FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 237 

 NOTES ON RARE AND OTHER BIRDS IN 1899. 



Very little has been recorded of interest. The few notes sent 

 in are given below. No rare birds appear to have been observed 

 this year. 



LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopus minor}. Was 

 often heard and seen in Corfe Castle Rectory grounds all 

 through the spring and early summer, and most probably nested 

 there. (E. R. B.) 



WRYNECK (lynx Torqm'lla). Much commoner at Corfe 

 Castle than they have been for many years past. (E. R. B.) 

 Nested at Osmington this year. (E. J. B.) 



CUCKOO (Cuculus canorus}. Noticeably scarcer than I have 

 ever known them before, and the same was remarked to be the 

 case in other counties as well, and presumably it was the case 

 pretty generally throughout England. (E. R. B.) 



NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus europ&us}. Much scarcer than I ever 

 remember them. (E. R. B., Corfe Castle.) 



SWIFT (Cypselus apus). Numbers of swifts were seen on 

 June i passing over the heath from Bound Pond to Sturdy's 

 Lodge, from S.W. to N.E. (O. P. C., Bloxworth.) 



vYiLD DUCK (Anas boscai). Owing to the mildness of the 

 winter our wild ducks and muscovy ducks began to lay in 

 January, 1899, a very early date for them. (E. S. R., Chard.) 



STORMY PETREL (Procellan'a pelagica]. One was picked up 

 dead near to the S.W.R., about 3 miles W. of Chard Junction 

 station in September, evidently blown inland by the S.W. gales 

 that prevailed about that time. (E. S. R.) 



NUTHATCH (Sitta cccsia]. One observed collecting small 

 acorns to store in January. (G. H., Bere Regis.) 



BULLFINCH (Pyrrhula europcca}. A white variety seen on 

 several occasions. (G. H., Bere Regis.) 



SAND-MARTIN (Cot He ripan'a.}. Many seen at a sand pit on 

 April 3rd, a warm day. On the weather becoming colder they 

 disappeared, but a quantity were seen again on April 20. 

 (G. H., Bere Regis.) 



