OBSERTED IX HERTS IX 1892. 1G7 



Its winter quarters arc " Xortheni Africa and Palestine," but speoi- 

 niens Inive l)een obtained innn Xatal and Soutb-Avost Africa.* We 

 8ball be able to show that, in some instances at least, some of our 

 little friends obtain a kindly lift on their toilsome way. In his 

 ' Sylvan Folk,' Jolm Watson savs : " Dr. Sennep seriously asserts 

 that numbers of small birds annually hud tlieir way into Palestine, 

 licinii' borne by cranes ovcu- mountains and seas, which, without 

 their aid, it would be difficult to cross. Mr. J. E. Harting quotes 

 this statement, and adds that in tlic autumn flocks of cranes are 

 seen coming from the north with the first cold blast from that 

 quartei", flying low, and uttering peculiar cries as they circle over 

 the cultivated plains. Little birds of different species may be seen 

 flying up to them ; while the twittering of those already comfort- 

 ably settled upon their backs is distinctly heard Professor 



Claypole. although extremely incredulous at first, had ocular demon- 

 stration that small birds are sometimes carried by a flock of cranes, 

 for he saw the former rise from among them at the cHscharge of 

 a flint-lock. The same gentleman is satisfied, too, that wagtails 

 and other small migrants cross over from Europe on their southward 

 migration in a similar manner." Watson also says that Heden- 

 burg, the Swedish traveller, "was staying at Ehodes in autumn, 

 and at that season the storks came in flocks over the sea. Whilst 

 watching these he often heard the notes of small birds ; and on 

 one occasion he saw several come off the storks' backs." And, 

 as another instance, that "Dr. Kae, the Arctic traveller, had the 

 as.'jertion of the Cree Indians that a small passerine bird regularly 

 availed itself of the migration of the Canada goose to get a lift on 

 its long journey, and that these little wanderers are freqizently 

 seen to fly off the backs of the geese, when the latter are shot, or 

 a gun is fired." 



Summer Migrants. 



Species. Locality. Date. Observer. 



NiGHTi>rGALE Hitrliiii April 4 J. E. liittle. 



{Baulias luscinia) St. Albans ,, 10 H. L. & J. L.t 



8t. Albans ,, 17 U- IT L + 



Harpenrlen ,, 22 J. J. Willis. 



Whitethroat St. Albaus May 1 H. L. 



{Si/lva cinered) 



Blackcap St. Albans April 24 H. L. 



[Sijlvia atricapiUa) 



Chiff-Chaff St. Albans Mar. 30 H. L. & J. L. 



[Phi/llo-scopHs rufi(s) 



Willow-Warbler Oaklauds, St. 



{Fhyllosropiis trochilus) Albaus April 6 H. L. 



Sedge- Warbler St. Albans May 1 11. L. 



[Acroreplialns phragmitis) 



GR.vssHorpER-WAKBLER HarpondcR April 25 G. Cartmel. 



[Locmtvlla ncevia) St. Albans ,, 26 J. Hopkiuson. 



* See ' Our Summer Migrants,' by J. E. Ilartintr, pp. 2G and 27. 

 t Heard the curr several times, but did not see the bird or hear it sing. 

 + Bird in song. 



