were thought to have been taken in Norfolk, were really pro- cured from Holland. ACCENTOR MODULARIS (Bechst.). Hedge Sparrow. Provinces I.-X VII. Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “British” type, or general. Breeds as far north as Sutherland and Caithness. Is also found in the western isles of Scotland (Yarrell), and “ builds in the bare islands of the north of Scotland ” (Macgillivray). ErytHacus RUBECULA (Macgill.). Redbreast. Provinces [.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-35, 37. Lat. 50°-60°. “ British” type, or general. Throughout England and Scotland. Nests and remains the whole winter in Orkney; but does not breed in Shetland, and only occasionally visits the Outer Hebrides. RvticiLLA PH@NICcURA (Bonap.). Redstart. Provinces I.—X VII. Subprovinces 1-32, 34, 35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British” type, or general. Not in Ireland. Rare in Scotland, though the nest has been found as far north as Sutherland and Caithness. Ruricitya tTitHys (Brehm). Black Redstart. Provinces V. VI.? XI. Subprovinces 15, 16?, 24. Lat. 52°-55°. Type, perhaps “ English.” Not in Ireland. In the ‘ Zoologist ’ for 1852 (p. 83503) mention is made of a nest found at Rongdon, near Rugely, in Staffordshire ; and Mr. Hewitson, who has seen one of the eggs, thinks that it can scarcely belong to any other British bird (Eggs B. B. ed. 3. p. 106). : 22 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds The Rev. H. B. Tristram informs me that a nest, with four eges, was once taken in the city of Durham. Mr. James Tracy includes the Black Redstart in his list, as having nested in Pembrokeshire ; and Mr. W. H. Slaney tells me that it has been frequently noticed in the neighbourhood of Hatton Hall during the breeding-season. PRATINCOLA RUBICOLA (Koch). Stonechat. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-36. Lat. 50°-59°. +“ British” type, or general. Ranges to the extreme north of the mainland of Scotland, and is included by Dr. Dewar in his list of the birds which he has found nesting in the Hebrides ; but does not breed in Orkney and Shetland. PRATINCOLA RUBETRA (Koch). Whinchat. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-36. Lat. 50°-59°. “British” type, or general. Like the former, extends to Sutherland, Caithness, and Outer Hebrides ; but is scarce in some districts. SAXICOLA @NANTHE (Bechst.). Wheatear. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “British” type, or general. Perhaps less abundant in the south ; ‘‘ nowhere more plentiful than in the Outer Hebrides and Orkney and Shetland Islands ” (Macgillray) . CaLAMODYTA LOcUSTELLA (G.R.Gray). Grasshopper- Warbler. Provinces I.—XIII. XIV. XVI. Subprovinces 1-15, 16?, 17, 19-25, 26, 27, 28, 32. Lat. 50°-56°. “English” or Southern type. Thinly scattered through England and Wales, and breeds also in a few localities in the south of Scotland. The bird has been killed in Kirkeudbright (Se W. Jardine), in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 23 and the nest taken in Wigton (Rev. T. B. Bell). Birds seen in Ayrshire (Rennie) and in Renfrew (Mr. M. Young). Breeds regularly in Haddington (Mr. R. Gray), in Edinburgh (Mr. J. Grahame), occasionally in Linlithgow (Mr. T. D. Weir), and regularly on Loch Lomond (Mr. R. Gray). Dr. Dewar has shot the old birds in Argyleshire. CaLAMODYTA PHRAGMITIS (Bonap.). Sedge Warbler. Provinces I.—X VII. Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British” type, or general. Extends to Sutherland and Caithness, but does not reach the Scottish isles. CaLaMopyTa LuscinioipEs (G. R. Gray). Savi’s Warbler. Provinces I.? III.? IV. Subprovinces 2?, 7?, 8 ?, (12). Lat. 50°-53°. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. The Rev. H. Roundell tells me that he has obtained eggs from Kingsbridge, in Devonshire. In the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1850, p. 2849, Mr. J. Green, a dealer, mentions a nest taken by himself at Dagenham, im Essex. Another at Erith, in Kent (‘ Zoologist,’ p. 3945). Mr. H. Stevenson tells me that eggs have been found in the Norfolk marshes much resembling those of Savi’s Warbler, and five birds have been killed in the county. Mr. F. Bond informs me that the nest has many times been found in Cambridge and Huntingdonshire ; but that, owing to the recent extensive draining-operations, he believes the bird has ceased to breed in the fens of Baitsbight, Burwell, and Whittlesea, where it was formerly a regular summer visitor. CaLAMODYTA STREPERA (G. R. Gray). Reed Warbler. Provinces I.—X. Subprovinces 3—22. Lat. 50°-55°. “English” or Southern type. Not in Ireland. More common on the eastern side of England, and does not breed in Devon and Cornwall. Extends as far north as Sear- 24 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds borough (Mr. A. S. Bell) and Lancashire (Mr. J. F. Brock- holes). The nest has once been taken in Haddingtonshire by Mr. Hepburn. CALAMODYTA ARUNDINACEA(G.R.Gray). Great Reed Warbler. Provinces III. IV. Subprovinces 7 ?, 8, 12. Lat. 51°-53°. “ Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. Yarrell, in his second Supplement, records a nest taken near Dorking ; and the bird has several times been killed in Kent. Mr. F. Bond tells me that he has seen three eggs which were taken in Hertfordshire ; and he himself possesses two eggs which were sent to him from Northamptonshire. LuscINIa PHILOMELA (Bonap.). Nightingale. Provinces I.-V. VIII. X. Subprovinces 2-15, 19, 20, 22, 238. Lat. 50°-54°. “ Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. Nests in East Devon, Somerset, Gloucester, Monmouth, Here- ford (rarely), Shropshire (occasionally), Stafford, Derby, York, and in all the counties to the east of this line. The Nightingale is also thought to have once bred near Sun- derland, and has been heard at Carlisle. In the ‘ Zoologist’” (p. 241) Mr. R. D. Duncan repeats his statement that a pair of Nightingales were heard, and the male shot, in Calder Wood, Mid Lothian, in the summer of 1826—a warm season. SYLVIA ATRICAPILLA (Latham). Blackcap. Provinces I.-X VII. Subprovinces 1-28, 29, 30?, 31, 32. Lat. 50°-58°. “ English” or Southern type. Rare in Scotland, though it has been found nesting in many different counties, especially of the two southern provinces. Beyond the Forth, the nest has been found in Clackmannan (Dr. P. Brotherson), 1 Perthshire (Col. Drummond-Hay), in Banffshire a few paws every year (Mr. T. Edward), in Dum- barton (Mr. R. Gray), and in Ross-shire (Mr. R. Danford). in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 25 Sytvra HortTeNsIs (Lath.). Garden Warbler. Provinces I-VI. VIII.-XIV. XV.? XVI.? Subprovinces 1, 2-15, 17, 18-28, 29?, 32? Lat. 50°-56°. “ English ” or Southern type. Throughout England ; but scarce in Cornwall and Pembroke- shire, and I have no authority for its breeding in North Wales. Extends to the south, at least, of Scotland, perhaps to Argyle and Perthshire. Sytv1a CINEREA (Lath.). Whitethroat. Provinces I.-X VII. Subprovinces 1-33, 34, 35. Lat. 50°-59°. ‘‘ British” type, or general. Scarce in the north of Scotland, though ranging to the extreme north of the mainland. Mr. W. Dunbar describes it as nesting only occasionally in Ross, Sutherland, and Caithness ; and Mr. H. D. Graham finds it breeding regularly in Mull and Iona. Sytvra currvuca (Lath.). Lesser Whitethroat. Provinces I.—V. VIII.-XIV. XVI. Subprovinces 3-15, 19-25, 27, 28, 32? Lat. 50°-56°, “ English ” or Southern type. Not in Ireland. Apparently scarce in the west of England, and does not breed in Cornwall or Devon, nor have I any authority for its nesting in Wales. Very rare in Scotland, where it has been observed in Ayrshire, Renfrew, and Lanark (see Macgillivray, vol. ii.). In Haddington, breeding (Mr. A. Hepburn). In Edinburgh. In Linlithgow, breeding occasionally (Mr. 7. D. Weir). Mr. R. Gray believes it breeds near Loch Lomond, and he has also obtained the bird from Argyleshire. SYLVIA SIBILATRIX (Bechst.). Wood Wren. Provinces I.-XVI. Subprovinces 1-28, 29, 30, 32. ~ Lat. 50°-58°. “ British” or “ English ” type. Not in Ireland. 26 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Throughout England; and in Scotland ranges further north than the Chiff-Chaff, having been observed by the Duke of Argyll in Argyleshire and at Balmoral. Mr. T. Edward has seen the bird in Banffshire ; and Mr. J. Lamb tells me that it is com- mon round Perth, where Mr. A. Pullar has also found the nest. Syzvra TrocHiLus (Lath.). Willow Wren. Provinces I.-X VII. Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British” type, or general. Throughout Great Brita, becoming less numerous in the north of Scotland. Found plentiful in Sutherland by Mr. Selby ; and is reported by Mr. W. Dunbar as nesting regularly in Ross, Sutherland, and Caithness. Syztvra ruFA (Naum.). Chiffchaff. Provinces I.—XIV. Subprovinces 1-25, 26-28. Lat. 50°-56°. “ English” or Southern type. Throughout England and Wales, and in a few counties of the south of Scotland. Sir W. Jardine marks the Chiffchaff as nesting sparingly in Dumfries. Mr. R. Gray finds it nesting near Glasgow; and the Rev. J. Duns tells me that the bird is well known in Berwickshire. Macgillivray speaks of its having been seen in various parts of Scotland, especially the Lothians, where it is very rare. The bird is included in the ‘ Natural History of Dee-side,’ on the authority of Mr. Brown, who describes it as occurring very rarely near Abergeldie and Micras. Sytvr1a unpAta (G. R. Gray). Dartford Warbler. Provinces I-III. V.? VIII.? Subprovinees 1?, 2-9, 14.?, 20? Lat. 50°-52°. “ English” type, or Southern. Confined apparently to a few counties of the extreme south of England. Montagu mentions its occurrence in Cornwall. in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 27 The nest has been found in Devon, Wilts, Dorset, Hants, Sussex, Kent, Surrey, and Middlesex. The nest has once been taken in Oxfordshire (Zoologist, p- 2597); and Mr. J. J. Briggs has lately informed me that he has taken a nest In Derbyshire, which he believes belongs to the Dartford Warbler. Yarrell mentions its occurrence in Worcester- shire and Leicestershire. It seems likely that the bird may oe- casionally extend its range beyond latitude 52°, until killed or driven back by an unusually severe winter. One of the species characteristic of the South-European fauna. Reeutus cristatus (Koch). Golden-crested Wren. Provinces I.-XVII. Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°, “ British ” type, or general. Breeds as far north as Sutherland and Caithness (Mr. W. Dunbar), but not in the Scottish isles. Obs.—Regulus ignicapillus (Naum.). In the third edition of Hewitson’s ‘Eggs B. B.’ (vol. i. p. 148) occurs the remark :— “The Rev. E. H. Browne has watched this species” [the Fire- crested Wren] “during the summer near his residence at Blo’ Norton, in Norfolk, and has no doubt it breeds there;” but there is too much reason to fear that the Golden-crested Wren has in this instance been mistaken for the Fire-crested, which appears to be only a winter visitant to Britain. Parus masor (Linn.). Great Titmouse. Provinces I.—X VII. Subprovincees 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British ” type, or general. Rare in the north of Scotland, but marked by Mr. Dunbar as building regularly in Ross and Sutherland. Sir W. Jardine describes it as ranging scarcely so far north as the Blue Titmouse. Parus cmHru evs (Linn.). Blue Titmouse. Provinces I.—X VII. Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British ” type, or general. To Sutherland (Mr. Selby and Mr. Dunbar) and Caithness (Mr. Dunbar). D 28 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Parvs cristatus (Linn.). Crested Titmouse. Provinces XIII.? XV. XVII. Subprovinces 27 ?, 31, 34. Lat. 56°-58°. “Scottish” type. Not in Ireland. From Sir W. Jardine we learn that the Crested Titmouse annually breeds in some plantations near Glasgow: this locality may belong to province XVI. and subprovince 82, instead of XIII. and 27 as entered above. The Rev. George Gordon tells me that it breeds at Abernethy, on the Spey; and Mr. Dunbar describes it as plentiful in the woods of Castle Grant, in Inverness-shire; Montagu had already seen it from the forest of Glenmoor,—all three localities being situated close together on the confines of the counties of Inver- ness, Elgin, and perhaps extending to Aberdeenshire and Banff. Further north the bird has been seen on the Findhorn, and it nests regularly in Ross-shire (Mr. W. Dunbar). Yarrell mentions that the Crested Titmouse has been seen in the Pass of Killiekrankie; and Macgillivray notices a specimen killed in Argyleshire. Parus ATER (Linn.). Coal-Titmouse. Provinces I.—X VII. Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British” type, or general. Mr. Dunbar finds the nest as far north as Sutherland. The late Mr. St. John also noticed the bird in the same county ; and Macgillivray describes it as plentiful in the pine-forests of the north of Scotland. Parus paLustris (Linn.). ° Marsh-Titmouse. Provinces I.-XII. XIV. XV. Subprovinces 1-25, 28, 29, 30. Lat. 50°-58°. “English” type, or Southern. Throughout England and Wales, becoming scarce in Scotland, where it is mostly found in the Lothians. Nests regularly in Haddington (Mr. A. Hepburn), regularly in Linlithgow (Mr. T. D. Weir), and occasionally in several other counties of sub- province 28. The Marsh-Titmouse extends to Fifeshire, ac- cording to Macegillivray, and breeds in Perthshire (Mr. 4. in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 29 Pullar and Mr. J. Lamb), occasionally in Aberdeenshire (Mr. T. Edward), and even as far north as Inverness (Mr. W. Dun- bar). This bird can hardly be supposed wanting in subpro- vinces 16 and 19, though it is not included in either list of the nesting-birds of Lincolnshire, where Mr. Adrian informs me that it has only been noticed as a rare visitor. Parus caupatus (Linn.). Long-tailed Titmouse. Provinces I.-—X VII. Subprovinees 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British” type, or general. Less frequent in the north of Scotland, but is described by Mr. Dunbar as nesting regularly in Ross, Sutherland, and Caithness. Sir W. Jardine considers that it does not reach nearly so far north as the Coal-Titmouse. ParorpEs BrarMicusS (G. R. Gray). Bearded Titmouse. Provinces; (P4111. PV. (V.] [VIL] [EX.) [X.] Subprovinees (6), 7, 8’, 10; 1Y, 12, (13 2), 19, (21?), 23: Lat. 50°-53°. