BIRDS a fine adult male which was shot near Worthing. This I procured from Mr. Sways- land in the spring of 1879, and the feet of the bird were quite soft and pliant, sliowing that, as he stated, it had just been taken. It is curious that this lark does not come to us more frequently. I have seen many in summer in the north of Normandy, where the species is common. m. Short-toed Lark. Alauda brachydactyla, Leisler. This lark has occurred three times in Sussex (Borrer). 112. White-winged Lark. Alauda sihirica, J. F. Gmelin. The only British specimen of this rare lark was taken in a net at Brighton and exhibited by Mr. Rowley at a meeting of the Zoologi- cal Society, January 27, 1870. The specimen is now in Mr. Monk's collection. 113. Shore-Lark. Otocorys a/pesiris (Lmn.) A somewhat rare winter visitor, occurring in small numbers on the coast. 114. Swift. Cypse/us apus (hinn.) Locally, Anchor bird (M. J. NicoU). A regular summer visitor, arriving after the swallows and departing before them. 115. Alpine Swift. Cypselns vielba {L n.) It is stated in the Zoologist (p. 3330) that a specimen of the Alpine swift was captured at St. Leonards-on-Sea in October, 185 1. It is said to have passed into the hands of a Mr. Johnson, chemist, of that place. The speci- men does not seem to be now forthcoming, for nothing is known of its existence in that town. 116. Nightjar. Caprimulgus curopaus^Liinn. A regular summer visitor to the districts of forest, fern-bank and heath. I think that the species is much scarcer than it used to be. 117. Wryneck. lynx torqullla, Linn. A regular spring migrant, nesting through- out the county in small numbers. 118. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus viridis (Linn.) Locally, Galley bird (M. J. NicoU). Fairly well distributed throughout the county and even common in the big oak dis- trict of the north and west. In the late summer and autumn the green woodpecker may frequently be seen searching for insects on the ground. 119. Great Spotted Woodpecker. Dcndto- copus major (Linn.) The least common of the three species of woodpecker. Where natural conditions pre- vail in the form of large oaks, elms and beeches the great spotted woodpecker is not rare, but its shy and retiring disposition causes it to be frequently overlooked. 120. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Dendro- copus minor (Linn.) Although the 'yaffle' is considered the com- monest of the woodpeckers in Sussex, I am inclined to think that in west Sussex the lesser spotted woodpecker is far the most numerous (in east Sussex the larger bird is considered the commoner species). If this little bird fancies that danger is to be appre- hended, it will remain quite still on the reverse side of a bough away from the obser- ver, and there lie ' perdu ' for half an hour without a move. 121. Kingfisher. A Icedo ispida, hinn. Resident and found by nearly every stream and lake. In the winter many repair to the ditches of the Weald and even to tidal waters. 122. Roller. Coracias garrulus, Linn. The earliest record of this species in Sussex is that of Hill {Hist. Anim. p. 369), who states that he saw one in Charlton Forest in 1752. Markwick says in his catalogue read before the Linnsan Society (1795), 'A bird of this species was killed in this neighbour- hood,' and in the Denne MS. I find that the specimen was shot near Crowhurst Church on September 22, 1790. Since that date several have been obtained at rare intervals throughout the past century. 123. Bee-eater. M crops apiastcr, Linn. Like the last named species a rare strag- gler. 124. Hoopoe. Upupa epops, Linn. Every year a few hoopoes make their way north and arrive in Sussex about the end of April or beginning of May. Its brilliant plumage and graceful flight are only too attractive, and so the man with the gun finds it irresistible in spite of acts prohibiting its slaughter. I must plead guilty to having shot one many years ago at Angmering near Worthing, a locality regularly visited by the hoopoe. The hoopoe sometimes rests in Sussex on the autumn migration. 125. Cuckoo. Cuculus canorus, Linn. An abundant summer visitor. 283
