BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT. 807 
Order PICARIZ. 
** Cypselus apus. SwirFrt. 
“ An abundant summer visitor.” (Br. p. 9.) At Chester it 
arrives during the first week of May. On May roth, 1890, I 
came suddenly upon a pair of Swifts on the ground on the 
foot pavement of King Street, screaming loudly and apparently 
in conflict. After a few seconds they took flight ; one appeared 
to rise at once from the curb stone, the other had more difficulty, 
and following the slight downward incline of the street, was 
heard to beat the pavement eight or ten times with strokes of its 
wings before it could rise clear. 
I have also seen a Swift settle upon the perpendicular wall of 
our house, under shelter of a spout, and remain there for two 
hours during a heavy shower of rain. 
[Cypselus melba. ALPINE SwIFT. 
Mr. ByeRLEY mentions, on the authority of Mr. Marner, 
Taxidermist, that one was killed at the mouth of the Dee, many 
years ago, by — Mostyn, Esa. (Fauna of Liverpool, 1854, p. 16.)] 
* Caprimulgus europzeus. NIGHTJAR 
“ An abundant summer visitor to the fir woods of Bidston, 
Storeton, Ness, and Burton, also to the open heath of Bidston 
Hill.” (Br. p. 10.) Its nesting on Bidston Hill in 1886 is 
described in “ Research”? (Aug., 1888, p. 28.) An egg in the 
Grosvenor Museum was obtained from the same locality in 1893. 
Mr. SHARP obtained a pair of eggs at Burton last year also. 
Ecroyp SmitH mentions Caldy Hill and Thurstaston as other 
localities in Wirral where it breeds. 
It is also a fairly common species in other suitable parts of the 
district—Delamere Forest, Little Budworth Common [A.P.W. ] 
Edge, where it breeds on the heather hills, and where it 
occasionally frequents woods [C.W.D.]; Helsby Hill ay 
(Spec. Coll. G.M., Aug., 1884); and in Wales, Abergele [J.H.], 
Colwyn Bay [A.O.W.], Llandyrnog [J.B.], Maesmor [W.].K. ], 
and Mr. Ruppy’s district, where he has observed it catching 
the Ghost Hawk Moths in the evening. 
Iynx torquilla. Wrvneckx. 
A summer visitor of very rare occurrence A pair nested in 
the trunk of an old Poplar at Oakmere, about the year 1884. 
The female and seven eggs were taken, and the eggs given to 
the (then) head keeper at Vale Royal [R.N.] “Heard near 
Mostyn in spring, 1861; V. GosrorD.” [A. Dicx. | 
Mr. W. H. Hearon, of Reigate, where the bird is plentiful, 
writes—‘‘ I am quite certain about having frequently heard the 
note of the Wryneck at Plas Heaton, near Denbigh, at various 
