194 A FOURTH MEDLEY. 



village of Sunnyhill, on the verge of Bagshot Heath, the extensive fir 

 plantations which are found in that locality, forming, probably, the chief 

 attraction. Unfortunately the nest was taken and brought to me, but I 

 should much have preferred being a witness of the old bird sitting upon 

 it; however I have no reason to doubt the assertion, more particularly as the 

 eggs differed from any that I was familiar with. They were six in number, 

 larger than a Eedbreast's, but of somewhat the same colour, although 

 lighter, and more broadly blotched. The shape also was less tapering. 

 The nest was composed of roots, a little wool and moss, and very loosely 

 constructed, and was placed in the head of an old pollard ash, very much 

 in the same manner as the Grosbeaks which I have mentioned. Now Cross- 

 bills are much more common visitants, as they appear in all seasons, but 

 chiefly in deep winter and high summer. 



A third instance I remember was of the Great Snipe, (Scolopaw major,) 

 which for two successive years had a nest, with four eggs, in the bog 

 which lies beneath Ascot Heath race-course to the south. An old man, 

 who worked for us, told me of it, and I went with him and examined 

 the eggs, which after-experience taught me to learn the nature and value 

 of, but at the time I was a lover of nature, not a specimen collector, 

 and enjoyed a silent pleasure in the contemplation, without desiring to 

 adopt and preserve the object. The bird was certainly very large, and 

 light coloured, and the eggs much larger than those of the Whole or 

 Common Snipe, many of which breed every summer in these same morasses, 

 and are of a lighter brown. 



Lincoln s-Inn-Fields, Londo?t, March, 1852. 



A FOURTH MEDLEY. 



BY W. 



Barred-tailed Godwit, {Limosa rufa.) — In September, 1851, a pair 

 of these rare birds were shot besides a pond, at a place called Biaks, parish 

 of Gamrie, Banff. 



Sky Lark, (Alauda arvensis,) was heard in full song on 7th. February. 



Red-throated Diver, (Colymbus septentrionalis.) — A specimen of this bird, 

 rather rare in this quarter, was found entangled in the salmon nets near 

 Banff, about the beginning of March. A few years ago, was shot off Macduff, 

 a good way out at sea, a fine specimen of Colymbus glacialis. The Black- 

 throated Diver, {Colymbus arcticus,) is also occasionally found. The Red 

 and the Black-throated Divers are popularly known by the name of Loons. 



Corn Crake, (Crex pratensis.)— On returning, 17th. May, from a party 

 in Banff I was gratified with the voice of this bird. Mr. Edward told me 

 he heard it a few days before. 



