CORRESPONDENCE. 159 
was struck with the close resemblance between the lower part of the 
Pebidian and the ashy slates and hialleflintas of Lilleshall Hill. These 
Lilleshall rocks I have also detected on the flanks of the Malvern Hills. 
Thus light begins to dawn upon the obscurity which has hitherto 
enveloped these ancient and difficult rocks. This is the first announce- 
ment of the discovery of a second series in Salop, but I must not do more 
than state the bare fact at present.—C. Cannaway. 
Brack Banp iy tHE Drirr.—t hope Mr. Atkins will examine care- 
fully the black band referred to in last month’s notes. A similar band 
was described by the late Dr. Ick, Curator of the Birmingham Philo- 
sophical Institution, as occurring at Saltley. Several horns were found 
in the deposit, and also nuts of the common hazel. It would seem likely 
that organic remains should be found in the bed Mr. Atkins describes.— 
C. J. Woopwarp. 
Notes on OrnitHotocy.—Whatever may be the effect of severe 
weather upon the arrival of our Spring migrants on our shores, it certainly 
causes them to put in an appearance in the Midland Counties at a later 
date than usual. Thus, nearly all the dates below mentioned are later, and 
some of them markedly so than in former years. The Chiffchaff and Black- 
cap, mentioned in my last notes, were observed later than for three years. 
The Sand Martin’s arrival is the latest record I have by nine days. The 
Swallow, House Martin, Willow Wren, and Cuckoo were all late, whilst 
the Nightingale has been heard on an earlier date for seven consecutive 
years past. At the time I write (May 12th) the Swifts have not yet arrived. 
I have thirteen arrivals to chronicle, viz. :— 
April 11.—Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca.) 
» 17.—Swallow (Hirundo rustica.) 
», 21.—Willow Wren (Sylvia trochilus.) 
» 25.—Sand Martin (Hirundo riparia.) 
» 25.—Nightingale (Philomela Luscinia.) 
», 26.—House Martin (Hirundo urbica.) 
» 29.—Common Whitethroat (Sylvia cinerea. ) 
» 80.—Tree Pipit (Anthus arboreus.) 
» 380.—Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus.) 
May 1.—Garden Warbler (Sylvia hortensis.) 
“t 4.—Wood Wren (Sylvia sibilatriz.) 
< 6.—Grasshopper Warbler (Avicula locustella. ) 
xs 8.—Sedge Warbler (Salicaria Phragmitis.) 
Several others are overdue, and are probably here, but I have failed to 
observe them. Two small flocks of Fieldfares were seen passing on 
April 12th, others on 19th, and the last party on 22nd. A nest of Black- 
birds was hatched off on April 15th, but the young brood succumbed to 
the severity of the weather. Rooks were hatched on April 20th. A 
friend writes me that she heard the Nightingale in Derbyshire on 
April 17th. In the last number of the ‘“‘ Midland Naturalist,” a corres- 
pondent in North Notts notes the advent of a doubtful migrant, either 
Sylvia rufa or S. trochilus. From the date given, April 5th, it was 
probably the former, but, as the birds themselves are so easily distinguished, 
and their notes are so different, there ought te be no doubt as to which 
it was. I shall be very glad to compare my dates with those of any other 
observers in the county of Leicester if they will correspond with me.— 
Tuomas Macaunay, M.R.C.S.L., &c., Kibworth. 
OrnitHoLocicaL Nores rrom Drrsy.—A birdstuffer here, a short 
time since, showed me a Dipper, (Cinclus aquaticus,) which he said had 
been shot in Christmas week, on a small brook near the Workhouse. 
That interesting pile is just on the outskirts of the town, and the brook 
is a small stream running through the red marl, and averaging in width 
