FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS. ETC. 241 



towards the downs a mile off. Its flight was somewhat 

 similar to that of a Fieldfare. (F. G. L. M.) 



STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris, L.). A pair of starlings had 

 a nest at Pulham in the latter part of May in the bottom of a 

 large clump of rooks' nests, and were constantly visiting it 

 whilst the rooks were busy above. (J. R.) 



LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopus minor, L.). 

 Seen occasionally at Pulham. Green woodpeckers are often 

 on the lawn and Kingfishers are frequent. (J. R.) 



VARIOUS BIRDS. In one day's shooting at Chaff combe Pond 

 (or Chard Reservoir), 70 acres in area, 1J miles from Chard- 

 stock House, several wild duck, a few pheasants, 5 or 6 teal, 

 12 widgeon, 3 pochards, 1 shoveller duck, and some snipe, 

 coot, and moorhens were shot in November. (E. S. R.) 



GENERAL NOTES. 



Rev. A. E. Eaton confirms the record of the occurrence of 

 Dipsacus pilosus, L., between Melplash and Beaminster, 

 given at p. 146 of Mansel-Pley dell's " Flora of Dorsetshire," 

 1895. (A. E. E.) 



DORCHESTER. The month of January, 1910, was the 

 warmest on record, so the newspapers stated, and a very wot 

 month. We had pansies, primroses, &c., out the whole 

 month in our garden. A queen wasp was out on Jan. 4, and 

 another a few days later. (S. E. V. F.) 



PULHAM. Snow on Jan. 12, 24, 27, 28, Feb. 23, Mar. 18. 

 Thunder, Jan. 28, May 12, 22, June 6 (heavy), 7, 8, 9, 10, 

 July 3, Aug. 15. I cannot remember such a long succession 

 of thunderstorms as those in June. I saw the comet (1910A) 



