FIRST APPEARANCES OF BIRDS, INSECTS, ETC. 203 



apparently, and I believe the longest life at the Zoo has been 

 but a matter of a few days. This specimen died during the 

 night following its capture, and was given to me." (See also 

 Proc. XXXIII., 234.) 



Shoveller {Spatula clypeata). — This duck seems to breed 

 regularly between Wool and Moreton. Two pairs nested in 

 the meadows at Wool ; one nest with five eggs was found on 

 Apr. 20, probably the second attempt at nesting. The male 

 bird appears to attend the female when she has her brood out, 

 unlike the common Wild Duck. A brood of Shovellers was 

 being disturbed by a little dog when the male bird came to 

 the rescue and swooped down close to the dog, whilst the 

 female fluttered away in the ditch. (S. E. V. F.) 



The following interesting Bird Notes are contributed by 

 Messrs. W. Parkinson Curtis and E. Harker Curtis : — 



Ruticilla phoenicurus (Redstart). Small company of about 

 one dozen seen on migration at Knighton, Canford Estate. 

 Sept. 16th, 1912. None were observed the day before and 

 none a week later. 



Acrocephalus phragmitis (Sedge Warbler) last seen Aug. 

 5th, 1912, at Poole Park. 



Muscicapa grisola (Spotted Flycatcher) seen very fre- 

 quently around Charmouth, June 30th to July 2nd. In 

 the district of Poole and Morden heath lands, in fact 

 anywhere on the sandy soil, it is not abundant. 



Motacilla campestris, Sept. 8th, at Osmington, two seen 

 keeping company with M. luguhris (Pied Wagtail). 



Numenius phceopus (Whimbrel). First downward migration, 

 two seen in Poole Harbour, Aug. 25th, 1912. 



Totanus hypoleucus (Common Sandpiper). First downward 

 migration July 6th, 1912, Poole Harbour. 



Arenaria interpres (Turnstone). Four or five seen on 

 downward migration Aug. 10th, 1912, Studland Break- 

 water. 



Vanellus cristatus (Peewit). First large autumn flock, 

 40-45, seen on Handley Down, near Cranborne, Dorset. 