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. A very local species, apparently now restricted to a few localities in Norfolk and Suffolk, and to the reed-beds along the banks of the Thames. Still breeds in Surrey (Rev. J. C. Atkinson) and probably in Essex (where the bird has been noticed), in East Suffolk (Rev. J. Farr), in Norfolk (Mr. H. Stevenson), and possibly in Lincolnshire, which is one of the five counties mentioned by Hewitson. (See also Mr. J. D. Hoy’s account of this bird, in Loudon’s ‘ Mag. of Nat. Hist.’ vol. 11. p. 328.) Extinct in Sussex (Mr. Knox) ; extinct also in Cambridge- shire and Huntingdon (Mr. F. Bond). Kent, Gloucester, and Cowbit in Lancashire are given as localities by Montagu; and Mr. Waterton tells me that a pair once built by the side of the lake at Walton Hall. Moraciiua YARRELLI (Gould). Pied Wagtail. Provinces [.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-37. Lat. 45°-60°. “ British ” type, or general. D2 30 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Throughout the mainland, extending to the Outer Hebrides (Dr. D. Dewar) and Orkney ; but does not breed in Shetland. Blasius considers the Pied Wagtail a local race of the next species. Moracitza AauBa (Linn.). White Wagtail. Provinces, Lt Tie; hh? Vet Subprovinces 2?, 5 ?, 6?, 7?, 12? Lat. 50°-53°?. “English” type. Not in Ireland. The Rev. M. A. Mathews considers the White Wagtail a regular spring visitor to the coast of North Devon, and has noticed a pair frequenting the banks of a stream near Barn- staple. He also writes that, in June 1860, his friend Mr. Brodrick, who knows the bird well, found a pair of White Wagtails nesting in a wall bordering on a little stream between Ilfracombe and Morte. At Freshwater, in the Isle of Wight, Mr. H. Rogers has obtained a pair of Wagtails, with their nest, which Mr. Bond and Mr. Gould refer to M. alba, though the birds are not so pale in colour as usual. With regard to Sussex, Mr. Swaysland has informed the Rey. M. A. Mathews that the White Wagtail is a regular summer yisitant to the south downs, and then frequents the little pools on the high grounds, in the vicinity of which it is believed to breed. Dr. Plomley told the Rev. H. Roundell that M. alba was a regular summer visitor, and bred in Kent. In the ‘ Zoologist,’ p. 1497, Dr. Plomley describes it as common about Romney Marsh. Mr. Charles Gordon has no doubt of its breeding in the cliffs of Kent, where he has noticed it durmg the breeding- season ; and, from the clamour and actions of birds which he has shot there, he has no doubt there was a nest. To this may be added Mr. Carter’s statement that he has caught the female upon the nest at Whittlesea (Hunts), where he saw the birds in great numbers for two successive summers (Hewitson, ‘Kegs of B. B.’ ed. 3. p. 165). Moraciiya suLPHUREA (Bechst.). Grey Wagtail. Provinces I. IT. II. V. VILI.-XVII. in Great Britain during the Nesting- season. dl Subprovinces I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 13, 14, 15, 20-382, 34, 35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ Scottish ” type, or Northern. Scarce in the south during summer, and then found mostly in the west. Breeds occasionally in Cornwall (Mr. E. H. Rodd) ; regularly in North Devon (Rev. M. A. Mathews), in South Devon (Mr. J. Gatcombe), near Herringston in Dorset (Mr. H. Groves), at Chemies (Gould, ‘ Contrib. to Ornith.’ 1849, p. 187), and by the little river Chess (Rev. B. Burgess), in Bucks and in Gloucester, where it is rare (Rev. F. J. Scott). Is believed to breed also in Somerset, Wilts, Hants, and Kent (as mentioned by Yarrell). Breeds more numerously in Stafford and Shrop- shire, and from Derbyshire northwards throughout Scotland, though considered by Macgillivray very rare north of Inverness. Doubtless nidifies in South and North Wales, though I have no record of its doing so. : MoraciL1ia CAMPESTRIS (Pall.). Ray’s Wagtail. Provinces I.—XVI. or XVII. Subprovinces 2-28, 30, 31, 32, 35? Lat. 50°-58° or 59°?. “ English ” type, or Southern. Throughout England and Wales, becoming very scarce or local in the north of Scotland. Mr. T. Edward finds it breeding on the east coast of Aberdeenshire ; and Mr. W. M. Snowie marks it as nesting also in East Inverness. Mr. R. Gray has found the nest in Dumbartonshire ; and the bird has been seen as far north as Sutherland, by Mr. St. John and Sir W. Jardine, &c. Obs.—Motacilla flava, L., whose nest is supposed to have been found in Cambridgeshire, is not included in the list which Mr. Bond has sent me for that county. ANTHUS ARBOREUS (Bechst.). Tree-Pipit. Provinces I.-XVI. Subprovinces 1-28, 29, 30, 31, 32. Lat. 50°-58°. “English” type. Not in Ireland. Scarce in Cornwall, Wales, and Scotland, though the nest has been found as far north as Dumbarton (Mr. R. Gray), in Aber- deen and Banff (Mr. T. Edward), and in East Inverness (Mr. W. Dunbar). R2 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds ANTHUS PRATENSIS (Bechst.). Meadow-Pipit. Provinces I.—XVIII. Subprovinces 1-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “ British ” type, or general. A common bird throughout Britain; especially abundant in the north, and reaching the Outer Hebrides and Shetland. Antaus opscurus (Keysl. & Blas.). Rock-Pipit. Provinces LT MT Via i: Subprovinces 1-7, 17-19, 21, 22, 24-388. Lat. 50°-61°. “ British ” type, or general. All round the coast, preferring rocky shores, but frequenting also the muddy estuaries of the flatter parts of the coast. ALAUDA ARVENSIS (Linn.). Sky-Lark. Provinces I.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “ British” type, or general. To the extreme north of Scotland and its isles. ALAUDA ARBOREA (Linn.). Wood-Lark. Provinces I.-VI. VIII.—X. XII. Subprovinces 1, 2, 3,4, 5-11, 12, 18-15, 17, 18, 19 ?, 20, 21, pea xe Hae AE Lat. 50°-55°. “English ” type. Not in Scotland. Chiefly in the south of England, and apparently rare or wanting in some of the eastern counties. Nests only occa- sionally in Essex, and is not included in either of the lists which I have received from Lincolnshire, though the county is mentioned by Yarrell. Nests occasionally in Derbyshire, in Yorkshire (where it is rare), in South Lancashire (Mr. G. S. Gregson), and in West- moreland (Mr. 7. Gough). PLECTROPHANES NIVALIS (Jeyer). Snow-Bunting. Provinces XV. XVIII. Subprovinces 30 and 38. in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 33 Lat. 57°-61°. “ Highland” or mountain type. Not in Ire- land. In the ‘ Natural History of Deeside’ it is recorded that the Snow-Bunting has been noticed (by Macgillivray), early in August, on Lochnagar, Cairn-tual, and Ben-mac-dhui. In the same work, Messrs. Cumming and Brown state that it resides on these mountains all summer, and breeds; and Mr. Stewart says that it breeds on Ben Aun. In Banffshire, also, Mr. T. Edward has seen the Snow-Bunting in summer (Zoologist, p. 6597). Reference may be made to the first volume of Macgil- livray’s ‘British Birds, and to Yarrell, who quotes Colonel Thornton as having seen “ Snow-flakes ” on a Ptarmigan-moun- tain on the 29th of August. Quite recently Dr. Saxby has discovered the nest of the Snow-Bunting in Unst, Shetland (‘ Zoologist,’ p. 7709) ; and he tells me that he has upon many occasions observed pairs of them durmg summer, but in parts of the cliffs almost always inaccessible (see also ‘ Zoologist ’ for 1863, p. 8680, and 1864, p- 9237). In the latter passage Dr. Saxby considers that the Snow-Bunting breeds regularly in the cliffs below Saxavord. EMBERIZA MILIARIA (Linn.). Common Bunting. Provinces I.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-88. Lat. 50°-61°. “British ” type, or general. Less numerous in Scotland, being attached to the corn-fields and cultivated districts, but reaches to the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland. EmBerizA scH@NIcLUs (Linn.). Reed-Bunting. Provinces I.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-36, 37. Lat. 50°-59° or 60°. “ British” type, or general. Once observed breeding in Orkney, according to Messrs. Baikie and Heddle. EMBERIZA CITRINELLA (Linn.). Yellow Hammer. Provinces I.—X VIII. 54: Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Subprovinces 1-35, 37. Lat. 50°-59° or 60°.“ British ” type, or general. To the far north of Scotland, and has twice bred in Orkney (Messrs. Baikie and Heddle). EmBeriza CIRLUs (Linn.). Cirl-Bunting. Provinces I. II. III. V. Subprovinces 1-6, 7, 13, 14. Lat. 50°-55°. “English ” (or “ Atlantic”’) type. Not in Ire- land. Along the south coast, from Cornwall to Essex ; but does not appear to breed in Kent. Nests occasionally in Surrey (Mr. F. Godman). Has been seen in Herts, in May, by the Rev. H. H. Crewe, who has lately found it breeding near Tring (Ibis, 1865, p. 114). It has been obtained in Berks by the Rev. F. O. Morris. Breeds in Glou- cester (Rev. F. J. Scott), in Hereford (Mr. R. M. Lingwood), in Worcester and Warwick (Mr. R. F. Tomes). The few birds which have been noticed further north were most likely acci- dental visitors. FRINGILLA C@LEBS (Linn.). Chaffinch. Provinces I.-X VII. Subprovinces ]-35. Lat. 50°59°. “ British” type, or general. The commonest and probably most abundant of our Finches ; nesting regularly as far north as Caithness, but appears only as a visitor in the northern Scottish isles. Obs.— F. montifringilla (L.). In the ‘Zoologist’ for 1864 (p. 9210), the Rev. J. C. Atkinson describes a nest and eggs found near Thirsk, which he supposes to have been those of the a bird which in Western Scandinavia does not breed Brambling south of lat. 59° N., and in Eastern Seandinavia not south of lat. 67° N. (Wallengren in ¢ Naumannia,’ 1855, p. 186). Passer MONTANUS (Sfeph.). Tree-Sparrow. Provinces I.-V. VIII.-XI. XIV. XV. Subprovinces 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9-15, 19, 20-24, 28, 29, 30, 31. Lat. 50°-58°. “ Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 35 Chiefly in the middle and eastern counties of England, reach- ing as far north as Lancashire and Cumberland, with a few scattered localities on the eastern side of Scotland. Mr. W. D. Crotch has once taken the nest, and caught the hen, in a hole in a thatched roof near Taunton. In Dorset, Mr. H. Groves has found the nest in a tree in a swamp at the mouth of the river Wey. The Tree Sparrow breeds regularly in Gloucester, Hereford, Stafford, Shropshire, where “ it is common” (Mr. H. Shaw). Mr. C. S. Gregson considers it not scarce in South and North Lancashire ; and he tells me that he has taken the nest near Warrington and near Lancaster, and believes that its range ex- tends to Westmoreland and Cumberland. Extremely rare in Scotland. Mr. R. Gray has noticed a pair frequenting a farm in North Berwick all the summer; Mr. J. R. Pencaitland also marks it as nesting occasionally in this county. Mr. J. Murray and Mr. A. Pullen tell me that it breeds occasionally in Perthshire. Mr. T. Edward has seen eggs which were taken in “the higher parts of Aberdeenshire ” ; and, in Elginshire, the Rev. George Gordon finds the Tree-Spar- row breeding annually in small numbers in the hedges of the warmer parts of the county, where it appears as a summer visitor. Passer pomesticus (Leach). House-Sparrow. Provinces I.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “ British ” type, or general. Throughout Great Britain, extending to the western and northern isles of Scotland. FRINGILLA CHLORISs (Temm.). Green Linnet. Provinces I.—X VII. Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British ” type, or general. Breeds as far north as Sutherland (Mr. W. Dunbar) and Caithness (Mr. H. Osborne), but not in the Scottish isles. 36 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds CoccoTHRAUSTES VULGARIS (Steph.). Hawfinch. Provinces IT. Tif. TV. V. VIII. X. Subprovinces 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 20, 22: Lat. 50°-54°. “English” type. Not in Ireland. Apparently increasing, and reported as now breeding regu- larly in Wilts, Kent, Surrey, Essex, Middlesex, and Bucks. The nest has also been found in Dorset (Mr. H. Groves), Hants, Sussex, Herts, Berks, Oxford, Suffolk, Norfolk, Warwick, Rut- land, Derby; and at Cusworth near Doncaster (Mr. H. Reid). Mr. T. Edward informs me that he believes a pair bred, a few years ago, near to the town of Banff. FRINGILLA CARDUELIS (Linn.). Goldfinch. Provinces I.—X VII. Subprovinces 1-34, 35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British ” type, or general. Rare in the north of Scotland, though reputed to breed re- gularly in Ross-shire (Mr. Danford) and occasionally in Caith- ness (Mr. H. Osborne) ; the late Mr. St. John also observed the bird in Sutherland. The Goldfinch is said to be decreasing in several of the northern districts; and if we look to the account given by Mr. Knox of the great numbers annually destroyed by bird- catchers in the autumnal migration, there can be no doubt that the Goldfinch and many other of the Finches and Linnets are destroyed in a most reckless and unprofitable manner. Without wishing for protective laws like those enacted in France, we can- not avoid registering this protest against the cruel and useless slaughter which Mr. Knox deplores, in his ‘ Ornithological Rambles’ (ed. 3, p. 78). FRINGILLA spinus (Linn.). Siskin. Provinces 11. TUL TX. xX. Xi. KOT. Ke Subprovinces 4, 7, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 382, 34, 35. Lat. 50° or 54°-59°. “Scottish ” type. Not positively known to breed in Ireland (Zool. p. 3708). The Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge tells me that he once found a in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 37 Siskin’s nest in a furze-bush, close to a fir-plantation, near to Bloxworth, Dorset. Meyer mentions a nest taken in Combe Wood. The bird is considered to have bred near Oxford (Rev. A. Mathews), and has been seen near Gloucester in the month of May. The nest has been found in Laneashire (Yarrell), near Walton Hall (Mr. Charles Waterton), in Durham (Mr. J. Hancock and Rev. H. B. Tristram) and in Westmoreland, according to Bolton, as quoted by Montagu. In the south of Scotland, the Siskin breeds occasionally in Dalswinton Woods, Dumfriesshire (Mr. W. G. Gibson); im Kirkeudbright (Yarrell); within two miles of Glasgow (Mr. R. Gray) ; in several counties of subprovince 28; in Perthshire, perhaps regularly ; in Argyleshire ; and, though not numerous as a species, may be considered to nest regularly in most of the northern counties of Scotland. FRINGILLA CANNABINA (Linn.). Linnet. Provinces I.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-35, 37. Lat. 50°-60°. ‘‘ British” type, or general. Throughout the mainland ; and also breeds regularly in Ork- ney (Messrs. Baikie and Heddle and J. H, Dunn). FRINGILLA LINARIA (Linn.)*. Lesser Redpoll. Provinces II. III. IV. V. VIII.-X VIII. Subprovinces 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 18, 14, 15, 20-31, 32, 34, 35, 37. Lat. 50°-60°. “Scottish ” type, or Northern. Nests occasionally in Dorset, Isle of Wight, Kent (Zoologist, p. 8951), Oxford, Warwick, and Shropshire; regularly in Nor- folk and Suffolk ; regularly in Nottingham (Rev. R. Sutton) and Derby (Rev. H. H. Crewe and Mr. O. Salvin), and thence northwards becomes more numerous, breeding in all the counties of the north of England and throughout Scotland. Low tells * We think there can be no doubt that the true Fringilla linaria of Linnzus is the bird usually called by English ornithologists the ‘* Mealy Redpoll ”’; the specific name proper to the “ Lesser Redpoll’’ would seem to be rufescens, Vieillot.