Dear Sir.

I found your note here, on my arrival from London the other day. It would give me great pleasure to be able to answer any of your questions.¹ I passed four winters in Madeira, i.e. from Oct: 1847 – April 1848 Nov: 1848 – May 1849 Nov: 1849 – May 1850. Nov: 1850 – April 1851. So that I cannot speak from personal experience as to the habits of birds in Madeira during the months of June, July, August, and Sept: I had however the advantage of an acquaintance with the Rev^d. R. T. Lowe, whose residence of 24 years in Madeira and whose habits of accurate scientific observation gave such authority to the information he most kindly and freely afforded me, as I was very fortunate to obtain.² I am quite aware how little dependance may be placed generally on the accounts which travellers often, on the authority of others, are in the habit of giving. I sh^d. therefore always be especially careful in receiving the testimony of those who had not been well drilled in habits of observation.

I enclose for your acceptance my notes on the Madeiran birds, and shall be extremely gratified if they interest you;—³ I have placed a pen mark against those birds which I have myself seen in the Island, it follows therefore that those have been found there between the months of October & May; I have placed o against those birds which I did not see my-self, but of whose presence as occasional visitants, from the reliability of my informants, I can have no doubt.⁴

Cathartes percnopterus, may perhaps be found in Madeira once in every three or four years, it appears in Berthelot’s list of the birds of the Canary islands,⁵ in Malherbe’s list of African birds,⁶ in Ignatius Asso’s list of Spanish birds (Aragon)⁷ as well as in Capt. Widrington’s list of Spanish birds (Seville).⁸ from any of these contiguous countries it might well find its way to Madeira— I may observe that during the prevalence of the Easterly winds which blow from the African coast to Madeira, (being called Harmattan on the W. coast of Africa and l’Este in Madeira) most of the visitants arrive—and as these winds do not prevail more at one time of year than another, the migration of birds to Madeira is probably involuntary and more affected by winds than seasons. This does not apply to the seabirds which occasionally visit the Island.

Falco nisus, which occurs in the lists of the birds of the Canaries, of Africa, & of Spain, is found in Madeira perhaps once in two years

Falco subbuteo, may be described in like manner.

Corvus corax, is occasionally brought over in a domestic state by the traders from Lisbon, there is therefore the chance that the only individual I heard of as having been killed in Madeira had escaped from captivity. Then, again, on the other hand, we find this species in the African and Canary lists.

Corvus corone, occurs perhaps once in two years this bird appears in the lists of African specimens as well as in those of Spain, but not in those of the Canary islands.

Corvus frugilegus, of which I have lately received three fine specimens from Madeira shot in June of last year by a friend, does not appear in Berthelot’s list of the birds of the Canaries, altho C. monedula does occur in Teneriffe, which bird has never, to my knowledge, been found in Madeira.

Oriolus galbula, is of not unfrequent occurrence.

Sternus vulgaris, appears in flights of 5 or 6 together after or during strong easterly wind (I omitted to observe that Oriolus galbula is not mentioned in Berthelot’s list!)

Turdus iliacus & musicus are both rare visitants They may be found perhaps once in two years. This is the more curious as the T. merula is very plentifully found in the island.

Sylvia hortensis, I never heard of but one specimen of this bird being shot in Madeira, I did not see the specimen, and as the bird does not appear in either the African or Canary lists, its advent to Madeira must be considered remarkable. (If my authority is as correct in his information as he is positive)

Troglodytes Europæus, has occurred in Madeira, on the Authority of the Revd. R. T. Lowe; it is found in the African lists, but not in those of the Canary islands. I never heard of but one specimen being found in Madeira, & I did not myself see that specimen.

Motacilla alba, occurs, according to my information once in every two or three years, it is included in the lists of the Canary islands.

Alauda arvensis, has been found in Madeira, I have no data for determining how often.

Fringilla chloris, may be found some two or three times a year in Madeira; this bird is not mentioned in the lists of the Canary I.!

F. domestica which has been once (as far as I know) obtained in Madeira does not appear in the lists of the Canaries or of W. Africa. It is however not uncommon in parts of Spain.

Cuculus canorus, one or two specimens of this bird are generally shot in the course of the year in Madeira.

Musophaga Africana, has been found about once in 3 or 4 years; it does not appear in the lists of the Canary Islands.

Upupa epops, appears in flocks every year, at various times.

Merops apiaster, of this bird perhaps on an average one specimen is obtained in the Course of the year.

Alcedo ispida, two or three specimens are generally taken during the year.

Hirundo urbica, one specimen may perhaps be obtained of this bird in Madeira during the course of the year. It does not appear in Berthelot’s list.

H. rustica, two or three specimens a year is the utmost that the most attentive observer has remarked, tho’ it is more frequently seen in Madeira than the H. urbica.

H. riparia. I once saw one of these birds in Madeira, and tradition goes that another had once been seen, at any rate its occurrence is very rare, and it is not known in the Canaries.

Caprimulgus Europeus, is obtained at the average of one a year, perhaps hardly so frequently.

Columba Œnas, is of rare occurrence, I only saw one specimen when I was in Madeira. It does not appear in the lists of the Canary islands.

