OCTOBER 1902. 



WE have had occasional visits of feathered migrants during 

 the month, but it is a matter of remark that each year sees a 

 decrease in the number of arrivals here. Probably the 

 increased number of lights on our coast accounts for this 

 diminution, some proving more attractive than ours. A few 

 years ago it was quite on the cards at this season of the 

 year thanks to the migratory instinct to have an additional 

 course at dinner, to which fieldfares, blackbirds, and redwings 

 were the voluntary contributors, and even at times the gamey 

 woodcock "graced the groaning board" for our "board," 

 being double-leaved and somewhat senile, does occasionally 

 groan, and this without reference to any superincumbent 

 strain. Amongst the more noteworthy of our captures here, 

 at various times, the following may be mentioned : A pere- 

 grine falcon, large horned owl, small brown owl, kestrels, 

 sparrow hawks, crows, cormorants, corn-crakes, and a turtle 

 dove. Birds generally arrive here in a fagged condition, and 

 are easily captured. As an instance, a kestrel landed on 

 our balcony railing during fog, and, despite the explosions 

 of our fog-signal twenty feet overhead, tucked his head 

 under his wing and fell sound asleep. Another arrival of 

 note was a common blue pigeon, which, after a few hours' 

 stay, surprised us by depositing an egg in our doorway. 

 Disturbed on our appearance, it reluctantly deserted its 

 treasure, but not without many backward glances before 

 spreading its wings shorewards. 



Podley-fishing has been fairly successful during the 

 month, and several codlings have been taken from the pools 

 at low water. Whilst photographing lately, another of our 

 number was busy endeavouring to extract a breakfast from 