—Ep. 38 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Bards us that it breeds in Hoy; and Messrs. Baikie and Heddle also describe it as indigenous to Orkney. FRINGILLA FLAVIROSTRIS’(Linn.). Twite. Provinces V. VII. VIII. IX. X.-XVIII. Subprovinces 14, 15, 18, 20, 21-25, 27-32, 33 ?, 34-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “Scottish ” type, or Northern. In Herefordshire, Mr. R. M. Lingwood says that the Twite breeds sparingly on the Black Mountains, or Hatterell Hills, on the west border of the county. Garner tells us that this bird breeds in Staffordshire ; and Sir John Crewe marks it as nesting regularly in that county. Mr. H. Shaw describes it as nesting occasionally on the Longmind Hills, in Shropshire. The bird also breeds in Derbyshire occasionally (Sir J. Crewe), in North Wales (Eyton), on the mosses of South Lancashire, Warrington, &c. (Mr. C. S. Gregson); in Kast York (Mr. A. S. Bell); in West York (Mr. H. Smurthwaite) ; Westmoreland (Mr. T. Gough) ; Isle of Man (Mr. J. F. Crellin), who has kindly sent me specimens of the bird, obtained in the month of June; in Durham and Northumberland, and in nearly all the counties of Scotland, reaching to the Hebrides and North- ern Isles ; but f have no authority for subprovince 26. Mr. H. Groves tells me that he believes the nest has been found in the north of Dorsetshire ; but some confirmation of this locality is desirable, as this would extend the breeding-range two degrees further south. PyRRHULA RUBICILLA (Pall.). Bullfinch. Provinces I.—X VII. Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. <“* British ” type, or general. Though not an abundant species, the Bullfinch appears to be widely distributed in Britam. Mr. Dunbar describes it as breeding regularly in Sutherland and Caithness ; and Mr. Dan- ford marks it as nesting every year in Ross-shire. Lox1a curvirostra (Linn.). Common Crossbill. Provinces I.-V. VIII. X. XI.-XV. XVII. in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 39 Subprovinces 2, 3, 5-8, II, 13, 20, 22, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 34, 35. Lat. 50°-59°. “Scottish ” type, or Northern. The Crossbill appears to be an increasing species in Scotland, and, from having been more frequently found breeding in the northern counties, seems to belong rather to the “ Scottish ” than the “ British ” type, though the nest has occurred in scat- tered localities throughout Great Britain. Commencing from the south, the nest has been found in the following counties: —Devon (Zoologist, p. 39), Somerset (Mr. W. D. Crotch), Hants (Zoologist, p. 189), Sussex (Mr. W. Borrer), Kent (Mr. G. Jell), Surrey (Hewitson), Essex (Mr. H. Doubleday), Herts(M>. F. Bund), Norfolk (Sheppard and Whitear), Gloucester (Hewitson), Leicester (Harley), East York (Hewitson and Mr. A. 8S. Bell), West York (Mr. H. Reid), Durham and Northumberland (Mr. J. Hancock and Rev. H. B. Tristram), Cumberland (Mr. T. Hope), Dumfries (Mr. W. G. Gibson), Sel- kirk and Roxburgh (Rev. T. B. Bell), Linlithgow (Rev. J. Duns and Mr. T. D. Weir), Perth (Mr. A. Pullen), Banff (Mr. T. Ed- ward), Elgin (Rev. G. Gordon) ; and the bird is considered to breed regularly in Aberdeen, Inverness, Ross, and probably Sutherland. STURNUS VULGARIS (Linn.). Starling. Provinces I.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-88, Lat. 50°-61°. “ British” type, or general. Throughout the mainland and isles, but is much more nume- rous in some districts than in others, and it has been observed to increase very rapidly in some counties where it formerly was hardly known. Sir W. Jardine marks the Starling as having bred regularly “ of late years only ” in Dumfriesshire; and Mr. Archibald Hepburn describes it as “a colonist ” in Had- dingtonshire. Coracta Gracuta (G. R. Gray). Chough. Erovmicesston th. [IE Vi. VIL. XIL...X1Tl, XIV. XVI; XVIL.. XVIII. 40 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Subprovinces 1, 2, (3), 4, 5, (6), (7), 16, 17, 18, 25, 26, 27, 28, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. Lat. 50°-59°. “Atlantic ”’ type. On the rocky headlands of the south and west coasts, from the Isle of Wight to Ross and Sutherland, in which latter county Mr. Dunbar tells me that it inhabits only a few localities. Formerly nested on Dover cliffs, according to Pennant, who states that a pair brought from Cornwall escaped and stocked these rocks, though the well-known passage from Shakspeare seems to imply an earlier origin. The species is believed to be now extinct in Sussex and Kent, and very few pairs now remain in the Isle of Wight, and at Purbeck. On the east coast, a few birds only are known to breed about St. Abb’s Head and near Fast Castle in Ber- wickshire. Though not strictly south-western, its much greater preva- lence on the western side of the island, and its southern distri- bution on the Continent, induce me to refer the Chough to the “ Atlantic” rather than to the “ British” type. Corvus corax (Linn.). Raven. Provinces I.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “ British ” type, or general. Thinly scattered throughout Great Britain, being more nume- rous in the north and very scarce in the more level and cul- tivated districts. The Raven is already nearly extirpated in many of the midland and eastern counties, and is not included in either of the two lists which I have received from Lincoln- shire. Corvus corone (Linn.). Carrion-Crow. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-82, 35, 36. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British ” type, or general. Frequent in England, becoming rare in the middle and north of Scotland, where its place is supplied by the Hooded Crow. Mr. T, Edward, however, considers the two birds about equally in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 4d numerous in Banffshire. Mr. R. J. Shearer marks the Carrion- Crow as nesting occasionally in Caithness ; and the late Mr. St. John mentions its occurrence in Sutherland, where, however, its nest has not come under the notice of Mr. Dunbar. Dr. Dewar informs me that he has seen the Carrion-Crow, during the breeding-season, in the Outer Hebrides, where, as in the neighbourhood of Glasgow, he believes that it pairs with the Hooded Crow. Corvus cornix (Linn.). Hooded Crow. Provinces III. IV. X. XI. XII. XTII.—-X VIII. Subprovinces 8, 11, 22, 24, 25, 26-38. Lat. 51° or 54°-61°. “ Scottish ” type, or Northern. My. Laver, of Colchester, has informed Dr. C. R. Bree that the “Dun Crow” occurs in great numbers near the Blackwater River, in Essex, and “ some remain and breed there every year. Mr. Laver has frequently seen and taken the nest on Osey Island, in the parish of Steeple, on Ramsay Island, and at Paglesham. His cousin, Mr. Robert Laver, has shot the old bird from the nest, which is generally that of the Carrion- Crow.” Dr. Bree has since written to say that the trees in which the Hooded Crow used to breed have been cut down in one of the localities whence he kindly endeayoured to obtain specimens. Messrs. Gurney and Fisher mention a pair having once nested near King’s Lynn in 1816. There is reason to believe that the Hooded Crow breeds occa- sionally im North Wales, where the birds have been noticed so late as May. Further information on this point is very de- sirable. The Hooded Crow has been known to breed near Scarborough on two or three occasions (Yarrell, and ‘ Zoologist,’ p. 6142). A bird which bred at Hackness is still preserved in the Museum at Scarborough. Mr. Selby marks the Hooded Crow as breeding occasionally in Northumberland; and Mr. J. F. Crellin reports it as breeding annually in the Isle of Man. The bird breeds throughout Scotland, becoming more abundant northwards. 4.2 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds In the neighbourhood of Glasgow, Mr. R. Gray describes the Hooded Crow as constantly pairing with the Carrion-Crow, and says this is the rule rather than the exception ; and in Rennie’s ‘ Field Naturalist’ (1833, p. 279) Mr. Blyth records that the same observation has been made near Inverness. This circum- stance is greatly in favour of the opinion that the two birds are races of the same species. Blasius treats the Hooded Crow as variety 3 of C. corone. Corvus rrueitecus (Linn.). Rook. Provinces I.-X VII. Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British” type, or general. Decreases northwards ; but breeds as far north as Caithness (Mr. R. J. Shearer) ; not, however, extending to the Western or Northern Isles. Corvus MONEDULA (Linn.). Jackdaw. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-35, 37. Lat. 50°-60°, “ British” type, or general. To the extreme north of Scotland; and a few pairs breed in South Ronaldshay (Low, and Baikie and Heddle). Pica caupata (Flem.). Magpie. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British ” type, or general. To Sutherland and Caithness; but does not breed in the Scottish isles. GARRULUS GLANDARIUS (Leach). Jay. Provinces I.-X VI. Subprovinces 1-25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 80 ?, 32. Lat. 50°-57°. “ English” or Southern type. Throughout England, reaching as far north as the middle of Scotland. Maegillivray describes the Jay as “ found here and there in the woods skirting the Grampians, from Forfar to Dum- barton, and in all the more or less wooded districts southward.” in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 43 Colonel Drummond-Hay marks the Jay as. breeding regularly in Perthshire; and Captain Orde describes it as occurring in Argyleshire wherever there is much copse-wood. GecriNnus viripis (Bote). Green Woodpecker. Provinces I. VIII. IX. XI. XII.? Subprovinces 1, 15, 17, 20, 21 ?, 22, 23, 24, 25? Lat. 50°-55°. “ English” type. Not in Ireland. Not a common bird, but marked as nesting regularly im every county as far north as Derbyshire. In the north of Yorkshire it becomes scarce, and nests only occasionally in Durham and Northumberland. The Green Woodpecker is not included in either of the two lists which Mr. J. F. Brockholes has sent from Lancashire and Cheshire; but Mr. C. S. Gregson informs me that the bird breeds in the latter county. Mr. Gregson also states that “ the Green Woodpecker breeds in Barron Wood, Cumberland, close to the borders of Scotland,” and “also in Westmoreland.” Dr. Heysham, however, only knew it as a rare visitor to Cum- berland ; nor is it marked in the lists which I have received from Mr. Gough and Mr. T. Hope. Picus masor (Linn.), Great Spotted Woodpecker. Provinces I.-V. VII.? VIII.-XI. XV. Subprovinces 1, 2-15, 18 ?, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 29-31. Lat. 50°-58°. “ English ” type. Not in Ireland. Breeds in small numbers in nearly all the southern aud mid- land counties of England, becoming rarer northwards. Very scarce in Scotland, though Macgillivray describes it as formerly not uncommon near Dunkeld, and mentions Loch Ness, the Spey, and Braemar as localities where it is not unfrequent. The bird has been observed by Mr. Selby on the banks of the Dee and Spey. Mr. T. Edward marks the Great Spotted Woodpecker as resting occasionally in Aberdeenshire, and in the ‘ Natural History of Dee-side’ it is described as resident in the woods, but very rare. dd Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Mr. Dunbar considers that it breeds regularly in the woods at Castle Grant, in East Inverness; and he tells me that the bird has been observed also in Ross-shire. Picus minor (Linn.). Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Provinces 4. TL. ITE. 1V2V {Vine Subprovinces 2-15, 19, 20, 22, 23. Lat. 50°-55°. “ English” type. Not in Ireland. More southern in its distribution than the former, not reach- ing further north than Yorkshire. Yarrell mentions its having been found in Lancashire ; but I have no authority for its nesting in that county nor in any part of Wales. Obs.—The Great Black Woodpecker (Dendrocopus martius) has been recorded as breeding in a brick wall at Claremont in Surrey (Naturalist, 1851, p. 20); also in an oak-tree in the New Forest (Zoologist, 1862, p. 8091). It seems possible that in each case some other bird was mistaken for this species. Yunx torquitya (Linn.). Wryneck. Provinces I.-V. VIII.-XII. Subprovinces 2, 3-15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. Lat. 50°-55°. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. Rare in the northern counties, and apparently much less numerous on the western side of England. Does not breed in Cornwall, and is very rare in Devon. I have no authority more recent than Pennant for its breeding in Wales. Mr. Gregson has only once found the nest in Lancashire ; and Mr. Smurthwaite has never seen the bird in North-west Yorkshire. Mr. Gough, however, describes the Wryneck as breeding regularly in Westmoreland; and in Loudon’s ‘ Mag. of Nat. Hist.’ (vol. in. p. 172) it is included among the summer visitors to Carlisle. Though the Wryneck has been observed a few times in the south of Scotland, its nest has not been found. CrerTHIA FAMILIARIS (Linn.). Tree-Creeper. Provinces I.—X VII. in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 45 Subprovinces 1-32, 34, 35. Lat. 50°-59 . “British” type, or general. On the mainland to Sutherland (Mr. St. John ) and Caith- ness (Mr. Dunbar), but does not reach the Scottish isles. TROGLODYTES PARVULUS (Koch). Common Wren. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “ British”’ type, or general. To the extreme north of Scotland. Common in the Outer Hebrides and Orkney, and “a few breed annually in Shetland.’’ Upura rpors (Linn.). Hoopoe. Provinces IJ. III. IV. Subprovinees 4, 5, 6, 7, 12. Lat. 50°-52°. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. The Rev. A. C. Smith informs me that a nest, containing young birds, has been taken in Wiltshire. The Rev. O. Pickard- Cambridge writes that a pair of Hoopoes are reported to have bred at Warmwell, in Dorsetshire, many years ago. Mr. Jesse, in his ‘ Gleanings,’ mentions a nest found near Chichester. Latham records another pair whose nest was built in Hampshire; and Gilbert White also records that a pair of Hoopoes frequented, for some weeks, an ornamental piece of ground adjoining his garden at Selborne, and seemed disposed to breed, until driven away. Mr. Knox tells me that the nest has been found at Southwick, near Shoreham. Mr. Blyth noticed a pair frequenting a garden near Tooting in 1833 (‘ Field-Naturalist,’ 1834, p. 53); and in the ‘ Zoologist ’ (p. 564) Mr. J. P. Bartlett notices some eggs taken near Dorking in 1841. The Rev. H. B. Tristram informs me that the nest has once occurred in Northamptonshire. Sirta casita (Meyer). Nuthatch. Provinces I.