The Zoologist/3rd series, vol 1 (1877)/Issue 12/Occasional Notes
OCCASIONAL NOTES.
Mr. Wharton's 'List of British Birds.'—In 'The Zoologist' for October (pp. 458 seqq.) you published a review of my 'List of British Birds.' With your kind permission, I desire to make a few remarks in reply. In the first place, your reviewer finds difficulties in regard to Sundevall's system, which a reference to his 'Tentamen' would have easily dispelled; most of the objections that he raises are inseparable from a simply linear arrangement. But when objection is taken to my definition of a British bird, I must answer that I aimed at making, not a Census, but a List. It is not to such a mere enumeration as mine that a zoological geographer appeals when he wants to know what species are really indigenous or natural to any given country. But surely it does throw light on a fauna to have on record even the isolated occurrence of the most alien species, thus showing not only its resources as a metropolis, but also every form which it is capable of associating to itself. Your reviewer not unjustly dreads an undue multiplication of genera, but the retention of the Serin in the genus Fringilla is rendered impossible by the acceptance of Sundevall's method; he places the one in the family Chloridinæ, characterized among other particulars by the absence of vibrissæ, and the other in the family Fringillinæ, where the vibrissæ are evident. And surely the separation of Helodromas from the Totani requires no apology when, as pointed out by your reviewer, it depends upon an obvious osteological difference, which similarity of external circumstances shows no tendency to obliterate. The inconsistencies of terminations to which your reviewer alludes depend on a simple question of grammar. Phœnicurus and rubecula are substantives standing in apposition to their respective generic names; arundinaceus and streperus are adjectives. The British form of Parus ater, L., and Acredula caudata (L.) I have not recognized, because in such a matter I am content to accept the conclusions of Professor Newton, as given in his revision of Yarrell's standard work. The authority of Brehm for Regulus ignicapillus rests on the statement of Temminck, in his 'Manuel' published in 1820. Jenyns certainly, in the work quoted by your reviewer, wrote "nob." after the name in 1835: but as he quotes Temminck's long previous usage of the same name, he was probably merely alluding to himself as having been the first to identify the bird in this country in 1832. On the testimony of Mr. Dresser ('Birds of Europe,' parts 47 and 48) and Professor Newton, Tunstall in 1771 did forestall Gmelin's description of Falco peregrinus in 1788. In 'The Ibis' for last July (p. 332) the reviewer will find that Mr. J.H. Gurney has satisfied himself that the two Spotted Eagles killed in Cornwall were both of them examples, not of Aquila nævia (Gm.), but of Aquila clanga (Pallas). Mr. Howard Saunders lias given satisfactory reasons (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1876) why the name Sterna macrura, Naumann, should take precedence of Sterna hirundo, L. In Mr. Dresser's 'Birds of Europe,' parts 59 and 60, it is shown that Brünnich's Guillemot cannot be called Alca arra, for under that name Pallas referred to a totally distinct species. In thus replying to the invitation of my reviewer, I cannot in courtesy conclude without expressing my thanks to him for pointing out the mistaken admission of Ereunetes pusillus (L.). The species should indeed rightly have appeared as Tringa minutilla, Vieillot (1819); for it may be observed that Wilson's name pusilla (1813) cannot stand, on account of its previous application by Linnæus to a species since shown to be distinct.—Henry T. Wharton.
Green Sandpiper in the Co. Mayo.—On the 30th September a Green Sandpiper appeared here, and took up its quarters at a little pool close to the shore. I made several unsuccessful attempts to shoot it; but, owing to its wildness, I was unable to do so until the 4th October. It proved to be a young bird, probably on its southward migration. The little pool is about thirty yards in length by six or eight in width, and is separated by a wall from the shores of the Estuary. On the other side it is surrounded by low trees, having a few yards of flat grassy bank between the water and trees. It appears to have some special attraction for Green Sandpipers, for the only birds of that species obtained or seen in this district were all observed at the same spot. The first Green Sandpiper I ever met with I shot there on the 12th January, 1866; and on the 25th August, 1873, my friend Mr. A.G. More saw a pair there, one of which he shot. The bird above mentioned as having been obtained on the 4th of last October makes the fourth seen here and the third specimen obtained. The extreme quickness of sight and wild flight are well and graphically described by Mr. Harvie Brown in his notice of the Green Sandpiper in Stirlingshire (p. 441), and I can well imagine his difficulty in obtaining a fair shot when the bird was flying amongst trees after being disturbed or alarmed. Of all our waders the Spotted Redshank is the only one that at all equals the Green Sandpiper in quickness of sight, while it surpasses it in wildness of flight, as any one who has followed either bird along the shore can testify.—Robert Warren (Moyview, Ballina, Co. Mayo).