C. turtur, occurs once or twice a year in Madeira I have seen it blown on board ship at a lat: of about 2^o. north of Madeira in the month of May— And once we had contemporaneously a flight of Hirundo rustica, which fell like rain in a state of complete exhaustion on the deck and about the rigging of our ship; in the same lat:

Œdicnemus crepitans, occurs about once in two years.

Calidris arenaria, I never saw in Madeira, but I understand it is found every two or three years there.

Vanellus cristatus, is found in parties of 2 & 3 about every other year, at most,

Charadrius hiaticula, so common in Africa and S. Spain, has only (to my knowledge) occurred once in Madeira, and has never been noted in the Canary isles.

C. pluvialis, occurs after the same fashion as C. cristatus.

Strepsilas interpres, has occurred in Madeira and that is all I know about it.

Ardea Nigra, has also occurred, but I sh^d. imagine it is very rare.

Ardea Cinera, perhaps 6 or 7 specimens on average appear in Madeira in the course of the year—

A. ralloides, makes it appearance about once in two or three years, at most.

A. russata, is of still rarer occurrence, and does not appear in the lists of the Canaries.

A. purpurea, is shot about once in two years; it is curious that this bird sh^d. not find its way to the Canary islands!

A. minuta, must be very rare.

A. Stellaris. one or two a year.

A. nycticorax. Not an uncommon visitant Several in the course of the year.

Platalea leucorodia, about once in 4 years

Limosa melanura, about once a year.

Numenius arquata, two or three a year; this bird does not occur in the lists of the birds from the Canaries.

N. phæopus, found most years, but not so frequently as the N. arquata.

Tringa pugnax, I saw two females, I never heard of any others in Madeira, nor did I hear of the male bird of that species being found there.

T. subarquata, I am informed is found in Madeira once in every two or three years.

T. variabilis, I found twice in Madeira, I could obtain no further information concerning it.

T. cinerea, I am told by M^r. Lowe has been seen in Madeira. T. variabilis is the only T. mentioned as occurring in the Canaries.

Totanus hypoleucos, is rare, occurring once in 3 or 4 years.

T. Glottis, is more common, appearing on an average once in two years; it does not appear in the lists of the Canary islands.

Scolopax gallinago, is shot three or four times in the course of year;

S. major appears in about the same numbers as the common Snipe.

Crex Baillonii, occurs once in three or four years. neither this, nor the former bird are recorded by Webb & Berthelot.

C. pratensis, is said to occur once in two or three years.

Porhpyrio allenia, the specimen I obtained of this bird was very young; I never heard of any other being found in Madeira

Gallinula chloropus, is found every year in more or less abundance.

Fulica atra, the same may be said of this bird.

Anser segetum, is shot most years in Madeira, it appears in companies.

Marecea Penelope, I never saw in Madeira, & have only the record of one having been shot there.

Anas crecca, appears in about the same numbers as Anser segetum.

A. boschas, I have only certain information of one having been killed in Madeira.

Sterna nigra, M^r. Lowe once saw one of these birds.

S. Dougalli, appears in my list on the authority of Sir W. Jardine.⁹

Larus tridactylus, is not uncommon in Madeira It may possible breed there, but of that I have no certain evidence.

L. cataractes, is found about once in two years— As you have, doubtless, Webb & Berthelots book,¹⁰ there is no use my remarking further upon which birds do or do not occur in the Canary islands; but, considering the propinquity of the two groups to each other, the comparison is curious.

Colymbus glacialis, the specimen I saw was a young bird, it was killed in an exhausted state; I never heard of another being taken in Madeira, wh: is far out of his accustomed beat.

Sula Alba, was once obtained by M^r. Lowe.

Procellaria mollis, I never heard of but three specimens of this bird in Madeira.

P. Pacifica, and one specimen of this bird.

Prion brevirostris, I saw the one specimen named by M^r. Gould, & exhibited by M^r. Yarrell at a meeting of the Zool: Society—¹¹ this constitutes my entire acquaintance with the bird.

Thalassidroma pelagica, finishes the list, and I never heard of but one specimen in Madeira.

I must now apologise for the length to which I have extended my explanations, but could not well make them shorter in answer to your questions.

I have no data to go upon wh: would enable me to answer the question “whether wanderers of the same species of birds which permanently inhabit the island are ever blown from the Continent to Madeira”. Of course, where the distance is only 250 miles, it is perfectly possible, and indeed probable.

In answer to your other question “Whether any regular migratory Birds inhabit Madeira?” Cypselus unicolor, C. murarius, & Scolopax rusticola, Breed in the island and always are found there.¹²

The variance of the recorded visits of different species of birds of the same genus to the Madeiras and the Canary islands, will doubtless strike you as very remarkable: as also, why many birds of the same genus should be distinguished from each other as frequent and infrequent yearly visitants at the same island.

I have now to the best of my power, answered the questions you put to me; I only hope the length of my answers have not tired you— For my part, it has given me great pleasure to have had an opportunity of thus making acquaintance with one whose name is so well known to all loves of Natural History.

Believe me, dear Sir, | Y^rs. faithfully, | Edward Vernon Harcourt.

Hastings | May 31. | 1856.