82 



COUNTRY RAMBLES. 



give me any information hereon? Great Spotted Woodpecker in case 

 in keeper's cottage, shot in the neighbourhood. Coal Tits everywhere, 

 singing "Oh-yes, oh-yes," &c., only two notes, somewhat shrill for so 

 small a bird. The reddish-blue tinge on young Birch plantation very 

 striking as seen from a distance. Rabbit crouched under bracken, 

 and allowed stones to be thrown right on to it several times before it 

 moved. Heartsease in flower. The female Chaffinch "pinks," as well 

 as the male. Some Pheasant's eggs in the woods. Golden-crested 

 Wrens and Lapwings seen. Rooks on newly-sown Barley field, and 

 the Crow-scarer hard at work frightening them off. Plover's eggs 

 plentiful as at this date at Longton. Staffordshire. 



16th. Song Thrush singing 

 at 5 am. Great Tit common, and 

 uttering its bell-like note. Cold 

 winds this Easter; April showers, 

 and fitful gleams of bright sunshine. 

 Not a single Migrant to be seen 

 or heard in this district, but Mr. 

 C. E. Darling informs me he saw 

 three swallows to-day on Sir Charles 

 Foster's estate in Staffordshire. 

 It is one of the latest seasons 

 I can remember. Hedge Sparrow, 

 Wren, and Robin singing. Ring 

 Doves very plentiful, and flapping 

 noisily out of Fir trees at night. 

 Several Rookeries on the estate. 

 How the Rooks just keep out of 

 gunshot 1 Jackdaws associate with 

 them quite freely. A Blackbird 

 singing slightly towards evening, 

 many uttering their alarm cries. 



Rabbits' nest in ploughed field. Nuthatch "calling," Long-tailed Tits 

 "searching." Chaffinches very plentiful. Watched a Squirrel; its dray 

 composed of dead fern, sticks, and moss; built in Fir. Many Ivy- 

 covered trees, affording excellent nesting sites. 



Keeper kills about 60 Stoats per annum. A few Badgers in the 

 district. 



Fowls and young Retriever pups associating together 1 Bats seen 

 out some days ago by the keeper. Stock Doves breed in the park 

 every year, nesting in holes of trees. 



GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER. 



