98 SIGHT HEEOK. 



fruit tree a curious instance, as W. B. Fisher, Esq. has 

 observed in a letter to me, of the odd places in which birds 

 will alight on their first arrival. In America, however, but 

 the species there, as I have already remarked, may be distinct, 

 it would appear from what I have presently to quote from 

 Audubon, that they must frequently resort to trees, as it is 

 on them that their nests are placed; and, indeed, it seems 

 that they go to them regularly at night to roost. Six or 

 seven other examples have occurred in the same neighbourhood 

 at different times. Eight of these birds were killed on the 

 River Erme, Devonshire, in June, 1849, one of them by B. 

 A. Julian, Esq., Jun. In Cornwall one, a male, was shot on 

 the 28th. of March, 1844, and one near Helston, about the 

 end of April, 1850. In Lancashire, one near Blackpool, on 

 the 14th. of June, 1853. Specimens have also occurred in 

 Buckinghamshire, Sussex, Dorsetshire, Bedfordshire, where one 

 was shot near Ampthill, in 1791; Suffolk, and Kent. 



In Wales, in Flintshire and in the Isle of Anglesea. 



In Scotland one, a male, at Hirsel, near Coldstream, in 

 Berwickshire, in the spring of the year 1823; and another in 

 Dumfriesshire, near Dumfries, on the banks of the Cluden, 

 a tributary of the Biver Nith. 



In Ireland, two have been procured, as recorded by the 

 late William Thompson, Esq., of Belfast, namely, one at 

 Letterkenny, the other, a young bird, in the county of 

 Armagh. 



It is a migratory species, moving southwards during the 

 months of September and October, and northwards again in 

 April and May. They appear to move, for the most part, 

 singly and by night. 



These birds live together in societies. They are active, and 

 feed during the night, resorting, in the day-time, to tall trees 

 in the neighbourhood of swamps, lakes, and rivers. They 

 frequent such situations, returning at night-fall to their 

 feeding-grounds. If alarmed during the day-time, they do 

 not move off to any great distance, but to the next most 

 convenient place of concealment. They may be kept in con- 

 finement, but mope in a dull and heavy manner while day- 

 light continues. The young are esteemed as an article of 

 food, and are much sought after in consequence. During the 

 time that they are engaged with incubation, the old birds 

 are said to be very noisy, as well as very watchful. 



When on the wing their flight is soft and noiseless. 