—XII. Subprovinces 1-20, 21 ?, 22, 28, 24, 25. Lat. 50°-55°. “English” type. Not in Ireland. E2 46 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Throughout England; but rare in the north-western counties. Mr. Eyton describes the Nuthatch as common in Shropshire and North Wales. Mr. Gregson considers it numerous at Dunhorn Park, on the Cheshire side of the Mersey, and also in the woods at Wyresdale, North Lancashire ; but Mr. Brock- holes has not met with it in either county. Dr. Heysham records one pair as breeding regularly, in his day, in Cumberland. Mr. Hancock marks the Nuthatch as breeding occasionally in Durham ; and Mr. Selby has found the nest in Northumber- land. CucuLus canorvus (Linn.). Cuckoo. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-35, 36, 37, 38. Lat. 50°-61°. “British ” type, or general. Throughout the mainland; but appears to be less numerous in the isles. Mr. John Macgillivray has recorded its occurrence in North Uist. Messrs. Baikie and Heddle tell us that a few breed every season in the retired parts of Hoy and Waas. Dr. Saxby describes the Cuckoo as a very rare visitor to Shetland, where, however, he has obtained young birds not fully feathered. ALcepo 1spipA (Linn.). Kingfisher. Provinces I.—XV. Subprovinces 1-28, 29. Lat. 50°-57°. ‘English ” type, or Southern. Thinly scattered throughout England and the south of Scotland. Breeds regularly in-Ayr, occasionally in Lanark, regularly in nearly all the counties of subprovince 28, regularly in Stirling and Clackmannan, and perhaps every year in Perthshire, where it Is very rare. It is sad to think that this beautiful ornament of our streams is fast disappearing before the unceasing persecution of would-be collectors ; and since its feathers have become a fashionable orna- ment of dress, even the ladies have now to be added to the list of the enemies of the Kingfisher. To salmon-fishers the in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 47 sight of the living bird ought to more than compensate them for the loss of the best of flies. Hrrunpo rustica (Linn.). Chimney-Swallow. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-35, 36, 37, 38. Lat. 50°-60° or 61°. “ British ” type, or general. Throughout Great Britain, and also reaches the Scottish isles. Mr. John Macgillivray describes H. rustica as the only Swal- low found by him in the Outer Hebrides, where it did not arrive till the end of June. Messrs. Baikie and Heddle say that a few pairs build annually near Kirkwall ; and Dr. Saxby tells me that a nest was once taken in Lerwick. CuELipon ursBica (Bote). House-Martin. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-382, 34, 35, 37, 38. Lat. 50°-60° or 61°. “ British” type, or general. Builds regularly as far north as Sutherland and Caithness ; but does not appear to reach the Outer Hebrides, nor has Mr. Graham found its nest in the islands of Argyleshire. In Orkney, the House-Martin builds at Kirkwall and about the Cathedral of St. Magnus (Messrs. Batkie and Heddle). CoryLE RIPARIA (Bote). Sand-Martin. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-32, 34, 35, 37, 38 ? Lat. 50°-60°. “ British” type, or general. Ranges to the extreme north of the mainland; but, like the former species, the Sand-Martin has not been found breeding in the isles of Argyleshire. W. Macgillivray has noticed that Sand-Martins frequent the sand-banks on the shores of the northernmost Hebrides. They build in Orkney, and perhaps occasionally in Shetland. Cyrseus apus (Iilig.). Swift. Provinces I,—X VII. 48 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “British” type, or general. Throughout the mainland; and breeds also in Mull and Iona (Mr. H. D. Graham); but does not build in Orkney, or Shetland, or the Outer Hebrides. CaPRIMULGUS EUROPHUS (Linn.). Nightjar. Provinces I.—XVII. Subprovinces 1-34, 35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British ” type, or general. Less numerous in the north of Scotland, breeding occasion- ally only in Caithness (Mr. Shearer). Mr. H. D. Graham reports the Nightjar as breeding regu- larly in Mull. CoLuMBA paLUMBUS (Linn.). Wood-Pigeon. Provinces I.-X VII.’ Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British ” type, or general. A common species in nearly all parts of Britain, and, though Mr. H. D. Graham does not mclude the Wood-Pigeon in his list of the birds of Iona, Mr. J. K. Wilson describes it as breeding annually in the island of Mull. The Wood-Pigeon extends to the extreme north of the main- land, but does not reach the Scottish isles. Its rapid increase of late years in the Lothians has been frequently commented upon. CotumBa @NAS (Gmel.). Stock-Dove. Provinees, If. IL. TY. Va, VAIL. TX. xX. Subprovinces 4-18, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. Lat. 50°-54°.. “Germanic” (or “English” ) type. Not in Ireland. There is a peculiarity in the distribution of this bird, since it seems to be absent during the breeding-season from several of the south-western counties, in which, and even in Dorsetshire, it appears chiefly as a winter visitor. Still there is good autho- rity for its breeding in Gloucester (Rev. F. J. Scott), Hereford, in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 49 Shropshire, and perhaps in North Wales (Eyton). The nest has been found both in East and West Yorkshire, but hardly, I believe, beyond the 54th degree of latitude. The bird seems to be most numerous in some of the midland and eastern coun- ties of England, and has not been observed in either Scotland or Ireland. Mr. J. F. Brockholes, who has taken especial pains to identify the species, tells me that the Stock-Dove breeds re- gularly in Cheshire aud South Lancashire, where the nest is placed in fir-trees and ivy. The Rev. O. Pickard-Cambridge describes the bird as building in exactly the same kind of locality, among matted ivy, close to the trunks of cedars and fir- trees, more often in the holes of old trees where limbs have been broken off. Cotumpga Livia (Briss.). Rock-Dove. Provinces I. [II.] V.-VIII. X. XII.—XVII. Subprovinces 1, 2, 3, (4), 18, 17, 18, 20, 21 ?, 22, 23, 25, 26-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “ Atlantic ” (or perhaps “ Scottish ””) type. Far more numerous in the north ; and on the west than on the east coast of Scotland. Commencing from the south of England, the Rock-Dove used to breed formerly at Purbeck (Rev. H. Austin); but there is no direct evidence of its having ever bred in the Isle of Wight. Mr. E. H. Rodd includes the Rock-Dove in his list as_breed- ing occasionally in Cornwall. The Rev. M. A. Mathews has ob- served it building in the cliffs about Lynton. Mr. W. D. Crotch reports it as breeding in Somersetshire. The bird is said to be common in Gloucester and Monmouth. Sir W. Jardine gives Caldey Island as a locality, and Mr. Tracy marks the bird as breeding in Pembrokeshire. The Rev. H. Harpur Crewe has observed it breeding in Denbighshire, and there are probably several other localities im South and North Wales. Mr. J. F. Brockholes tells me that there is a colony at Beeston Castle, Cheshire, and that he once noticed a pair frequenting the high banks of the Mersey during the breeding-season. Mr. C. S. Gregson informs me that the Rock-Dove breeds at 50 On the Distribution of Birds in Great Britain. Whitbarrow Scar; and Mr. J. B. Hodgkinson has found its nest occasionally in Cumberland : it breeds also in the Isle of Man, as I learn from my obliging correspondent Mr. J. F. Crellin. The Rock-Dove is numerous in many localities along the west coast of Scotland, especially in the isles, and abounds in the Outer Hebrides, in Orkney, and in Shetland, and, though less numerous on the east side of Scotland, breeds regularly in Caithness, Elgin, Banff, and in a few localities in Aberdeenshire, at Down Castle, Stirling (Mr. J. Murray), in the Isle of Man, on the Bass Rock, and at Fast Castle, Berwickshire. On the east coast of England, the Rock-Dove breeds only at Flamborough ; it also breeds in a few rocky valleys or inland cliffs in Derby, York, Leicester, Stafford, Shropshire, and Somerset. Like the Dartford-Warbler, the Rock-Dove on the European continent is quite a southern species. Turtur auritus (G. R. Gray). Turtle-Dove. Provinces I—V. VI.? VIII. X. Subprovinces 2, 3, 4-15, 17?, 19, 23, 24. Lat. 50°-54° or 55°. “ English ” (or “ Germanic ”’) type. Breeds in South Devon occasionally, and Somerset ; regularly in Gloucester, and perhaps also in Pembroke ; regularly in Here- fordshire, Shropshire, and Stafford: in the last two counties it is rare; in Derbyshire occasionally (Mr. J. J. Briggs); in Cheshire very rarely (Mr. J. F. Brockholes), and in the south of Yorkshire (Mr. Reid). To the east and south of this line, the Turtle-Dove nests in all the midland and southern counties, but is described as scarce in Lincolnshire. Dr. Heysham records that a young bird was once taken in Cumberland, where the species is very rarely seen; and the Rev. H. B. Tristram tells me that the nest has once been found as far north as Durham. Yarrell says that the Turtle-Dove is found in Lancashire, and is not uncommon in Cornwall; but I have not been able to obtain any evidence of its breeding in either of these counties. It seems also safer to consider the locality of South Wales uncertain for the present. On the Distribution of Birds in Great Britain. 51 PHastanus cotcuicus (Linn.). Pheasant. Provinces I.—XVII. Subprovinces 1-37, Lat. 50°-59°. Not native, but generally established. Though not an indigenous bird, the Pheasant is so thoroughly established throughout Great Britain that it is included in every county list, and breeds regularly even as far north as Caithness. Still there is no doubt that if the protection bestowed on this fa- vourite game-bird were withdrawn, its range would be consider- ably narrowed, though it is probable that the species would uot become extinct in this country. _ Trrrao uvroGaAtius (Linn.). Capercally. Provinces [XV.] [XVII.] Subprovinces (29), (307), (31), (847), (85). Lat. 56°-59°. “Scottish ” type. Formerly also in Ireland. Pennant, in his ‘Tour in Scotland’ (1769), tells us that the T. urogallus was formerly common throughout the Highlands oi Scotland north of Inverness. Even at that date the bird had become very rare; and Pennant himself had seen only a single bird, which was “killed in the woods of Mr. Chisolme, to the north [? west] of Inverness.” The Rey. George Gordon informs me that the Capercally for- merly inhabited the county of Elgin; and Mr. R. J. Shearer marks it as extinct in Caithness. This is the only independent testimony which I have obtained respecting the former distribu- tion of this fine bird. A search in some of the old Scottish county-histories may bring to light some further details concern- ing the Capercally. Macgillivray, in the first volume of his ‘British Birds’ (p. 143), quotes an interesting passage from the ‘ Historia Scotorum.’ At present the bird seems to have become thoroughly re- established in several parts of Perthshire, where it has increased rapidly within the last ten years, and is believed to have spread to the adjoining county of Clackmannan, as I learn from Dr. P. Brotherson. 52 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Terrao Trerrtx (Linn.). Black Grouse. Provinces I-VI. VII.? VIII.—XVII. Subprovinces 1, 2-6, (7), (9), (11), (12), 14?, 15, 16, 18?, 20-23, 24, 25-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “Scottish ” type. Not in Ireland. Though found in the extreme south of England, the Black Grouse more properly belongs to the low birch-woods and heaths of the less elevated districts of Scotland. It breeds “ occasion- ally?” in Cornwall (Mr. EH. H. Rodd). In Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Hants, Sussex, Surrey, Berks, Worcester (Yarrell), Shropshire, Stafford, Radnor (Mr. Rocke), North Wales “in- troduced and decreasing on the Beswyn mountains near Corwen” (Eyton), Cheshire, Lancashire, and both divisions of Yorkshire, and in all districts to the north of these, extending to Islay, Mull, Skye, &c., but not reaching the Outer Hebrides, nor is it found in Orkney or Shetland. The Black Grouse has been successfully introduced in the neighbourhood of Lynn in Norfolk. Yarrell says that the pro- cenitors of the birds at present inhabiting the heaths of Surrey and Berks were brought from Holland, though the species had previously been known as indigenous to the former county. A single nest found in Northamptonshire is recorded by Lord Lil- ford (Zoologist, p. 8278). Mr. Selby describes the Black Grouse as increasing in North- umberland ; and the same circumstance has been noticed coin- cident with the increase of plantations in several parts of Scot- land. As Thompson remarks, the Black Grouse might probably be introduced to Ireland, but the attempts hitherto made have been unsuccessful. Lacorus scoticus (Leach). Red Grouse. Provinces V.-XVIII. Subprovinces 13-18, 20-37. Lat. 51°-60°. “Scottish” type. Colonel Newman tells me that the Red Grouse is plentiful on the hills of Monmouthshire. The bird also inhabits Hereford, Shropshire, Stafford, Radnor (Mr. Rocke), and Pembroke (Mr. in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 53 Tracy). Breeds in Derbyshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and in every county north of lat. 54°, reaching the Outer Hebrides and Orkneys, but not occurring in Shetland. Lacorus ALBus (Bote). Ptarmigan. Provinces [VII.?] [XII.] XIV.? XV—XVIII. Subprovinees (18 ?), (25), 28 ?, 29, 32-36, (37). Lat. 55°-59°. “ Highland” type. Not in Ireland. At present the Ptarmigan is confined to Scotland, though there are records of its having formerly inhabited Westmoreland and Cumberland. (See Pennant and other earlier writers.) Heysham describes the Ptarmigan as having become, in his time, very scarce in Cumberland ; and he cites “the lofty moun- tains about Keswick ” as the only locality known to him. There is a tradition of its former existence in Wales, but I have not been able to discover the original authority for this statement, which is repeated by both Macgillivray and Thomp- son, and in Graves’s ‘ British Ornithology.’ My valued correspondent, Dr. J. A. Smith of Edinburgh, has copied for me, from a newspaper, a paragraph stating that the Ptarmigan inhabits the county of Peebles; but this is the only authority for its occurrence so far south on the mainland at present. The bird inhabits Islay and Jura (Thompson, B. Brit. ii. p. 45), Mull (Mr. H. D. Graham), Dumbarton (Mr. R. Gray), Argyle, Perth, and all the counties northward. Mr. John Mac- gillivray found the Ptarmigan sparingly in South Uist, and it has only recently been exterminated in Hoy. Perprx crnEREA (Lath.). Common Partridge. Provinces I.