Xll INTRODUCTORY. 



The Ked-legged Partridge, Caccahis rnfa (L.), was 

 turned down at E afford in some numbers by the late 

 Sir Thomas Hesketh, about thirty years ago, and by the 

 present baronet in 1879, but all have disappeared. 



The Virginian Colin, Orfi/x vi)r/iniaiiiis (L.), was intro- 

 duced by Lord Lilford on the Bank Hall estate, and 500 

 pairs turned out in the latter part of December, 1874. 

 Gradually the birds have disappeared, and now there is 

 scarcely one left. A good deal of snow was on the 

 ground at the time, but the birds seemed to do well 

 until the breeding-season, when their clear whistle 

 might be heard all over the moss. They were very 

 jealous of any interference with their nests, many of 

 which were found forsaken. Mr. E. J. Howard, who has 

 procured me this information, says that it is supposed 

 the disturbance caused by farm labourers and others 

 crossing the country prevented their thriving ; and on 

 account of their pugnacity, they are also credited with the 

 present scarcity of the Common Quail in that locality. 



First and foremost of species which have been 

 recorded as having occurred in Lancashire, as I think, 

 on insufificient grounds, comes the Nightingale Daulias, 

 liiscinia (L.). In Cheshire, I believe, there is no doubt 

 of its occasional presence, l>ut in Lancashire I do not 

 find any evidence worth a moment's attention, except 

 that provided l)y Mr. E. Standen, of Goosnargh, in the 

 Field NaturaUst and Seioitifi.c Student, part 2, Man- 

 chester, 188'2-83. This gentleman therein states, and 

 has amplified the matter in correspondence with myself, 

 that in 1864 or 1865, in June, he heard the Nightingale 

 singing at Samlesbury. and in June, 1871, at Whitting- 

 ham Hall. On the latter occasion he says that he saw 

 the bird twice, and that it sang for nearly a fortnight, 

 when it was probably driven away by attempts of village 



