Dates of Appearance of the Woodcock inland. 61.1 



very little in the day to what other cats do. Is this owing to 

 the peculiar colour of their eyes permitting them to endure 

 for a longer time than cats of ordinary colour the light of 

 day ? If not, to what is it ascribable ? — James Fennell. 



Birds. — Every season brings with it peculiar pleasures. 

 Grieve not that the wild rose has departed like a sweet thought; 

 droop not that the woodbine sounds not its bugle with per- 

 fumed breath ; sorrow not that the song of the nightingale has 

 ceased, that its beautiful "jug — -jug," its thrilling swell, its 

 matchless strain, flow not now from its melodious throat; 

 sorrow not that the thrush has ceased its song, that the wild 

 shout of the blackbird is more rarely heard, and that the 

 paean of the lark is not now poured to the rising and the 

 setting sun. The gates to other enjoyments are opened hour 

 by hour, and day by day. Here sweeps across the wheat 

 lands, then poising in mid air, the tyrant hawk, yet gladden- 

 ing the sight with its graceful motions ; but, disappointed in 

 its expected prey, hurrying like a coward to a weaker or less 

 cautious victim, and presenting a striking contrast to the 

 heavy flight of the fisher heron. Wandering in the woods, 

 the eye is greeted with the sight of a host of wild pigeons ; 

 yet, cautious of the approach of man, they hurry on the wing, 

 making the wood resound with the noise of their boisterous 

 uprising. On the hedge-row trees the starlings are screaming 

 and preening themselves in the sun ; while the fieldfares, 

 and their congener the redwing, are exulting and commin- 

 gling in the most harmonious manner, yet timid and wary of 

 the approach of the stranger. These, with several others, as 

 well as the numerous water-birds of winter, afford a delight- 

 ful source of amusement and instruction to the ornithologist. 

 (Do)icaster, Nottingham, and Lincoln Gazette, Feb. 6. 1835; 

 in an able pleasing communication, entitled " Notes on the 

 Season, No. VIII.," and given as appropriate to January : the 

 part quoted above is not inapt to November also.) 



[Date of the Appearance of the Woodcock in Inland Loca- 

 lities.'] — Yesterday (Oct. 6. 1833) I accidentally put up a 

 woodcock while walking in a little plantation near the house ; 

 this is early for their appearance in this part of the country. 

 Woodcocks are always frst found in little plantations and 

 odd places, before they take to the great woods. I have be- 

 tween 40 and 50 acres of wood on the further side of the 

 parish, a very favourite resort of these birds ; but, were you 

 to beat the whole wood at this time, I dare answer for it, you 

 would not find a single cock. I have often seen a cock in 

 the small plantations about home, considerably earlier than 

 they are to be met with in the large woods ; and the like is 