—XVII. Subprovinces 1-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “ British ” type, or general. Throughout Great Britain, being only less common where the land has not been brought into cultivation. The Partridge is probably a colonist in the northern portion of its present range, having followed the progress of tillage. 54 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Messrs. Baikie and Heddle inform us that it has been, within a few years, successfully introduced into the islands of Rousay and Shapinshay, in Orkney. / Caccasis RuFA (G. R. Gray). Red-legged Partridge. Provinces. LLL. IVES Xe Sane Subprovinces 7, 8-12, 13?, 19, 20, 23, 25. Lat. 50°-55°. Not native. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. Introduced about one hundred years ago, the Red-legged Par- tridge has become very numerous in some of the eastern counties, where, in the struggle for life, it has been stated to have in some places nearly supplanted the Common Grey Partridge. There must be some local influences that limit the range of the Red-legged Partridge in this country, since the attempts made to establish it in Dorset, Hereford, Derby, and East Yorkshire appear to have failed; nor has the bird hitherto spread to any of our south-western shires. I am informed by Mr. T. Gough that it has bred regularly of late years in Westmoreland. The bird is returned as now breeding occasionally in Kent (Mr. G. Jell). In Essex, Herts, Oxford (occasionally), Bucks, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge, Huntingdon (occasionally), North- ampton (occasionally), Lincoln, Rutland (occasionally), and West York (very rarely). The Rev F. J. Scott believes that it is established in the hills of Gloucestershire; but some confirmation of this last locality appears desirable. Coturnix communis (Bonn.). Common Quail. Provinces I.—X VII. Subprovinces 2-8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19-23, 24-29, 30,35, 32735: Lat. 50°-59°. “ British ” type, or general. Thinly scattered, during the breeding-season, from the south of England to the very north of Scotland. Yet there are few counties in which the Quail is considered to breed annually ; nor can these be grouped in any manner so as to show where the species is most numerous, wn Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 55 It has certainly decreased of late years in several districts, and this apparently not owing to any cause that can be discovered. In the west of Ireland the same diminution has been noticed. In former times I am informed that the Quail was reckoned as one of the regular winter visitors on the west side of the sister island, but it has not been so much observed of late years. It is still considered to breed annually about Belfast, and in county Armagh I have myself heard its note during the breeding-season. The bird is probably better known in the north-east of Lreland than in any part of England or Scotland. If there is any difference, the range of the Quail seems to in- cline rather to the east side of Great Britain, as well as of Ireland, during the breeding-season. It seems to occur chiefly in the south of England during winter. Orts Tarpa (Linn.). Great Bustard. Provinces [II.] [{V.] [VIII.] [X.] Subprovinces (4), (5), (6), (10), (11), (12), (19), (22). Lat. 50°-55°. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. In former times the Great Bustard was well known as inha- biting the downs of the south of England, the heaths in a few of the eastern counties, and the wolds of Yorkshire. Its breeding-range included the counties of Wilts, Dorset (Rev. J. H. Austen), Hants, Sussex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cam- bridge, Lincoln, and Yorkshire. Montagu tells us that “these birds were formerly found even as far north as Scotland,” where, however, they were probably only accidental visitors. Even at the date of Montagu’s ‘Supplement’ (1813) the Bus- tard had nearly disappeared from the downs of Wiltshire. It seems to have lingered to a considerably later date in Suffolk and Norfolk, where some nests were found in 1882 and 1833 (Loudon’s Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. vi. p. 150; vol. vil. p. 458; and vol. ix. p. 528). In Yorkshire the last egg was taken in 1816, and is now preserved in the museum at Scarborough. Obs.—An egg, which can be hardly anything else than that of the Little Bustard (Otis tetrax, Linn.), was obtained by the G 56 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds late Mr. Wolley at Thurso, in 1848; and as a female Little Bus- tard was killed about the same date in that neighbourhood, the occurrence seems worth mentioning here (J. Wolley in MS. penes A, Newton). (EpIcNEMus CREPITANS (Temm.). Stone-Curlew. Provinces II.—V. VIII. X. Subprovinces 4-12, 14, 19, 20, 22, 23. Lat. 50°-55°.. “ Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. Breeds in Dorset, Hants, Sussex, Kent, Herts, Oxford, Bucks (perhaps extinct), Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridge, Worcester (Blyth), Lincoln, Rutland, Nottingham, and in both divisions of Yorkshire ; but is described as rapidly decreasing in most of its localities. I have no authority for its breeding in Devon, Essex, or Lan- cashire. CuHaARApDRIUS PLUVIALIS (Linn.). Golden Plover. Provinces I. VI. VII.? VIII. X.—X VIII. Subprovinces 2, 3, 17, 18 ?, 20, 22-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “ Scottish ” type, or Northern. Far more abundant in the north, and especially in Scotland, but breeds in small numbers in Devon and Somerset. In Pem- broke (Mr. Tracy), and doubtless in North Wales, though I have no authority for Subprovince 18. Mr. Eyton writes that the Golden Plover is said to breed in the mountains above Chirk Castle ; and Mr. O. Salvin has found'the nest in Derbyshire. The bird becomes more numerous on the moors from Yorkshire northwards, and is especially well known on all the Highland mountains. CHARADRIUS MORINELLUS (Linn.). Dotterel. Provinces [VIII.?] X.—XII. XV. XVII. Subprovinces (20 ?), 28-25, 30, 31, 34, 35. Lat. 54°-59°. “ Highland’? type. Perhaps in Ireland. With respect to Derbyshire, Sir John Crewe informs me that “tn Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 57 he has often heard from his gamekeeper that it was quite easy, fifteen or twenty years ago, to shoot Dotterels, when they had young, on the Derbyshire hills bordering on Staffordshire. These hills are now nearly all under cultivation, and Sir John Crewe believes that the Dotterel no longer stays to breed, though small flocks are still seen in May. The bird is well known to breed on several of the mountains in the English Lake district, where, it is believed, its localities extend to the three counties of Westmoreland, Cumberland, and Yorkshire. And the Rev. H. B. Tristram tells me that a few pairs linger on the borders of Durham and Cumberland; and that he has heard of nests being taken on the top of Cheviot, where he himself has seen the birds. Macgillivray describes the Dotterel as breeding in the up- land tracts of the counties of Forfar, Kincardine, Aberdeen, Banff, and Moray; he also speaks ‘of small flocks settling in the Lammermoor hills,” so that it is possible the bird may breed in the south of Scotland. Mr. T. Edward finds the nest in Aberdeen and Banff shires ; and Mr. W. Dunbar marks the bird as breeding regularly in Sutherland and Caithness. Cnaranprivs uiaticuta (Linn.), Ringed Plover. Provinces I.-IV. VI.—XVIII. Subprovinces 1-3, 5-8, 10, 11, 17-19, 21, 22, 24-88. Lat 50°-61°. “ British” type, or general. More numerous in the north during summer, from the preva- lence of suitable localities; but breeds throughout the coasts of Great Britain, as well as on the margin of freshwater lakes, and even numerously on dry sandy warrens in the eastern counties. Obs.—The Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius curonicus, Beseke) has been by some supposed to breed on the shores of Sussex and Kent, and eggs attributed to this species are preserved in several collections. But there is no doubt that these eggs, as well as most of the birds which have been recorded in Britain as C. curenicas, G 2 58 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds represent a smaller race of C. hiaticula. Certain it is that on the continent C. curonicus is described as frequenting principally fresh water and large rivers. The specimens which Ihave seen from Sus- sex seem scarcely distinguishable, except in size, from C. hiaticula, and very different from the true C. curonicus, which is well known to every practical ornithologist. Cuaraprius cantianus (Lath.). Kentish Plover. Provinces IT. III. Subprovinces 6, 7. Lat 50°-52°. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. One of the most local of our indigenous birds, breeding only in Sussex and Kent, in both of which counties it is very scarce. VANELLUS CRISTATUS (Meyer). Lapwing. Provinces I.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “ British” type, or general. More numerous on the heaths and moors of the north, but is included in every county list as breeding regularly. H aMaTopus osTRALEGUS (Linn.). Oyster-catcher. Provinces I.-IV. VI.-VIII. [1X.] XI.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11, 17, 18, (19), (21), 24-26, 28-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “Scottish” type. In the south of England the Oyster-catcher is comparatively rare in summer; and though it breeds regularly in Cornwall and Devon, a few pairs only occur along the south coast; nor is it much more numerous on the eastern side of England. Thus, though ranging from extreme south to north during the breeding- season, it belongs more properly to the “ Scottish ” than to the “ British ” type. Obs.—The Crane (Grus cinerea, Bechst.) is spoken of by Turner (Avium Historia, 1543) as breeding in this country. This author says, “ earum pipiones ipse sepissime vidi ;” and an Act of Parliament, passed in 1533, made the taking of a in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 59 Crane’s egg an offence punishable with a fine of twenty pence. But the bird could not have long continued the practice of breed- ing with us, for to Sir Thomas Browne and John Ray it was only known as a winter visitant. As in several other cases, the bird’s name remains, and in many parts of the country the Heron is commonly known as the ‘ Crane.” ARDEA CINEREA (Linn.). Common Heron. Provinces I.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-35, 37. Lat. 50°-60°. “British” type, or general. The Heron breeds in every subprovince, and in nearly every county from which I have received a list. It does not, however, nest in the Outer Hebrides, nor in Shetland, and only occasion- ally in Orkney. Boraurvs stevaris (Steph.). Common Bittern. Provinces [II.—VI.] [VIII.] [X.-XV.]. Subprovinces (6), (8), (10-12), (15), (17), (19), (22-24), (26), (28), (29), (31). Lat. 50°-58°. “English” (or British ?) type. Though recorded as having formerly bred in many different parts of the country, the Bittern can no longer be reckoned among our indigenous birds. The latest nest of which I have received information is one that was taken about ten years ago at the Reservoirs near Tring. Mr. H. Stevenson has not heard of any nest in Norfolk during the last twelve years. Obs.—Mr. Hewitson mentions that in the Museum of the Natural History Society of Newcastle-upon-Tyne there is a stuffed specimen of the Little Bittern (Ardea minuta), together with its eggs, which formerly formed part of the Allan or Wycliffe Museum. Of the history of the eggs nothing is known ; but that gentleman has “ very little doubt that they were taken in this country.” Macgillivray also suggests that a nest de- scribed by Montagu as that of the Water-Rail belonged to this species (Hist. B. B. iv. p. 524). 60 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds PLATALEA LeucoRopIA (Linn.). Spoonbill. Province [IV.}. Subprovince (10), (11). Lat. 52°-53°. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. The little that is known of the Spoonbill having formerly bred in England is contained in the record of Sir Thomas Browne, who says :—“ The platea or shovelard which build upon the tops of high trees. They have formerly built in the Hernery, at Claxton and Reedham [Norfolk]; now at Trimley in Suffolk ” (Works, Wilkin’s Ed. vol. iv. pp. 315, 316). This was written about two hundred years ago, the author havmg died in 1682. Numenivs arquatus (Lath.). Curlew. Provinces I. E].?, V.-VIII. IX. ?, X.—XVIII. Subprovinces 1, 2, 4?, 15-18, 20, 21 ?, 22-35, 37-38. Lat. 50°-61°.. “Scottish” type, or Northern. Rare in the south during summer, though a few pairs are re- corded as breeding in Cornwall and Devonshire. Mr. H. Graves informs me that the Curlew “ breeds regularly near Charminster in Dorset, laying its eggs in the furrows of the fallow-land ;” but I suspect that in this locality, and also in Wilt- shire, the Stone-Curlew ((fdicnemus crepitans) has been mistaken for Numenius arquatus. Further north there are one or two breeding-stations in Shrop- shire, and Mr. O. Salvin finds the nest in Derbyshire. The Curlew breeds in North and South Wales, and from Yorkshire northwards becomes more numerous, extending as far north as the Shetland Islands; but we learn from Macgilli- vray that it does not breed in the Outer Hebrides. Numentus pH#orus (Lath.). Whimbrel. Provinces X.? XVII. XVIII. Subprovinees 23 ?, 35, 37, 38. . Lat. 54° or 58°-61°. “ Scottish ” type. Not in Ireland. Mr. Thomas Gough, of Kendal, tells me that the nest of the Whimbrel has been recently found on the mountaims of York- in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 61 shire adjoining Westmoreland, and that he has perfect confidence in his informant. Mr. W. Dunbar describes the Whimbrel as plentiful during the breeding-season all along the coast of Sutherland and Caith- ness, and he tells me that it breeds in open moors near the sea. Mr. H. Osborne also marks the Whimbrel as breeding in Caith- ness. It breeds in Orkney and Shetland, but not in the Outer Hebrides. Toranvs cALipRis (Bechst.). Common Redshank. Provinces III. 1V. VIII. X.-X VIII. Subprovinces 7, 8, 10, 11, (12), 19, 20, 22-26, 28-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “Scottish ” type, or Northern. A few pairs still breed in Kent and Essex, but the bird is rapidly decreasing in the south, and has almost deserted the fens of the eastern counties, being driven out as its haunts become more and more circumscribed by drainage and cultivation. I have no authority for its breeding in Wales or Lancashire, though the bird can hardly be supposed wanting in Subprovinces 17, 18, and 21, Obs.—The Green Sandpiper (Totanus ochropus) has been recorded by Mr. R. Lubbock (Fauna of Norfolk, p. 75) as having bred in Norfolk, but there was probably some mistake in the observation (cf. