FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 261 



ROOK (Corvus frugilegus, L.). Several nests with young 

 blown down on the night of May i. I believe that one nest was 

 rebuilt and another brood reared, for the last of the young rooks 

 took flight on June 8 (J. R.). (Morris gives the date at which 

 the young are fledged as the end of May or the beginning of 

 June) (N. M. R.). 



HOUSE MARTIN (Chelidon urlica, L.). Seen at Ware ham on 

 April 20 (E. R. B.). 



CUCKOO (Cuculus canorus, L.). About the beginning of 

 August a young cuckoo came close to the windows to be fed by 

 a pair of wagtails, and very often shared the crumbs spread 

 regularly for birds an unusual diet ! (J. R.). 



KINGFISHER (Alcedo ispida, L.). One dashed against a large 

 window. I believe it mistook the gleam on it and the reflected 

 foliage for water (J. R.). 



GREEN WOODPECKER (Gecinus viridis, L.). Heard " laugh- 

 ing" on February 6 (E. R. B.). 



LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopus minor, L.). 

 Seen on February 8, and frequently seen and heard since ( J. R.). 



This can hardly be called a rare bird in this locality ; I have 

 seen it here on many occasions and several times this spring 

 (Rev. R. C. Maunsell, Symondsbury Rectory). 



WOODPIGEON (Columba palumbus, L.). Heard cooing on 

 January 25 and following days (E. R. B.)- 



AVOCET (Recurvirostra avocetta, L.) One was killed at Seaton 

 this autumn (E. S. R.). 



WOODCOCK (Scolopax rusticula, L.). A nest was found in the 

 spring at Bere Regis by Major Palmes, who resides there 

 (E. R. B.). 



LITTLE GULL (Laws minutus, Pallas). In Poole Harbour 

 January 17 (G. R. P.). 



BUFFON'S SKUA (Lestris Buffonii, Boie). During the summer 

 I saw an adult Buffon's Skua near the breakwater on S. Haven 

 Point, Studland Bay, but omitted to record the date (G. R. P.) 

 This species is not included in Mansel-Pleydell's "Birds of 

 Dorsetshire," and appears to be new to the county (N. M. R.). 



