148 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



I have this year sent out a good many new lists in the hope of 

 getting some fresh observers in parts of the county not now 

 represented. 



NOTES ON RARE AND OTHER BIRDS IN 1900. 



Rare birds seem to have deserted this county, or, at least, to 

 have escaped the notice of our observers, as nothing out of the 

 common has been recorded either in 1899 or 1900. 



The following notes on birds have been sent besides those 

 mentioned in the list of first appearances : 



CHIFF-CHAFF (Phylloscopus collylitd}. These were seen fairly 

 often in the garden at Montevideo, Chickerell, but rarely heard, 

 though in most years they are very noisy throughout the summer. 

 (N. M. R.) 



Rev. W. Hughes D'Aeth says " The absence of many small 

 birds and the scarcity of many others is noticeable. I have seen 

 only two Chiff-chaffs, of which we usually have several." (BuCK- 

 HORN WESTON.) 



GREATER SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopus major]. Mr. 

 Hibbs kept one under observation for about 15 minutes in Bere 

 Wood on May 4th. 



RED-BACKED SHRIKE (Lanius collurio}. First seen May 10 

 at Childe Okeford. (D. C.) 



PARTRIDGE (Perdix cinered]. Partridges paired Jan. 20. 

 (S. C.), SHERBORNE. 



Mr. Rodd writes : "After 28 years of careful observation at 

 Chardstock, Dorset, and the district around, I am delighted to 

 quote without doubt that the NIGHTINGALE, STOCK DOVE, and 

 TURTLE DOVE have all increased in the neighbourhood of late 

 years, where all breed freely and commonly. 



The NUTHATCH, usually a shy bird, has a nest in a hole of a 

 buttress of Chardstock House. Corncrakes have become very 

 scarce of late years." 



Mr. Creed writes: June 25, rode to West Bradley, Somerset; 

 saw a young cuckoo, heard a corncrake and goatsucker, and saw, 

 on return journey, glow-worms. 



