LETTERS OF AN ORNITHOLOGIST. 213 



and commended by him to the serious attention of his fair unmarried 

 countrywomen; and it is a lesson exceedingly wholesome^ and one by which 

 they might largely profit withal. 



It may not be altogether out of place, here to record a circumstance which 

 I think must generally be considered as very extraordinary, and which, as 

 far as my experience goas, is wholly unprecedented; namely, that within the 

 narrow limits of these two counties, Oxon, and Bucks., incubation was going on, 

 and nests and eggs might have been obtained throughout every month of the 

 year 1849, with the exception of the last; for before the end of January, 

 the Redbreast, (Erythaca rubecula,) had built its nest, laid its eggs, and was 

 found ^sitting' on them at Weston Turville, near Aylesbury. 



On the 27th. of February, I found the nest of the Song Thrush, {Turdus 

 musicus,) with eggs, in the grounds of my brother's residence, Terrick House, 

 near Wendover. 



In March, and throughout the spring and early part of summer, there was, 

 of course, no lack of eggs of various kinds. 



In July and August, I observed the Common Greenfinch, (Coccothraustes 

 cliloris,) amongst the evergreens on the lawn of Terrick House, steadily 

 persisting in its attempts to bring out a final brood. 



In September, the House Martin, (Ilirundo urhica,) had eggs; and in 

 October and November, the Ring-Dove and Rook were '^sitting.' 



Brighihampton, near Witney, Oxon., June \2>th., 18C3. 



LETTERS OF AN ORNITHOLOGIST. 



( Con tin ued from page 1 88 . ^ 



LETTER VII. 



lona, September, 1852. 



A PAIR of Eider Ducks and a pair of Shieldrakes have successfully reared 

 their broods upon Soay Island, and have gone off with their families unmolested. 

 Another Shieldrake's nest was discovered upon one of the Treshinish Isles by 

 a youth connected with the fishery, and while he was handling the eggs he 

 observed another hole at the back of the Shieldrake's nest, and discovered 

 within it a Shearwater, (PuJ/inus Anglorum,) sitting upon her egg. 



On the 6th. of this month, when on a visit to Staffa, we shot a number 

 of Guillemots and Razor-bills; they were mostly birds of the year, and among 

 them was one young Bridled Guillemot, ( Uria lachrymans,) though in immature 

 plumage, the white line round the eye was quite distinctly marked, but the 

 bird was too much injured to preserve. We took away a pair of young 

 Rock Doves, (Golumha livia,) from Soay, intending to rear them by hand, as 

 we have often done before; but it happened that a pair of Tame Pigeons had 

 just had their young taken by a cat; and of their own accord the bereaved 

 parents immediately took to the two orphans, and brought them up. 