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1863, p. 529). ToTaNuUS GLAREOLA (Limn.). Wood-Sandpiper. Provinces IV. XI. XV.? Subprovinces 11, 24, 31? Lat. 52°-56° or 58°. “ Scottish”? type. Not in Ireland. A nest was found by Mr. John Hancock at Prestwich Carr, near Newcastle, June 3, 1853. And my friend Mr. F. Bond tells me that he has some eggs taken in Elginshire, which he considers belong to the Wood-Sandpiper. Messrs. Gurney and Fisher state (Zool. 1323), on Mr. Scales’s authority, that a young bird, of which a figure is given, not yet having entirely lost its down, “ was shot at Beachamwell, in Norfolk, and may fairly be supposed to have been hatehed near the spot where it was killed.” 62 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds TRiINGoIDEs HyPoLEucA (G. R. Gray). Common Sandpiper. Provinces I, I1.? V.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1, 2, 3, 4?, 6, 18-18, 20-37, 38. Lat. 50°-61°. “Scottish” type, or Northern. Scarce in the south during the breeding-season, and appa- rently wanting in several of the southern and eastern counties. The Common Sandpiper is reported to breed only occasionally in Cornwall, but regularly in North and South Devon and Somerset. In Dorset it becomes more rare, though Mr. Groves has seen it on several small streams. Mr. Knox deseribes it as breeding regularly in Sussex, where, however, it must be scarce, as Mr. Borrer has only once found the nest. It seems doubtful whether the bird breeds in Kent, and it appears to be wanting in several of the eastern and southern districts. Toranus GLottis (Bechst.). Greenshank. Provinces XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. Subprovinces 29, 32, 34, 35, 36. Lat. 56°-59°. “Scottish” type. Not in Ireland. Breeds in small numbers in the counties of Perth and Argyle (Mr. R. Gray), Ross (Mr. W. Dunbar), Sutherland (Mr. Selby), Caithness (Mr. W. Dunbar). Macgillivray was the first to dis- cover the nest in the Outer Hebrides, where it has since been found by other observers. RECURVIROSTRA AVOCETTA (Linn.). Avocet. Provinces [II.] [I1I.] [IV.] [VIII.]. Subprovinces (6), (7), (11), (19). Lat. 50°-54°. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. In former times the Avocet appears to have been a regular summer visitor to a few localities on our southern and eastern coasts. The neighbourhoods of Rye in Sussex, Romney Marsh in Kent, Salthouse in Norfolk, and West Fen in Lincolnshire are upon record as former breeding-places. The late Mr. H. Reid, of Doneaster, has told me that about twenty years ago he obtained the eggs from the mouth of the Humber, which appears to be the last instance of the bird having been found breeding in this country, in Great Britain during the Nesting-scason. 63 Limosa mcocrrHaLa (G. R. Gray). Black-tailed Godwit. Provinces IV. [VIII.] [X.]. Subprovinces 11, (12), (19), (28). Lat. 52°-54°. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. Until lately, a few pairs were accustomed to breed annually in the fens of Norfolk, Cambridge, Huntingdon, and Lincoln ; but it is believed that the birds have now nearly deserted their former haunts, Norfolk being the only county in which there is a possibility that a pair or two may linger occasionally. The late Mr. ff. Reid, of Doncaster, has frequently told me that the Black-tailed Godwit used, within his recollection, to breed on Hatfield Moor, in which locality he once found the young birds himself. PHILOMACHUS PUGNAX (G. R. Gray). Ruff. Provinces [1.?] IV. VIII. [X.] XI. Subprovinces (3 ?), (10), 11, (12), 19, (22 ?), (23), 24. Lat. 51° or 52°-56°. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. Like the former, this bird is rapidly disappearing before the advance of cultivation and drainage. Montagu was informed that Ruffs were not uncommon in the fens about Bridgewater, in Somersetshire, before they were drained. In Suffolk the bird appears to have become quite ex- tinct; but Mr. Stevenson says that a few pairs still breed in east- ern Norfolk, where, happily, they are strictly preserved. It is extinct in Huntingdon, Cambridge, aad Northampton, and pro- bably also in Lincolnshire. In Yorkshire the Ruff appears to have ceased to breed, though Mr. Reid remembered them to have been quite plentiful. Mr. Hancock and the Rev. H. B. Tristram tell me that the bird has become extinct in Durham, but still breeds occasionally in Northumberland. ScoLopax RusticoLa (Linn.). Woodcock. Provinces [.-V. VIII.-XVII. - Subprovinces 2-15, 19-26, 27, 28, 29-35. Lat. 50°-59°. “Scottish” type, or Northern. The nest of the Woodcock is by no means so rare as is gene- rally supposed. The bird is reported as breeding occasionally in 64 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds nearly every county throughout England and the south of Scot- land. Further north it becomes more numerous, and may be considered to breed regularly from Perthshire northwards to Caithness. There is no doubt that many more birds remain to breed now than formerly ; and this increase appears to be owing to the great extent of country which has been covered with plan- tations during the past few years. GaLLrnaGo MEDIA (Leach). Common Snipe. Provinces I.-V. VIII.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1, 2-5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10-13, 14, 15, 20-38. Lat 50°-61°. “ British” type, or general. Far more numerous in the north during summer; but the Snipe is described as breeding regularly in most counties, even in the south of England, wherever there are suitable. localities, As with the Woodcock, I have no authority for its breeding in Wales, though in all probability both birds will be found to do so. Obs.—A few instances are on record in which the Jack Snipe (Gallinago gallinula) has been seen in England during the sum- mer months ; hitherto there appears to be no good authority for believing that the nest has ever been found in this island. Trinea ALPina (Linn.). Dunlin. Provinces VI.? IX.? X.—XVIII. Subprovinces 17 ?, 21 ?, 22-38. Lat. 52° or 538°-61°. “ Scottish” type, or Northern. The Dunlin has been reported to breed in Devonshire on the authority of Dr. Moore, but I have not been able to obtain any corroboration of this statement. The bird is also considered to nest in Pembrokeshire (Mr. Tracy) and in Cheshire (Mr. Brock- holes), but some confirmation of these localities seems desirable. There is good authority for its breeding in both divisions of Yorkshire, and thence northwards throughout Scotland. Obs.—The Purple Sandpiper (Zringa maritima) has been sup- posed to breed within the limits of the British Islands, but the nest has never been found; and the habits of the Gralle are such that the mere occurrence of a species at any particular spot in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 65 during some one of the summer months is quite insufficient as proof of its breeding there. The Purple Sandpiper breeds plen- tifully on the highest mountain-tops in the Feeroes; so that it is not improbable that it should some day be found nesting in Shetland. PHALAROPUS HyYPERBOREUS (Lath.). Red-necked Phala- rope. Provinces XV. XVI.? XVII. XVIII. Subprovinces 29, 32 ?, 35, 36, (37). Lat. 56°-60°. “Scottish” type. Not in Ireland. The Red-necked Phalarope breeds in a few scattered localities in the counties of Perth (Colonel Drummond-Hay), Inverness (Dr. D. Dewar), Sutherland (Mr. St. John and Mr. Dunbar), and in the Outer Hebrides (Captain J. W. P. Orde and Dr. D. Dewar). Mr. Dunn tells me that the bird is no longer found in Orkney, where it used formerly to breed in several of the islands. OrryGoOMETRA CREX (Leach). Corn-Crake. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “‘ British ” type, or general. Throughout Great Britain, extending to the western and northern isles of Scotland. Perhaps less numerous in the south of England, but it is recorded as breeding regularly in every county from which I have received any list. ORTYGOMETRA PORZANA (Steph.). Spotted Crake. Provinces I. IJI.-V. X.-XII.? XIV. ? XV. Subprovinees 2, 3, 7, 10-13, 15, 19, 20, 22-24, 2 52, 28 ?, 29-31. Lat. 50°-58°. “English ” (or “ British”) type. A scarce bird, and one whose nest usually escapes observa- tion. It seems to breed in small numbers in a few scattered localities from the north to the south of England. In Scotland the nest has been found only in Perth, Aberdeen, and at Loch Spynie in Elgin. 66 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds OrtTYGOMETRA BAILLONI (Séeph.). Baillon’s Crake. Province IV. Subprovince 12. Lat. 52°-538°. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. In the ‘Zoologist’ for 1859 (p. 6329) will be found Mr. Sealy’s account of two nests taken in Cambridgeshire, the only instances in which the bird has been found to breed in this country. Rauius aquaticus (Linn.). Water-Rail. Provinces I-XVIII. Subprovinces 2-35, 37. Lat. 50°-60°. “ British ” type, or general. Throughout the mainland; and Messrs. Baikie and Heddle describe it as “ found in Orkney all the year.” GALLINULA cHLOoRoPUs (Lath.). Water-hen. Provinces .—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-35, 36, 37. Lat. 50°-60°. “ British” type, or general. To the extreme north of Scotland, extending also to the Outer Hebrides and Orkney, but does not breed in Shetland. Furica atra (Linn.). Common Coot. Provinces I.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-37. Lat. 50°-60°. “British” type, or general. Like the former, extends to the Hebrides and Orkney, but does not reach Shetland. ANSER FERUS (Steph.). Grey-lag Goose. Provinces [IV.] [VIII.] [X.] [XII.] XVII. XVIII. Subprovinces (11), (12), (19), (22 ?), (23), (25), 34-36. Lat. 57°-59°. “Scottish” type. Formerly in Ireland. The Grey-lag Goose has long ceased to breed in the fens of Norfolk, Cambridge, Lincoln, and Yorkshire, where the bird is said to have been formerly abundant; and Mr. Gough tells me that it is also extinct in Westmoreland. [t still breeds in the counties of Ross (Mr. W. Dunbar), Sutherland, and Caithness, and in the Outer Hebrides. in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 67 Obs.—Both the Bean-Goose (A. segetum, Meyer) and the Pink-footed Goose (A. brachyrhynchus, Baill.) have been recorded as breeding in Scotland; but Sir W. Jardine informs me that in Sutherland the Grey-lag Goose has been mistaken for the Bean-Goose, and the more recent observations of the late Mr. J. Wolley have conclusively proved that only one species at present breeds in the north of Scotland. Similarly, in the Outer Hebrides, only the Grey-lag Goose has been lately found in the localities where Mr. J. Macgillivray believed that he had discovered the breeding-station of the Pink- footed Goose. The late Mr. Arthur Strickland has described two species of Goose as having formerly inhabited the “ carrs” of Yorkshire (Ann. & Mag. N. H. 3 ser. ii. pp. 121-124). One of them, which he terms Anser paludosus, is apparently identical with the Bean-Goose of other authors; but there is no positive evidence of the bird having bred in this country, it being a species proper to much higher northern latitudes. Cyanus Ferus (Leach). Whooper, or Whistling Swan. Province [XVIII.]. Subprovince (37). Lat. 58°-60°. “Scottish” type, formerly. In his ‘ Fauna Oreadensis’ (p. 133), Mr. Low remarks of the Wild Swan, that ‘A few pairs build in the holms of the Loch of Stenness. * * * But the few that build here never increase, are always robbed by the country-people.” This observation was probably made about eighty years ago, the author having died in 1795. Messrs. Baikie and Heddle add, in 1848, that “the birds have not been known to build there for many years.” Mr. J. H. Dunn tells me that old men well remember their fathers speaking of having taken several Wild Swans’ nests on the small islands in the large loch of Harray, about one hun- dred years ago. In Ireland the Wild Swan appears to have been formerly more numerous, and to have extended further south than in Great Britain. 68 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds TADORNA VULPANSER (Lann.). Shell-drake. Provinces I.-IV. VI.-XVIII. Subprovinces 2, 3, (4), (7), (10), 11, 17-19, 21, 22, 24-26, 28, 30-38. Lat. 50° or 51°-61°. “ British” (or “ Scottish ”) type. Scarce in the south of England, and reported as extinct in Dorset, Kent, and Suffolk; but still breeds in North Devon, Somerset, and Norfolk, in the last of which counties it is de- scribed as decreasing. SpaTu.a cLtypeata (Bore). Shoveller. Provinces I].-V. X. XI. XIV.—XVI. Subprovinces 4, (7), 11, 15, 22, 24, 28, 31, 32. Lat. 50°-58°. “ British” (or “ English”) type. Not in Ireland. In the ‘ Zoologist’ (p. 5757) Mr. W. Thompson mentions a nest found in Dorset. Yarrell tells us that the Shoveller for- merly bred in Romney Marsh. It still breeds occasionally in Norfolk, and Mr. F. Bond has found the nest in Staffordshire. Mr. Hewitson mentions Hornsea Mere as a breeding-locality. The Rev. H. B. Tristram tells me that the Shoveller breeds oc- casionally in Durham; and Mr. Hancock marks it as breeding regularly in Northumberland. In Scotland the nest has been found once on Guillon Links, Haddingtonshire (Si W. Jardine); on the banks of Loch Spynie, in Elgin (Mr. St. John); and in the ‘ Zoologist’ (p. 3503) Sir G. H. Leith records that he has shot the female and found the nest in Dumbartonshire. CHAULELASMUS sTREPERUS (G. R. Gray). Gadwall. Province LV. Subprovince 11. Lat. 52°-53°. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. The nest has been found only in Norfolk, where Mr. A. New- ton tells me that this duck breeds regularly, at Narford ; but it is possible that the stock was originally the produce of semi- domesticated birds. wn Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 69 Darita acuta (Eyton). Pintail. Province XI. Subprovince 24. Lat 55°-56°. “Scottish” type. Not in Ireland. The nest has been found by Mr. John Hancock, who informs me that he has known the Pintail to breed spontaneously in a swamp in Northumberland, which swamp is now drained; but Mr. Hancock believes that the bird still breeds occasionally on the Northumbrian moors. Anas Boscuas (Linn.). Wild Duck. Provinces I.—X VIII. Subprovinces 1-38, Lat. 50°-61°. “ British” type, or general. Though scarce in the south during summer, a few pairs remain to breed in nearly every county of England. PrerocyaNera cixcia (Bonap.). Garganey. Province IV. Subprovinces 11, (12). Lat. 52°-53°. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland. The nest has several times been found in Norfolk, where Mr. Stevenson tells me that a few pairs breed annually in the district of the broads on the eastern side of the county. Mr. F. Bond has informed me that the Garganey bred also in the fens of Cambridge and Huntingdon before they were drained. QueRQuEDULA creEccA (Steph.). Teal. Provinces I.