186 FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 



Fulica air a (The Coot). 



By 14th March, the large winter flock in Poole Park, usually 

 500 strong, had shrunk to 20. 



On Oct. 10th. They had returned and \vere 200 strong. 

 (E.H.C.). 

 Slreptope.lia turtur (The Turtle Dove). 



Common in the valley of Kit Brook. (E.S.R.). 



T\vo pairs at Canford all the season. This bird is very 

 decidedly scarce near Poole. (E.H.C. and W.P.C.). 

 Perdrix perdrix (The Common Partridge). 



3rd July. A partridge with 14 tiny mites, seen in a grass 

 field at Canford, struck me as a very late brood. 



10th July. I saw this brood again, and it was still 14 in 

 number, so evidently the mother was fairly careful. (W.P.C.). 



REPTILLA. 



Rana tempora (The Frog). Spawn at Pulham, March 10th 

 (J.R.). 



Toad spawn at Dorchester, February 25th. (S.E.V.F.). 



In a tributary of the Bredy at Svvyre I found hundreds of 

 toads spa\vning on March 15th. The males outnumbered 

 the females, and masses of any number up to a dozen were 

 rolling about in the water. There were certainly several 

 hundred specimens, and a ceaseless croaking could be heard, 

 whilst the stream was black with spawn. (R.D.G.). 

 Pelias berus (The Viper). 



1st March. 1 killed at Dorchester. (S.E.V.F.). 



5th March. 1 killed at Maiden Castle. (R.D.G.). 



llth April. 2 lulled in Bere Wood. (W.P.C. and E.H.C.). 



