138 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



from the entrance of the nest. I believe I recognised two 

 young birds on this date, one being greyer at the side of the 

 cheek than the other. A parent bird came to the nest at 

 6.40 and at 6.52. At 7 the cock came, and at 7.7 the hen 

 \\ ith Mii.-ill insects (order ?). At 7.9 the cock brought further 

 small insects (order ?). At 7.14 and 7.17 the hen fed the 

 young, and at 7.20 the cock ; after this I had to leave. 



On June 28 the nest was empty, but E.H.C. saw one of 

 the young on this date as it caine to feed near his tent 

 and finally blundered into the side of the tent, and after that 

 sat upon a young aspen poplar forming part of the 

 " decorations " to E.H.C. 's tent (see under G. viridis). W.P.C. 

 Cuculus canorus (The Cuckoo). 



One at Wareham 13 April. A second at Worgrett near 

 Wareham on 25th April. Heard for the first time at Canford, 

 April 26. One only heard at Canford May 3. This bird was 

 very scarce according to our experience. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 

 Micropus apus (The Swift). 



April 29 W.P.C. counted 18 at Poole. April 30 E.H.C. 

 counted eight, so apparently some had moved further on. 



July 3. There were 30 or 40 feeding over the Freshwater 

 Lake at Poole, but we were not entirely satisfied that this 

 represented a downward movement, as they were still present 

 in customary numbers at Littlesea on July 26. 



On August 22. One only was seen at Swanage, so evidently 

 the main body had left the country. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.) 

 Htrix ftammea (The Barn Owl). 



March 8 one found shot near a barn outside Berewood, in 

 close proximity to (a) hen's eggs that had been sucked by a 

 rat and (b) a rat trap set in a bank. Altogether, a nice 

 example of bucolic prejudice and stupidity, and of the way 

 not to do things. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.) 

 Circus cyaneus (The Hen Harrier). 



We had a good sight of a hen bird of this species on 22nd 

 March at Woodbury Hill. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.) 

 Circus pyargus (The Montagu's Harrier.) 



18th April one seen at Canford (W.P.C. and E.H.C.) 



