90 



I readily respond to the request in the "Notices to Correspondents" in 

 ^'The Naturalist" for this month, to be informed of the arrival of the Spring 

 migratory birds; a subject, to the lovers of Nature, of great and recurring 

 interest. 



The Swallow, {Hirundo nidica,) has been noticed this year to be a shade later 

 than usual. In the majority of ten years, it has been observed at this place 

 within a day, sooner or later, of the 11th. This year the first visible was 

 on the 14th., when, at nine, a.m., three were skimming over my pond. A 

 friend, resident at Brixham, on the coast of Torbay, to whom I had written, 

 informs me that a well-known ornithologist, residing there, and his two sons 

 remarked one on the 10th. which appeared to ^come over the sea.' On Friday 

 last, the 11th., Arthur Wakeham, of South Brent, one of the most elevated 

 parishes in the southern district of this county, saw a Swallow there, and on 

 the following day, a Woodcock. 



On the 8th., while travelling eastward by train to Exeter, I observed a 

 Bank Martin, (H. riparia,) near the Newton station. In my journey thence 

 to Exeter, on the banks of the beautiful Eiver Teign — ^from Teignmouth to 

 the mouth of the Exe, on the very margin of the shore, and thence, ou 

 the banks of the Exe, to the city, twenty of the most genial miles in 

 England, not an Hirundo presented itself. 



The season has been rather favourable than otherwise for the migration, 

 yet none of the friends, to whom I have written, have announced the arrival 

 of the vernal voyagers; but one, who resides at Exeter, informs me by this 

 morning's post, that "There are no Swallows yet." From this we may 

 reasonably infer that their arrival is not, like their departure, in flights, or 

 that they spread by simultaneous dispersion. 



The Chiff Chaff, {Sylvia hippolais,) is commonly heard here between the 

 2oth. and 29th. of March. Within the last ten years I have recognised his 

 first well-known notes twice on the 27th. of March, and once on the 29th., 

 precisely at the same spots in a wood adjoining my house. Though tolerably 

 vigilant when there this year, the welcome announcement escaped me till 

 the 4th. instant, when within ten minutes I heard it in two distant parts. 

 — J. C, Black Hall, Devon, April 15th., 1851. 



TABLE OF THE ARRIVAL, ETC, OF THE HIRUNDINES AND OTHER BIRDS; 

 KEPT AT MINEHEAD, SOMERSET, BY CAPTAIN GIFFORD. 



ARRIVAL. DEPARTURE. 



1849. 1850. 1851. 1849. 1850. 

 Swallow, (Hirundo rustica,) Apr.l4. Apr. 16. Apr. 13. Oct. 23. Aug. 6. 

 Martin, {Hirundo urhica,) Apr.26. May6&7. Apr.22. Do. Nov. 25. 



Swift, {Cypselus apm,) May 3, May 1. May 7. 



Cuckoo, {Guculus canorus,) Apr. 29. Apr. 25, Apr. 20. 



Nightingale, {Philomela luscinia, )M-dy 2. Apr. 22. x\pr, 20. 



