John Alexander Strachey Bucknill

“ This was a great year for this species in Surrey.
Shoveler (S. clypeata) .—Mr. R.W. Webb tells me it has been seen on his pond at Milford House. This corroborates Mr. S.A. Davies's account. Mr. Webb also informs me that, as he never allows a gun to be fired on his lake, the Duck and Teal congregate there in large numbers in winter, and occasionally the rarer Ducks pay it a visit (in lit.) . It is only about eight acres in extent.
Teal (Q. crecca) .—I have notes of a nest last year in the county. It is unnecessary to give the locality. Mr. Crowley had many clutches from the Churt district. ”

“ Crowley had one picked up dead at Waddon in 1890.
Woodcock (S. rusticola) .—Mr. F.B.P. Long informs me that it breeds regularly in the Bagshot woods; a few nests are found annually, and the young have been seen as early as April 1st. He has an egg taken some years ago in Bagshot Park (in lit.) . Mr. J.D. Salmon had eggs from Godalming taken there in 1849 (MS. catalogue) . Although not generally a good season for cock, fifteen were seen and nine bagged in one day not far from Chipstead in the early part of December, 1900. ”

“ Crowley had observed this bird at Churt, and had an egg from there in 1862. This egg he considered undoubtedly belonging to this species. In the summer of 1896 one was observed at Stoke-d'Abernon by the Rev. T.N. Hart-Smith, of Epsom.
Lesser Redpoll (A. rufescens) .—A nest and eggs were taken on May 20th, 1894, near Epsom (Epsom College Reports) .
Twite or Mountain Linnet (A. flavirostris) .—Mr. Felton has shown me some eggs taken by himself on June 24th, 1894, at Weybridge. Although Mr. Felton did not indubitably identify the bird, the eggs are certainly indistinguishable from the Twite's. ”

“ Yearley preserved a specimen shot at West Molesey on Oct. 8th, 1879 (F. Styan and J. Mitchell) .
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) .—A flooded meadow close to the L. & S.W. Railway, near Earlswood, has constantly been frequented during this winter by a number of Gulls of this species; stragglers, doubtless, from the enormous crowd which now visit the Thames.
Common Gull (L. canus) .—Mr. Styan had notes of its occasional appearance inland at Guildford and Haslemere (F. Styan and J. Mitchell) . ”

“ F. Styan had notes of its nest from the Hogsback, Sutton Place near Guildford, and Haslemere—all in about 1880. It nests annually near Lingfield, and in 1894 there were three nests in one orchard (F.H. Birley, in lit.) . Mr. Dalgliesh has recent specimens from Guildford (in lit.) . In 1899 nests were taken on Thornton Heath and Streatham Common (Ward Adeney, in lit.) . Notwithstanding the extensive building operations taking place in Epsom, the species still frequents some quiet gardens there. ”

“ I think all the rarer species mentioned by him in this list have been referred to in my text.
I have also, through the kindness of my deeply lamented friend, Mr. Philip Crowley, of Waddon, had the opportunity of making a very close examination of his magnificent collection of eggs, which is very rich in "clutches" of rare Surrey birds, mostly taken in the 'sixties near Farnham, when Mr. Crowley was then at Alton. In those days there must have been a wealth of bird-life on those western moors of quite an astonishing character, as Mr. Crowley's cabinets show. ”

“ In addition to the above short list, I have received some very interesting communications upon the occurrence in the county of some curious species of obviously artificial introduction, such as the Rock-Dove, Black Swan, and Reeves's Pheasant; and also a considerable number of notes of the occurrence of species, which I do not feel justified in including in this list, owing to the records sent me being records merely of observation. ”

“ Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) .—Mr. F. Styan had the following notes on this species not hitherto recorded by me:—
1. A nest at Witley in 1863, from which a nestling was taken and reared (fide Bryan Hook) .
2. A nest with five eggs, taken on Reigate Hill on March 28th, 1874 (fide J.B. Crosfield) .
3. A partly fledged bird, captured near Boxhill on June 5th, 1876 (ib.) .
4. A nest with eggs near Churt in 1881 (fide Bryan Hook) .
5. Found nesting about 1882 at Thursley, where it occasionally bred (fide R.W. Courage) . ”

“ Mr. Crowley told me that his collectors in the Churt district in the 'sixties sent him some sixty or seventy clutches (including two with Cuckoo) , all taken in that district. After 1869 a very large forest fire destroyed the tract of furze-covered heath where the bird had been so common. A large number of birds were shot by collectors. Mr. Crowley's collection contained a splendid series of nests and eggs—some forty clutches ”

“ He is confident of their identity (in lit.) . If correct, this is a most interesting record; but, although the species has undoubtedly occurred in the locality mentioned many years ago, the absence of any absolute proof of the authenticity of their identification upon this present occasion renders the record not completely satisfactory.
Golden Oriole (Oriolus galbula) .—Mr. F. Yearley preserved a specimen—a female—shot on Ditton Marsh on June 23rd, 1853 (F. Styan and J. Mitchell) . ”

“ Cuckoo (C. canorus) .—To the list of hosts which I gave as having been noticed in Surrey, I am now able to add the Blackcap (Churt, 1860, e coll. Crowley; and Lingfield, 38th June, 1895, part of lot 198 of Stevens's 10,204th sale) ; Greenfinch (Churt, circa 1860, two clutches, e coll. Crowley) ; Red-backed Shrike (Churt, June, 1863, ib.) ; Dartford Warbler (Churt, circa 1860, ib.) ; Sedge-Warbler (Carshalton, A. Smee in 'My Garden') . ”

“ The following are the chief notes of importance which I have received since publication.
Ring-Ouzel (T. torquatus) .—One seen, Reigate Hill, in the autumn of 1899 (C. E. Salmon, in lit.) .
Dartford Warbler (S. undata) .—Has been noticed near Bagshot prior to 1900 by Mr. F.B.P. Long (in lit.) . ”

“ Stone Curlew (Œdicnemus scolopax) .—Mr. J. Mitchell informs me that in the summer of 1900 he observed two pairs in the county, which were undoubtedly nesting; he does not wish me to indicate the locality precisely. ”

“ Mr. S.H. le Marchant often observes the species near Chobham (in lit.) , and Mr. Dalgliesh has a male, shot this winter at Guildford (in lit.) .
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (D. minor) .—Mr. F. Styan knew of a nest at Egham in 1881. It was observed at Deepdene, Dorking, in December of 1899 by Mr. Harold Russell (in lit.) . It also nests regularly at Chobham Place, where it may often be observed (S.H. le Marchant, in lit.) . It has also nested recently (1901) at Sidlow (C.E. Salmon, in lit.) .
Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida) .—Mr. J.M. Mitchell took a nest and five eggs at Balham in June, 1879. Mr. ”

“ In addition to these notes, I have had a number of interesting observations sent to me from both old and new correspondents, and have had the opportunity of examining a small but choice collection belonging to Mr. ”