-X VIII. Subprovinces 3-12, 15, 18-23, 24-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “Scottish” (or “ British ””) type. The nest of the Teal has been found occasionally in most counties, even of the south of England; and in several of these, especially in Norfolk, the bird is reported as breeding regularly. It is, however, more numerous in the north, and is described as breeding annually in nearly all the districts of Scotland. 70 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Mareca PENELOPE (Selby). Wigeon. Provinces II. I1V.? VIII.? IX. XVI.? XVII. XVIII. Subprovinces 6, 117, 20?, 21, 32?, 34, 35, 37, 38. Lat. 50° or 57°-61°. “Scottish” type. Perhaps in Ireland. The nest has been found in two or three localities in England, but it is only in the north of Scotland that the Wigeon breeds regularly. Mr. Borrer, of Cowfold, tells me that the Wigeon breeds ocea- sionally on the borders of St. Leonard’s Forest, in Sussex. The nest was found by Mr. C. S. A. Dickens in 1854, and a brood was seen again in 1862. In their ‘ Catalogue of the Birds of Norfolk,’ Messrs. Gurney and Fisher state their belief that the Wigeon “ has been occa- sionally known to breed” in that county. Mr. J. J. Briggs believes that it breeds occasionally in Derby- shire, having seen young birds, apparently belonging to this species, frequenting the marshy banks of the Trent in August and September. Mr. J. F. Brockholes informs me that in the summer of 1863 a pair of Wigeons reared their brood at Puddington, in Che- shire, where he often watched them within a distance of a few yards. Mr. Brockholes had previously killed a Wigeon at the same spot, in August 1862. Dr. Dewar once found a pair of Wigeons (and shot the male bird), in the last week of June, in West Inverness; so that it seems probable that the bird breeds in this county. Mr. R. Danford describes the Wigeon as breeding regularly in Ross- shire, and the nest has been found in the counties of Suther- land and Caithness. Colonel Drummond-Hay has found the nest in Orkney ; and Dr. Saxby tells me that the bird breeds occasionally in Shetland, but only in backward seasons. SoMATERIA MOLLISSIMA (Bote). Eider Duck. Provinces XI. XIV. XVI. XVII. Subprovinces 24, 28, 338, 35-38. Lat. 55°-59°. “ Scottish” type. Not in Ireland. The Farn Islands and the Bass Rock have long been known as localities. in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. rid Mr. H. D. Graham finds the Eider breeding on Colonsay and other islands in Subprovince 33; but I do not know of any locality on the mainland of Argyleshire. Mr. St.-John, in his ‘Tour in Sutherland,’ mentions some islands at the entrance of the Kyle of Tongue; and many differ- ent observers have met with the nest in the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland. Obs.—Bullock informed Montagu that he had found a nest of Somateria spectabilis at Papa Westra, one of the Orkneys, where, according to Messrs. Baikie and Heddle, the King-Duck is now only known as an occasional visitant. (Epemia nicGRA (Flem.). Black Scoter. Province XVII. Subprovince 35. Lat. 58°-59°. “ Scottish” type. Not in Ireland. Mr. W. Dunbar tells me that the Black Scoter breeds every year in many parts of the moors in Caithness, making its nest in the boggy swamps around the lakes. He has known the eggs taken more than once. Mr. R. J. Shearer writes that a “ Black Duck ” is well known as breeding on one or two lakes in the Thurso district. Nyroca FERINA (Flem.). Pochard. Provinces III. IV. X. Subprovinces 8, 9, II, 22, 23. Lat. 51°-54°. “English” type. Not in Ireland. The nest of the Pochard has been several times found in a limited locality on the borders of the counties of Herts and Buckingham, as I learn from my friend the Rev. H. H. Crewe. With regard to Norfolk, the bird, according to Messrs. Gur- ney and Fisher (Zoologist, p. 1378), “has been occasionally known to breed in the county ”—a statement confirmed by Mr. Lubbock (p. 112), on Girdlestone’s authority. Mr. A. Newton tells me it has ceased to breed at Scoulton Mere for some years, but that he has reason to suppose there was a nest, in 1850, not very far from that locality. Hewitson mentions Hornsea Mere and a piece of water a few H 72 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds miles from Scarborough as breeding-localities; and quite recently the Rev. H. Roundell has found the Pochard breeding in the Craven district of Yorkshire. Obs.—A female Scaup (Fuligula marila) was once shot by Sir W. Jardine in Sutherland during summer, and hence it has been supposed that this species bred in the north of Scotland. But that gentlemen tells me that he considers it was “ most probably a wounded bird, or remaining by some accident ”*. Mr. Wolley could not find this species during his excursions in Sutherland. Furicuxa cristata (Steph.). Tufted Duck. Provinces II. V. VIII. X. XI. Subprovinces 6, 15, 20, 23, 24. Lat. 50°-56°, “English” type. Not in Ireland. Mr. Borrer tells me that a brood of Tufted Ducks was found near Horsham in May 1858, and another at West Grinstead in 1854. Mr. W. H. Slaney writes that the bird is common on the large meres of Stafford and Shropshire, and that he has known of one nest in the latter county. Sir William Milner and Mr. A. Newton have recorded the occurrence of several nests in Nottinghamshire (Zoologist, p.4440; Trans. Tyneside Nat. Club, vol. v. p. 40). In the ‘ Zoologist’ (p. 2879), mention is made of a brood ob- served on Malham Water, in the West Riding of Yorkshire ; and Mr. Hancock describes the bird as breeding occasionally in Northumberland (Trans. Tyneside Nat. Club, ut supra). Obs.—In 1848 two eggs were given to the late Mr. John Wolley in Shetland as those of the “Calloo Duck” (the local name for Harelda glacialis), with a positive assurance that they had been taken on a low holm in that group of islands. So far as can be determined from their appearance, there is nothing to * In Mr. Selby’s paper on the Birds of Sutherland (Edinb. New. Phil. Journ. vol. xx. p. 293), it is stated that this bird ‘ was attended by a young one, which unfortunately escaped among the reeds ;” but in the note with which J have been favoured by Sir William Jardine, he says nothing about the latter, merely mentioning that the old female he shot is now in his collection. in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 73 cast a doubt on the accuracy of the information ; and as it came from respectable and disinterested persons, that gentleman believed it. I am, however, not aware of any corroboration of the statement, and the breeding of the Long-tailed Duck in Shetland is probably a rare occurrence. Clangula glaucion. Mr. W. Dunbar informs me that the Golden-eye has been once known to breed in Sutherland, a nest with the young birds having been found by a shepherd in the hollow of an old larch-tree on Loch Assynt; and Mr. Dun- bar suggests that one of the parents must have been disabled and unable to migrate. Mereus serrator (Linn.). Red-breasted Merganser. Provinces XVI. XVII. XVIII. Subprovinces 32-38. Lat. 55°-61°. “Scottish ” type, or Northern. In several localities on the west coast of Scotland, extending from Islay to Shetland ; but I have no authority for its breeding on the east side of Scotland, though Macgillivray tells us that it is found in summer as far south as the Moray Firth. Mereuvs castor (Linn.). Goosander. Province XVIII. Subprovince 36. Lat. 57°-58° or 59°. “Scottish” type. Not in Ireland. Mr. John Macgillivray appears to have been the first to dis- cover the nest of the Goosander in the Outer Hebrides, where he describes it as breeding by the larger lakes, and occasionally by the sea. Mr. Robert Gray tells me that he has no doubt about the Goosander ; for his friend Dr. Dewar has killed the female on the nest, and taken the contents of several nests, in North Uist. Mr. Gray has also himself obtained eggs from the same locality. The “ Goosander,” mentioned by Low as breeding in the Loch of Stenness, is no doubt the Red-breasted Merganser, one species only of Mergus being included in the ‘ Fauna Orcadensis.’ H 2 74 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Popicrrs cristatus (Lath.). Great Crested Grebe. Provinces IJ.-V. VI.? VII.? VIII.-X. Subprovinces, 6, 8, 10, 11, (12), 14, 15, 16?, 17?, 18?, 19, 21, 22 NOR: Lat. 50°-55°. “ English” type. Not in Scotland. A few pairs breed in the counties of Sussex, Herts, Suffolk, Norfolk, Huntingdon (perhaps extinct, Mr. F. Bond), Worcester, Warwick, Shropshire, Lincoln, Cheshire, and in both divisions of Yorkshire. Yarrell tells us that the Great Crested Grebe breeds on some of the lakes of Wales, but I do not know in which of the districts. Popicers Minor (Lath.). Little Grebe. Provinces I.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-37. Lat. 50°-60°. “ British” type, or general. Throughout Great Britain, and extends to the Outer Hebrides and Orkney, but does not appear to have been found breeding in Shetland. Obs.—The Eared Grebe (Podiceps auritus) is mentioned by Pennant as breeding at Spalding in Lincolnshire; but the nest does not seem to have come under the notice of any recent observer. Corymsus arcticus (Linn.). Black-throated Diver. Provinces XV.-XVIII. Subprovinces 29, 31 ?, 32, 34-36, (37). Lat. 56°-59°. “Scottish” type. Not in Ireland. Mr. Robert Gray tells me that the Black-throated Diver breeds on the confines of Perth and Argyleshire, extending to both counties. The nest has been found in several parts of Argyle- shire, Inverness, Ross, and Sutherland, and also in the Outer Hebrides ; but the bird is said to have become quite extinct in Orkney. CoLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS (Linn.). Red-throated Diver. Provinces XV.—XVIII. Subprovinces 31, 32, 34-38. Lat. 56°-61°. “Scottish” type. Not in Ireland. With much the same range as the former species, the Red in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 75 throated Diver appears to be the more frequent of the two, and extends to Shetland. Mr. St. John mentions Loch Endorb, in Morayshire, as a locality for the nest. Obs.— Colymbus glacialis. Mr. W. Dunbar tells me that once, when a boy, he saw a pair of Great Northern Divers, with one young one, on Loch Endorb. On the same loch were two or three pairs of the Black-throated Diver; so that the two species were easily distinguished by the great disparity of size. Dr. Saxby writes that he has procured from Yell, in Shetland, some eggs which he considers to belong to the Great Northern Diver; but I fear that the eggs alone are not to be relied upon, as Mr. R. Gray has seen eggs about as large as those of the Great Northern Diver, and very much resembling them in shape, which were taken from a Black-throated Diver shot on its nest, The last-named species, however, does not breed in Shetland, as Dr. Saxby has lately remarked (Zool. p. 9525). Messrs. Baikie and Heddle inform us that in Orkney the Great Northern Diver has been seen during summer on moors at a distance from the sea; but, as yet, the fact of its breeding in any part of the British Islands seems to need positive proof, Unt trots (Lath.). Common Guillemot. Provinces I.-III. [1V.] VI. VII. X.-XVIII. Subprovinces 1-7, (11), 17, 18, 22, 24-28, 30-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “ British ” type, or general. Formerly the Guillemot used to breed in the cliffs at Hunstan- ton in Norfolk. The variety which has been distinguished under the name of Ringed Guillemot (U. ringvia) appears to occur more frequently in the northern counties. It is returned as breeding on Lundy Island, the coasts of Wales and Yorkshire, the Farn Islands, Ailsa, the Bass Rock, in Aberdeen, Banff, Caithness, and in all three groups of isles, and is probably to be met with in most other localities where the Common Guillemot is numerous. Obs.—Briinnich’s Guillemot (U. bruennicht) is included by Sir W. Milner in his List of the Birds of Sutherland, published in the 76 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds ‘ Zoologist ;? but Mr. Henry Milner has kindly informed me that the bird was not found breeding there, and only a single speci- men was purchased on that occasion. Uris GRYLLE (Lath.). Black Guillemot, Provinces [VI.] [VII.] XII. XIV.-XVIII. Subprovinces (17), (18), 25, 28, 29, 30-38. Lat. 54°-61°. Scottish” type, or Northern. In the time of Montagu a few pairs used to breed annually at Tenby ; and it is possible that the bird is not yet extinct in this locality, as Mr. Tracy includes it in his list. Pennant mentions Llandudno and Anglesea; and Mr. J. F. Crellin finds the Black Guillemot breeding in small numbers in the Isle of Man. It breeds also on the east coast of Scotland, at St. Abb’s Head (Rev. J. Duns), on the Bass Rock; on the Isle of May (Sir W. Jar- dine) ; at Stonehaven (Dr. J. A. Smith) ; and is pretty generally distributed in the north and west of Scotland. Obs.—The Little Auk (Arctica alle) is recorded as having been seen by Macgillivray on the Bass Rock during the month of May, and was reported to him as breeding at St. Abb’s Head ; and in Thompson’s ‘ Birds of Ireland’ (vol. i. p. 220), mention is made of four Little Auks seen at Ailsa Craig on the 19th of May; but the eggs have not been found in either locality. Auca IMPENNIS (Linn.). Gare-fowl, or Great Auk. Province [XVIII.]. Subprovinces (36), (37 ?). Lat. 59°-60°. ‘Scottish ” type, formerly. Not in Ireland. Spoken of positively by Martin as having formerly bred on St. Kilda ; and according to the information procured in the Ork- neys by Bullock, and published by Montagu, a pair of this species annually visited Papa Westra up to the year 1812, when the specimen now in the British Museum, and the last observed there, was shot. Mr. John Macgillivray, in 1840, found that the bird was well known to the inhabitants of St: Kilda, but had not been observed to breed there for many years back. in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 77 Fratercuta arctica (Jilig.). Common Puffin. Provinces I. II. [TII.] VI. VII. X.-XVIII. Subprovinces 1, 2, 4, 5, (7), 17, 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “ British” type, or general. Montagu tells us that the Puffin used formerly to breed in the cliffs of Dover. It still breeds in small numbers in the Isle of Wight, and is to be found on most of our rocky shores during the nesting-season, As with many other sea-birds, I have no authority for its breeding in Subprovince 29. Aca TorRDA (Linn.). Razor-bill. Provinces I. II. [III.] VI. VII. X.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-6, (7), 17, 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30-88. Lat. 50°-61°. “ British” type, or general. This is perhaps the most abundant of our cliff-birds; but, like the Puffin and Guillemot, it does not nest upon the flat shores of the east coast from Kent to Yorkshire; and I have no autho- rity for Subprovinces 26 and 29, though there can be little doubt that it breeds in both of these districts. Gracuus carBo (G. R. Gray). Common Cormorant. Proyinces I. Ut. {1V.