254 THE BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE. 



winter, and for this reason they also will be omitted. I must also 

 erase from Harting's list, the Gray Wagtail (Motacilla boarula,) 

 because it is a winter and not a summer migrant. There is also a 

 considerable number of so-called summer migrants in Harting's book, 

 which, although no doubt migratory, and which, when observed in 

 this country, are only seen in summer, yet their advent is so rare 

 that I prefer to give them a place to themselves, under the head of 

 11 Eare and Occasional (Migratory) Summer Visitors." These are 

 fifteen in number, a list of which will be given at the close of this 

 paper, with attention to the few species among them which alone 

 have, so far as I know, been observed in this county. Further, there 

 will be found in my list five species which are not included in 

 Harting's, but which I think he would admit are true summer 

 migrants. These are the King-ouzel (Turdus torqnatus,) the Quail, 

 (Tetrao coturnix,) the Hobby (Falco subbuteo,) the Common Sandpiper 

 (Tringa hypoleucos,) and the Garganey (Alias circia.) Taking, 

 then, Harting's list as a basis, there will be found, after the deductions 

 and additions above-mentioned, that thirty-four species remain, 

 every one of which has been observed and noted, either by myself, 

 or by my esteemed friend, the Rev. A. Matthews. 



1. — First on the list, because almost invariably the first to arrive, is 

 the Chiff-chaff, (Sylvia rufa.) The earliest record I have of its 

 arrival is in 1880, when'it was heard on March 19th. The 

 average date would be March 25th. 



2. — The Black-cap (Sylvia atricapilla) follows closely on the heels of 

 the Chiff-chaff, usually arriving in the first week of April, and 

 on one occasion, in 1877, I heard its lovely song on March 24th. 



3. — The Willow Wren, (Sylvia trochilus,) always numerous, is first 

 heard and seen during the first three weeks of April. I have 

 found it as early as the 6th and as late as the 21st. 



4. — The Wheat-ear, (Saxicola cenanthe.) Scarcely a season passes 

 without my seeing one or more, but they are not common. 

 They come to us about the last week of March or the first 

 week of April. In 1880 I noticed them on March 25th, and 

 this year on April 15th. 



5. — The Swallow, (Hirundo rustica.) With what wonderful regularity 

 this bird appears year by year, will be seen by the fact that in 

 my notes, extending over many years, my earliest date is April 

 11th, and my latest April 18th. 



G. — The Martin, (Hirundo urbica.) Somewhat more uncertain than 

 the last-named, the Martin arrives in the last fortnight of 

 April. I have notes of its appearance from the 14th to the 

 30th. 



7. — The Sand Martin, (Hirundo riparia. ) Within a few yards of my 

 house is a Large sand pit, where numbers of these birds breed 

 every year, and as I never fail to visit it twice daily when on 

 the look out for their arrival, I am able to got the exact date. 

 This I have found to vary from the 10th to the 25th April. 

 They depart at the latter end of August. 



