Trmiiinctions. 119 



have a fair memory. Last week a bit of bread fell at my feet, 

 which had been accidentally dropped by a passing Rook. I stood 

 near the bread for some time to see whether the bird would 

 remember to return for it, which it did directly on my leaving. 

 The Jackdaw is common, but few nest. The Magpie is not often 

 seen. On one occasion I heard a hare screaming piteously, and 

 a short search proved the cause of it to be that it was attacked 

 by two Magpies. The hare, which was scarcely half-grown, was 

 released, but its screams were soon heard again, and doubtless 

 the birds in the end had a meal of it. It was considerably torn 

 on both sides of the head. The Cuckoo is common. I liave 

 twice seen its egg. The first time it was in a Tree Pipit's nest, 

 and shortly after the eggs were hatched the young Pipits were 

 found turned out. They were replaced, but next day were out 

 again, and all dead. The second time it was in the nest of a 

 Yellow Hammer, but the lawful occupants were not turned out as 

 on the former occasion. This is not so surprising when it is known 

 that that cuckoo egg is now on the table before you. The follow- 

 ing are the dates on which the Cuckoo arrived for the last ten 

 years :— 1876, April 30th; 1877, April 28th; 1878, May 1st; 

 1879, April 29th; 1880, May 5th ; 1881, May 3d; 1882, April 

 23d; 1883, April 21st; 1884, May 7th; 1885, April 27th. 

 There is a difference of IG days between its earliest arrival in 

 1883 and its latest in 1884.' It, like all other migrants, arrives 

 during the night. Both the Sioallow and House Martin are 

 common. This year the Martins, from the same cause probably 

 that affected the Chaffinches, left, for a week or ten days, the 

 morning after their arrival. The Wood Pigeon is not numerous, 

 still met with in all tlie woods. The nest of the Stock 

 Dove was once observed, some years ago, under an overhanging 

 bank. Tlie Pheasant, Black Grouse, and Red Grouse are all 

 plentiful. The Partridge is common. The Golden Plover, 

 whose nest, partly from the cunning of the bird and partly 

 from the colour of the eggs, is so very difficult to find, is met 

 with on all the lulls. The Lapwing is common, but not numerous. 

 Two years ago a Lapwing was observed attacking a sheep that 

 had come near its nest, at first by standing as erect as possible 

 and flapping its wings in the sheep's face, then by rising on 

 the wing and making repeated dashes at its head, finally causing 

 the astonished sheep to beat a retreat. A few pairs of the Common 

 SanJpiper nest regularly on the upper readies of the Shinnell^ 