| Vi. VIL. XXVIII. Subprovinces 1-6, (11), 17, 18, 22, 24-28, 30-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “British” type, or general. Like most other sea-fowl, the Cormorant is more numerous on our northern and western coasts. Sir Thomas Browne tells us that they formerly built upon trees at Reedham in Norfolk, ‘ whence King Charles the First was wont to be supplied.” Doubtless the Cormorant, as well as the Shag, breeds on the Isle of May, and perhaps on other parts of the coast of Fifeshire ; but I have no list for this county. GRACULUS LINN&!I (G. R. Gray). Shag. Provinces I.-II. VI. VII. X.-X VIII. Subprovineces 1-5, 17, 18, 22, 24-29, 32-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “British” type, or general. The Shag is far less numerous than the Cormorant in the 73 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds south, but is described as abundant in many parts of Scotland, especially the western and northern islands. On the east side of Scotland, however, there are large tracts of coast on which none are to be seen. The bird is also wanting on the south and east coasts of England, from the Isle of Wight to Yorkshire. SuLa BASSANA (Bove). Gannet. Provinces I. XIII. XIV. XVIII. Subprovinces 2, 27, 28, 36, 37. Lat. 51°-59°. “ Scottish ” type, or Northern. The breeding-stations of the Gannet are Lundy Island, in the British Channel; Ailsa Craig, off Ayrshire; St. Kilda (and, I believe, one or two neighbouring islands), in the Outer Hebrides ; Suliskerry, which lies to the west of Hoy in Orkney ; and the Bass Rock, in the Firth of Forth. SterNA CANTIACA (Gmel.). Sandwich Tern. Provinces I. III, XI. XII. XIV.-XVI. Subprovinces 1, 7, 8, 24, 25, 28, 29, 32. Lat. 50°-57°.. “ English” type, or Southern. Breeds in Cornwall (Mr. E. H. Rodd) ; in South Kent occa- sionally (Mr. R. Kent); in Essex, and probably also in North Kent, at the mouth of the Thames (Mr. F. Bond); in Lanca- shire (this may include Subprovince 21) (Rev. H. B. Tristram); on the Farn Islands and Isle of Coquet, off Northumberland, and on the coast of Cumberland. Mr. Robert Gray writes that a small colony has lately esta- blished itself on an island in Loch Lomond; and Sir W. Jardine tells us that it breeds on the Isle of May and off North Ber- wick. Further north, the birds have been seen in summer on the Firths of Tongue and Erribol; but the nest was not dis- covered, STERNA PARADISEA (Briinn.). Roseate Tern. Provinces I. XI.—XIV. XV. XVI. Subprovinces 1, 24, 25, 26 ?, (27), 28, 29, 32. Lat. 50°-57°. “ English” or “ British”? type. Only a few localities are known for the nest of this species, in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 79 which appears to be much more scarce than the Common and Arctic Terns. Mr. Rodd marks the Roseate Tern as breeding regularly in Cornwall. Mr. Hewitson mentions Foulney Island in Laneashire, and Yarrell the low islands in the Solway Firth. The Farn Islands are another well-known locality. In Scotland Sir W. Jardine has found the bird breeding plentifully in the Isle of May, off Fifeshire. Mr. Archibald Hepburn informs me that it breeds also in Haddingtonshire ; and Mr. Robert Gray finds a few pairs breeding on an island in Loch Lomond, but remarks that “ this elegant species has entirely disappeared from the Cumbraes, where it was originally discovered.” STERNA HIRUNDO (Linn.). Common Tern. Provinces I.-IV. VI.-VIII. IX. ? X.-XVIII. Subprovinces 1, 2, 4, 6-8, 11, 17-19, 21 ?, 24-26, 28-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “ British” type, or general. Breeds on various parts of the coast from the south to the north of Great Britain, and frequents also the islets in many of the Scottish Lakes, but has not always been distinguished from the next species. Sterna MAcruRA (Naum.). Arctic Tern. Provinces I-IV. VII. VIII. IX. X.-XII. XIV.-XVIII. Subprovinces 1, 3, 6-8, 11, 17-19, 24, 25, 28-30, 32-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “British” type, or general. With much the same range, in Great Britain, as the Common Tern, the Arctic Tern appears to be about equally numerous ; and if observed in fewer districts, this is probably only because it has been passed over, being either mistaken for, or associated with, the Common Tern. STeRNA MINUTA (Linn.). Lesser Tern. Provinces IJ -IV. VIII. [X.? X.-XII. XIV.—XVIII. Subprovinces 6-8, 10, 11, 19, 21?, 22, 24, 25, 28, 30-82, 35, 37. Lat. 50°-60°. “British” type, or general. Though not numerous as a species, the Lesser Tern breeds in 80 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds a few scattered localities from Sussex to Orkney. As Macgilli- vray remarks, most of its breeding-stations are on the east side of Great Britain ; and this is also the case with the other Terns, on account of the greater prevalence on the east coast of the low sandy shores and islets which these birds prefer for their nests. HyprocHE.ipon rissipges (G. R. Gray). Black Tern. Provinces III. IV. [ VIII.]. Subprovinces 7, (10), 11, (12), (19). Lat. 51°-53°. “Germanic” type. Not in Ireland? This is one of the birds whose numbers have greatly dimi- nished of late years; for although Mr. Hewitson describes it as “abundant in some parts of the counties of Cambridge and Lincoln,” I believe that it has nearly, if not entirely, ceased to breed in this country. A pair or two are considered still to nest occasionally in Kent and Norfolk ; but I am assured by various correspondents that the Black Tern has become altogether extinct in the counties of Suffolk, Cambridge, Huntingdon, and Lincoln. Larus ripipunpus (Linn.). Black-headed Gull. Provinces III. [V. V.? VIII.-X VIII. Subprovinces 7, 8, (10), 11, 15 ?, 19, 21, 22, 24-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “Scottish” (or “ British ”) type. A few breeding-stations occur in the south of England, in the counties of Kent, Essex, Norfolk, and Lincolnshire; but the localities for the bird are much more numerous in the north. Plott mentions a locality in Staffordshire, but I do not know whether the birds still frequent this county during the breeding- season. Rissa TRIDACTYLA (Macyill.). Kaittiwake. Provinces I. II.? X.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-3, 4?, 22, 24, 25, 27-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “ Scottish ” type, or Northern. On the south coast, the Kittiwake has been stated to breed in Dorsetshire ; but I have been unable to obtain any confirma- tion of this assertion. It is certainly not found in the Isle of Wight during the nesting-season. in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 81 Mr. Rodd tells me that the Kittiwake breeds occasionally in Cornwall; the Rev. M. A. Mathews finds the nest in North Devonshire ; and Mr. Crotch tells me that the bird breeds also im Somerset. From this point I am unable to trace any locality until we reach the Isle of Man, where Mr. Crellin says that it breeds annually. On the east coast of England, the Kittiwake breeds at Flam- borough Head and at the Farn Islands, off the coast of Northum- berland. It is also abundant in many different parts of Scot- land, especially in the western and northern isles. Larus canus (Zinn.). Common Gull. Provinces I. III. VI. X.? XIV. XIII.? XIV. XVI.-XVIII. Subprovinces 1-3, 8, 17, 22 ?, 25, 26?, 27, 28, 32-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “Scottish” type, or Northern. Breeds in Cornwall (Mr. EH. H. Rodd), in North Devon (Rev. M. A. Mathews), and in Somerset (Mr. W. D. Crotch) ; in Pem- brokeshire (Mr. J. Tracy); and in Cumberland (Mr. 7. Gough). On the east coast of England, the Rev. J. C. Atkinson assures me that the Common Gull breeds in the Essex Marshes, where it is rare. It is believed to nest on the cliffs of Yorkshire; but it appears to be a scarce bird in most of the English localities, and seems to be wanting also in several of the Scottish districts, Larus Fuscus (Linn.). Lesser Black-backed Gull. Provinces I. II. VI. VII. XI.—-XIV. XVI.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-8, 5, 6, 17, 18, 24-28, 32-38. Lat. 50°-61. “ British” type, or general. Like many other of our sea-fowl, the Lesser Black-backed Gull becomes much more numerous northwards, though it is too generally distributed to be placed under the Scottish type. Larus ARGENTATUS (Briinn.). Herring-Gull. Provinces I.-III. VI. VII. X.-X VIII. Subprovinces 1-7, 17, 18, 22, 24-88. Lat. 50°-61°. “British ” type, or general. This appears to be the most widely distributed of all our Gulls, being found on all the rocky parts of the coast during the breed- ing-season. 82 Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds Larus Marinus (Linn.). Great Black-backed Gull. Provinces I. VI. VII.? XII.—XIV. XVI. XVIII. Subprovinces 1, 2, 17, 18?, 25-28, 32-38. Lat. 50°-61°. “Scottish ” type, or Northern. It is only in the north of Scotland that the Great Black- backed Gull is at all numerous. The few localities in which it has been found breeding in England are scattered along the west coast, from Cornwall to Cumberland. I cannot find any recent authority, except Yarrell, for its breeding in the marshes at the mouth of the Thames. STERCORARIUS CATARRHACTES (G. R. Gray). Great Skua. Province XVIII. Subprovince 38. Lat. 60°-62°. “Scottish” type, or Northern. Not in Ireland. Only in the Shetland Isles, where the nest has long been known ; and here the bird extends to the island of Unst, which lies a little beyond latitude 61°. SrerRcorarivs parasiticus (G. R. Gray). Arctic Skua. Provinces [XVI.} XVII. XVIII. Subprovinces (33), 35-38. Lat. 57°-61°. “Scottish” type, or Northern. Pennant formerly found the Arctic Skua breeding in the Islands of Islay, Jura, and Rum; and it is probable that a few pairs may still linger in some of the numerous islands of this district, though Mr. H. D. Graham tells me that the bird is quite extinct in Jura. In Thompson’s ‘ Birds of Ireland? (vol. ii. p. 390) mention is made of a pair which were shot in 1837 in the Isle of Rum, where it is likely they had a nest. The bird still breeds in Sutherland and Caithness, and in all three groups of the Scottish Isles. ; STERCORARIUS cEPPHUS (G. R. Gray). Long-tailed Skua. Provinces XVII. XVIII. Subprovinces 35, 36, 37. Lat. 57°-61°. “Scottish” type. Not in Ireland. Respecting a former breeding-station in Caithness, Mr. R. J. Shearer, of Ulbster Housewick, has favoured me with the in Great Britain during the Nesting-season. 83 following particulars :—“ Seven or eight years ago a few pairs of the Long-tailed Skua were always to be found breeding on the same ground with the commoner species. This was on a large inland flat, studded with small dark lochs. Besides the two Skuas the Lesser Black-backed Gull, the Common Gull, and the Cur- lew used to breed on the same spot. In 1860, a pair of Long- tailed Skuas were shot on this ground during the breeding-sea- son; and when Dr. Sinclair, in 1840, published a list of the Birds of Caithness, he had found only the Long-tailed Skua, which at that time seemed to be the most numerous and easily obtained on this breeding-ground.”’ On revisiting this spot in 1861, Mr. Shearer found that nearly all the Skuas had been destroyed by a gamekeeper, who made a point of shooting every bird that attempted to breed on the moor. It may be added that Mr. Shearer is perfectly aware of the difference between the Long-tailed and Arctic Skuas, and that he has always been accustomed to distinguish the two species. Mr. Robert Gray, of Glasgow, who has paid much attention to the birds of the West of Scotland, tells me that he has seen a pair of the Long-tailed Skua, male and female, which were ob- tained, in June 1862, on the Island of Wiay, off Benbecula, one of the Outer Hebrides. These birds were shot above a marsh where the Arctic Skua was breeding; so that there can be little doubt that they had a nest. Mr. J. H. Dunn tells me that three pairs of the Long-tailed Skua bred in Hoy Island in 1852, when he obtained their eggs. None have nested since. PROCELLARIA GLACIALIS (Linn.). Fulmar. Province XVIII. Subprovince 36. Lat. 57°-58°. “Scottish” type. Not in Ireland. Only in the Outer Hebrides, where St. Kilda has long been noted as the principal breeding-place. Yarrell adds the neigh- bouring islands of Borrera and Soa, on the authority of Mr. G. C. Atkinson, “ who was informed that the birds also breed in the South Isles of Barra.” 84. Mr. A. G. More on the Distribution of Birds, &c. Purrinus ANGLoRuM (Boie). Manx Shearwater. — Provinces I. [XII.] XVI. XVIII. Subprovinces 1, 2, (25), 33, 36-38. Lat. 49°-61°. “Atlantic” type, or Western. The Manx Shearwater breeds in the Scilly Islands. In Lundy Island, in the Bristol Channel (Rev. M. A. Mathews). Formerly it was abundant on the Calf of Man, where Mr. Crellin considers that it was extirpated by rats. Mr. H. D. Graham finds it breed- mg on the Islands of Staffa and Treshnish; and there are seve- ral localities in the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland. It will be observed that all these localities are situated on the west coast, and the nest seems always to be placed upon islands. I am not aware of any breeding-station on the mainland, unless Berwickshire should prove to be an exception, as the Rev. J. Duns tells me that he has seen it during summer off St. Abb’s Head, and believes that a few pairs breed there occasionally. THALASSIDROMA LEACHI (Keys. & Bl.). Fork-tailed Petrel. Province XVIII. Subprovinces 36, (37) ? Lat. 57°-58° or 59°. “Atlantic” type. Not in Ireland. The only breeding-station known with certainty is St. Kilda, in the Outer Hebrides. Mr. J. H. Dunn marks the Fork-tailed Petrel as having for- merly nested in Orkney; but the bird is not mentioned in the ‘Fauna Orcadensis,’ nor in the more recent work of Messrs. Baikie and Heddle. Mr. Dunbar includes it in his ‘ List of the Birds of Ross-shire,’ but without mention of the locality. THALASSIDROMA PELAGICA (Vigors). Stormy Petrel. Provinces I. XIII. XVI. XVIII. Subprovinees 1, 2, 27, 33, 36-38. Tat. 49°-61°. “Atlantic” type, or Western. In the Scilly Isles. In Lundy Island (Rev. M. A. Mathews). On Ailsa (Mr. R. Gray). On Iona, Staffa, and Treshnish (Mr. R. D. Graham). In Skye (Mr. J. Macgillivray, fide Yarrell) ; and in all three groups of the Western and Northern Isles. Sir W. Jardine has seen small parties of Stormy Petrels, in June, off the Isle of Man, where they probably breed. Ibis, 1865 Plate]. 2 \ GREAT BRITALN tT DIVIDED LNTO ; | 18 Provinces and 38 Sub-provinces Destqned to illustrate THE DISTRIBUTION OF BRITISH BIRDS i I SHETLAND |i Boundaries are marked thai. =. --=.— Provinces Sub provinces, Counties “KI \FOR FAR J vat SCILLY Isr Designed by HC Watson T3E2. and copied by permission tron the Gbele Britannica”? Stantords Geo! FistablL, onder. iiabias £e) ox Dae Se