FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 18* 



rattling, tire movement of the head is so extremely rapid, that it 

 seems to me quite impossible that each tap can lie due to a separate 

 act of volition, and I have no doubt that the movement, when once 

 started, is continued, so to speak, automatically for a few seconds." 



WHITE WAGTAIL (Motacilla alba). "A pair visited my garden 

 and strutted about the paddock in the 2nd week , in October." 

 (E. J. B.), Osmington. 



NIGHTINGALE. Several observers notice the abundance of this 

 bird, and (J.'M.) states that he has never before observed it at 

 Hawkchurch, though this year he heard seven singing at once. 

 They remained, however, only for three weeks. He comments on 

 the resemblance of the songs of the Black cap and Reed warbler to 

 that of the nightingale and says that he thinks that a small bird 

 known locally as the " White Robin " which sings sweetly at 

 night, is also often taken for it. At Weymouth, Corfe Castle, 

 Sherborne, Chard, and ether localities there is no record. On the 

 two occasions on which the nightingale has been observed by 

 (N. M. R.) at Weymouth (Chickerell, in each case singly) in the 

 last 1 2 years, the bird has only remained for about a fortnight and 

 then departed, as at Hawkchurch. 



Mr. Mansel-Pleydell says : " Nightingales very abundant in our 

 woods. Two nests, each containing four eggs, were built in the 

 grove near the Whatcombe stables, all of which were hatched and 

 went off on June 20th and 24th. At Bere Regis the young birds 

 of two nests were hatched and fledged ; one is now in the possession 

 of Mr. Hibbs, a member of the Field Club. I saw it last month 

 (November?) in perfect health, plumage, and beauty." Of this 

 bird Mr. Hibbs says : 



" Besides the nightingales' nests and young given in report left 

 undisturbed, I have reared from another nest (the young of which . 

 left the nest on my approach) a fine cock bird. When found early 

 in June it was quite young, having only a few feathers. I suc- 

 ceeded in rearing it by giving it insects ; it is now, December 26, 

 in splendid condition, very tame and interesting, feeds from the 

 hand, and begins at this cold season to sing a few notes." (G. H.) 



