Birds of Guernsey (1879): And the Neighbouring Islands: Alderney, Sark, Jethou, Herm; Being a Small Contribution to the Ornitholony of the Channel IslandsSmith, Cecil
History
Birds of Guernsey (1879): And the Neighbouring Islands: Alderney, Sark, Jethou, Herm; Being a Small Contribution to the Ornitholony of the Channel Islands
Smith, Cecil
Birds -- Channel Islands
Mr. Couch records one in the 'Zoologist' for 1874 as having been killed
at Cobo on the 28th of September of that year. This seems rather an
early date. When I was in Guernsey in November, 1875, I saw a few flocks
of Snow Buntings, and one--a young bird of the year--which had been
killed by a boy with a catapult, was brought into Couch's shop about the
same time, and I have one killed at St. Martin's, Guernsey, in November,
1878; and Captain Hubbach writes me word that he shot three out of a
flock of five in Alderney in January, 1863.
Professor Ansted mentions the Snow Bunting in his list as occurring in
Guernsey and Sark, and there is a specimen at present in the Museum.
60. BUNTING. _Emberiza miliaria_, Linnaeus. French, "Le proyer," "Bruant
proyer."--The Bunting is resident in Guernsey and breeds there, but in
very small numbers, and it is very local in its distribution. I have
seen a few in the Vale. I saw two or three about the grounds of the
Vallon in July, 1878, which were probably the parents and their brood
which had been hatched somewhere in the grounds.
It is mentioned in Professor Ansted's list as occurring only in
Guernsey. There is one specimen in the Museum.
61. YELLOW HAMMER. _Emberiza citrinella_, Linnaeus. French, "Bruant
jaune."--The Yellow Hammer, though resident and breeding in all the
Islands, is by no means as common as in many parts of England. In
Alderney perhaps it is rather more common than in Guernsey, as I saw
some near the Artillery Barracks this summer, 1878, and Captain Hubbach
told me he had seen two or three pairs about there all the year. In
Guernsey, on the other hand, I did not see one this summer, 1878. I
have, however, shot a young bird there which certainly could not have
been long out of the nest. I have never seen the Cirl Bunting in any of
the Islands, nor has it, as far as I know, been recorded from them,
which seems rather surprising, as it is common on the South Coast of
Devon, and migratory, but not numerous, on the North Coast of
France;[12] so it is very probable that it may yet occur.
The Yellow Hammer is included in Professor Ansted's list, and marked as
occurring in Guernsey and Sark. There are also a pair in the Museum.
62. CHAFFINCH. _Fringilla caelebs_, Linnaeus. French, "Pinson
ordinaire," "Grosbec pinson."--- The Chaffinch is resident, tolerably
common, and generally distributed throughout the Islands, but is nowhere
so common as in England. In Guernsey this year, 1878, it seemed to me
rather to have decreased in numbers, as I saw very few,--certainly not
so many as in former years,--though I could not find that there was any
reason for the decrease.
It is, of course, mentioned in Professor Ansted's list, but by him only
marked as occurring in Guernsey and Sark. There is only one--a
female--at present in the Museum.
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