8 SUMMER BIRDS AROUT BARNgLElf. 



This is as mortifying as to read in the naturalist journals of the occurrence 

 of some rare and beauteous bird, and, in nine cases out of ten, to read in 

 the next line that it was shot or captured, sometimes with the editorial comment 

 as to the party being fortunate enough to observe and secure such a prize. 

 How Worthier for scientific authorities to encourage the preservation of such 

 diminishing rarities for the gratification of the many in their free natural state, 

 than to foster a spirit of self-appropriativeness, and sometimes a vain craving 

 for notoriety, in the few; this is a question they will have to take up, if they 

 have a true love for the object of their study. 



May 7th. — Observed in the Dearne meadows the Sand or Bank Martins in 

 numbers, chasing flies, in company with the House Martin, Swift, and Swallow. 



May 9th.-— A fall of snow occurred, covering the ground to the depth of from 

 ten inches to two or three feet, deepening westward; the rain-gauge on the post- 

 office roof, twenty-eight feet above the ground, indicated two inches of water. 



From May 10th. to IGth. — Took many walks in various directions, observing 

 the fearful effects of the snow-storm and flood on fields, trees, and the feathered 

 tribes. The ground-builders suffered greatly; even the bush and tree-builders 

 did not escape injury to their ingenious dwellings. The ravages of this spring 

 storm I have recorded at length in the public prints. Of the rarer birds 

 noticed in these rambles were the Long-tailed Tits, and their curious bag-like 

 nest ruined and desolate: of this family we have all except the Bearded and 

 Crested Tits. The Large Spotted Woodpecker was repeatedly seen in our vast 

 woods, which contain also the Lesser Spotted, and, more rarely, the Green 

 Woodpecker. The Nuthatch and Tree Creeper were seen abundant in Stainbro' 

 Park, which locality has the uncommon reputation of possessing in summer 

 the Pied Flycatcher, The Siskin I have seen thrice this season; not seen by 

 mo previously. Several Bullfinches, and, more rarely. Goldfinches I have seen, 

 but the bird-catchers soon rob us of this pleasure. The Snow Bunting, the 

 Brambling, and, very rarely, the Hawfinch occur. 



May loth. — I walked through Mottram and Low Cliff Wood, where the 

 long-expected honey-flowing note of the Garden Warbler was heard for the 

 first time this season, one week later than last year, completing my enumeration 

 of the arrivals of our summer Warblers. After much labour to reconcile book 

 with common names often loosely applied, I have ascertained this bird to be 

 identical with what the nesting boys call Small Straw, what I had long thought, 

 but, not having previously turned my attention to nests and eggs, had 

 not proved. When I asked what sort of song the Small Straw had, they 

 could not tell me — they only knew its slenderly-built nest. When I pointed 

 out the Garden Warbler, they called it a Peggy; on remarking its superior 

 mellow strain, they would say it was a Peggy with a better note than usual; 

 the same would be said of the more varied sprightly note of the Blackcap, 

 unless a sight was caught of his dark glossy head emerging from the thick 

 brake or leafy boughs in which he loves to ensconce himself. 



Barnsley, July, 1853. 