Hoopoe in Ireland.—It may interest some of your readers to learn that a Hoopoe was shot by Mr. Martin, of Knox's Street, Sligo, some time in September, as it rose from amongst the bent in the sand-hills of Sligo Bay.—Id.
Spoonbills and Canada Geese in Suffolk.—Two Spoonbills, both males, were shot at Aldborough on the 27th June, presumed to be of the same flock as that mentioned by me in 'The Zoologist' for August last (p. 343). On the same day four Canada Geese were seen at Harwich; ou the day following one was sliot at xldborough, and a few days later one at FeHxstow. Is it probable that these are the same Geese that are recorded in 'The Zoologist' for July (p. 300), as having been seen by Mr. A.B. Brooke at Butterstone Loch? It is singular that there were four in each case.—F. Kerry (Harwich).
Scaup Duck at Scilly.—Although we have had no weather to bring wild-fowl down west, and have not heard of any but a few scattered ones of our commoner species, Mr. Smith sent over the other day, for preservation, a good adult female specimen of the Scaup Duck from Scilly. The Scaup is a rare visitor with us, and its occurrence is worth noting.—E.H. Rodd (Penzance, Nov. 3rd).
Death of Mr. Robert Swinhoe, F.R.S.—Our readers will hear with regret of the death, on October 28th, of Mr. Robert Swinhoe, F.R.S., late of Her Majesty's Consular Service in China. His name will be familiar to many as that of a naturalist who for several years past has devoted all his leisure time in investigating the Natural History, and more particularly the Ornithology, of China and parts of Japan, and in publishing through various channels the results of bis researches. His earliest publication on the subject appeared in 'The Zoologist' for 1858, in which volume will be found (p. 6222) an article entitled "Remarks on the Fauna of Amoy." In successive voluaies of this journal appeared other papers from his pen, ou the small Chinese Lark, Alauda cœlivox (1859, p. 6723), on the Wild Swans of China (1860, p. 61)23), and on the Birds of Amoy (1860, p. 7102). After this date his contributions to Ornithology appeared chiefly in 'The Ibis' and in the 'Proceedings of the Zoological Society,' to both of which publications he became a frequent contributor. In 1803 he published, in the 'Proceedings of the Zoological Society,' a "Catalogue of the Birds of China," and in the same journal his 'Revised Catalogue' appeared in 1871. The latter publication, embodying numerous additions to the list of Chinese birds, and several new species which had been described by the author since the date of his first Catalogue, may be regarded as the most reliable source of information at the present time on the Ornithology of a country still very imperfectly known to European naturalists. In 1870 he contributed to the Natural-History columns of 'The Field' an interesting series of articles on the Natural History of Hainan. Mr. Swinhoe's official position in China enabled him from time to time to arrange for the capture and transmission to England of many rare and valuable animals for the Zoological Society's Gardens, and he never lost an opportunity of furthering the interests of the Society of which he was so distinguished a member. His successful efforts in regard to the importation of several rare species of Phasianidæ, the most beautiful of all the game birds, may be especially called to mind. One of these, from the island of Formosa, has been described and named after him by Mr. Gould. It was much to be deplored that a naturalist of such talent and energy of mind was not equally gifted with physical strength to carry out his enthusiastic aspirations. Unfortunately, an attack of paralysis contracted in China necessitated his return to England, and for a considerable time before his death, his state of health was such as to cause great anxiety to his family and friends. His patience and cheerfulness while prostrated by this affliction were remarked by all who knew him, and it was fortunate for him that his favourite study furnished him with a constant occupation for the mind, which to some extent agreeably distracted his thoughts from his physical suffering. At the time of his death, Mr. Swinhoe had been for some time occupied in the preparation of a large work on the birds of China, which it was intended to illustrate with coloured plates. It will be a source of disappointment to ornithologists that he has not lived to complete it.