28 Alexander Goodman More. [1352 



in bud, with quite an April luxuriance ; Narcissus pseudo-narcissus, 

 20 or 30 in flower. Jan. 3ist, Cerastiura tetrandrum, in flower ; Alche- 

 milla arvensis (young plants), in flower ; and on the same day we were 

 no less pleased than surprised to find our little friend of last March, 

 Draba verna, mostly with only a flower or two, scarcely raised above 

 the leaves, but in a few cases even in seed, on its usual stem. 



Another consequence of the season's mildness is more 

 regretfully mentioned in his journal, viz. that there were 

 " no wildfowl and very little shooting." Not till January 

 3rd did he see the first " Black Duck " (Common Scoter), in 

 most winters " a sure find off the mouth of the harbour." 

 On January 25th " three Ducks were twice put up, but very 

 shy"; and on the 28th "the strong easterly winds of the 

 last few days have brought many Geese : Brent in large 

 flocks, one Grey or Bean at Sandown, etc." Previously 

 there had been no Geese. Again, on March 24th : 



Birds in the Harbour apparently fewer than usual. No Herons ; 

 these are common from June to October. A few Dunlins, perhaps a 

 trifle tamer than usual, their rusty livery quite perceptible as they fly 

 past ; no Kingfisher ; plenty of Herring and Common Gulls, and one 

 Black-backed (Lesser). Not a single water-bird of a Duck description 

 was seen to-day ; and the Loons and Grebes seem also to have taken 

 their departure. The Rooks pass regularly to and fro across the Har- 

 bour and over our house ; only a few do so in winter. Sparrows begin 

 to take a prospective survey of the spouts and corners, and are remark- 

 ably clamorous in the sun. I think I saw two or three Fieldfares the 

 other day ; and a Partridge was sprung from a hedge, as if on the look- 

 out for a nest. Weather very cold ; wind N.N.E. ; and very frosty for 

 the time of year, 



There was, however, one winter migrant in evidence at 

 Bembridge, whose visits seemed to possess almost a spe- 

 cial fascination for him. This was the Black Redstart a 

 bird, the philosophy of whose movements appeared to him 

 somewhat of an enigma. Indeed, it was from reflection 

 upon the visits of this species to England that he after- 

 wards fell into the train of thought which suggested his 

 " Isocheimonal Theory of Migration." He twice met 

 with the bird this winter, and sent notes of both occur- 

 rences to the "Zoologist": 



On the 9th of December last I met with a single individual of this 

 species (Sylvia tithys) on the seashore here, in company with several 



