CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



The first arrivals usually make their appearance early 

 in April ; and as late as the 20th of May, when out in 

 the Channel, I have met with hundreds still crossing. 



Should boisterous weather set in shortly after their 

 arrival, they suffer greatly from the effects of the cold 

 and wind. The weather in the second week in June, 

 1871, in the east of Norfolk, was unusually severe for 

 that time of year, and the unfortunate Swallows and 

 Martins were seen in hundreds sheltering from the 

 storm under the hedges and banks. I brought in 

 several quite benumbed by cold, and after placing 

 them in a warm room for some hours, they were en- 

 abled to fly off in search of food. 



Swallows and Martins may frequently be observed, 

 when flying over a river or pond, dipping into the water 

 to drink. This operation is generally easily effected. 

 I, however, noticed several hundreds of these birds lose 

 their lives in attempting the same thing a few years 

 back in the east of Sussex. 



The water had been drawn off from a large fish- 

 pond, and although the surface still retained its usual 

 appearance, it was in reality nothing more than a thick 

 black mud of about the consistency of treacle. 



The old saying, that " one fool makes many," cer- 

 tainly referred to the poor Swallows, for no sooner had 

 the wing of one unlucky bird been caught by the mud 

 while skimming too closely over the surface, than the 

 struggles of the sufferer brought scores to the spot, 

 and within an hour or two the mud was dotted all 

 over with hundreds of dead and dying victims. 

 Some of those nearest the shore were reached 

 with landing-nets, and after being cleansed from the 

 mud in fresh water, and placed in the sun for a short 



