mth incidental Remarks. SS9 



above-mentioned vicinity. Many species which are always 

 common, as the blackcap and the tree pipit, are now more 

 than usually abundant; whilst others, which in general are 

 here comparatively rare, as the redstart, and the grasshopper 

 warbler, are this season far from being so. Perhaps this 

 may be in some degree attributable to the long continuance 

 of fine weather, during the period of migration; which is 

 assuming that, in general, many perish by the way; but, 

 unfortunately for this explanation, there is also a consi- 

 derable increase of several of our resident birds, especially 

 of buntings (Miliaria), green grosbeaks, and common linnets. 

 Owing to the unusual mildness of last winter, very few gold- 

 crests arrived from the north ; and these little birds, only, I 

 think, are now not quite so abundant here as they were last 

 summer. 



The first of the migratory species which made its appear- 

 ance here this season was the blackcap (Curruca Atricapilla), 

 three or four of which were seen about some privet bushes 

 on the 23d of March, and on several following days, sub- 

 sisting on the berries, and pouring forth their lively melody 

 from amid a clump of shrubs, then every morning thickly 

 incrusted with hoar frost. They did not become common 

 till April 2. or 3.* April 11. A blackcap was, this morning, 

 seen carrying in its bill materials for nidification. 



March 29th. On this day a meadow crake (or landrail, 

 Crex pratensis) alighted on board the Farquharson, East 

 Indiaman (as I was informed by a relation, one of the passen- 

 gers), as she was nearing the English coast. These birds 

 are not common in this neighbourhood, and I did not hear 

 their cry until the 13th of April. I heard them again on 

 the 16th. 



Ajrril 2d. I was informed by a birdcatcher, on whom I 

 think I can depend, that he had just seen a redstart. Though 

 I frequently examined their haunts, I did not myself notice 

 one for some time afterwards. Could this have been Phoeni- 

 curus Tithys ? 



Wheatears are, here, rather rare, and the first I saw was 

 on the 3d of April. They were, doubtless, in the country 

 at least a fortnight before. 



4th. This morning a solitary swallow (Zfirundo rustica) 

 was seen, and bank martins [H. riparia) were plentiful about 

 the river Wandle. These last had been over some days.f 



[* The summer birds ar€ now arriving. The blackcap has been warbling 

 sweetly to-day. — J, G. Lexdeiiy near Colchester y 3d of 4th mo. [April 3], 

 1834.] 



If Sand martins appeared on March 15., at Dorking, Surrey; and at 



z 2 



