Bibltographical Notices. 379 



ing. "We can testify, from our own observation, that most of our 

 insectivorous vernal visitors, in the southern and south-western 

 maritime coimties, also " arrive directly from the sea," apparently 

 from the opposite coast of France ; but to reach the Humber district 

 these delicate migrants from the south (and even from the south- 

 east) apparently make a detour of many miles to avoid the pro- 

 jecting coast of Norfolk, showing that " the overland route " has 

 less attraction for them than the open sea-voyage at this season of 

 the year. 



Our author fully appreciates the value of that indispensable com- 

 panion of the field-naturalist, a good spy-glass. We envy his expe- 

 rience as recorded in the following passage : — 



" The Godwits which visit our foreshore in the spring and autumn 

 feed largely on an annelid, Arenicola piscatorum, or some allied 

 species, which they obtain by boring. With the aid of my telescope 

 I have frequently observed their manner of feeding. They advance 

 rather quickly over the flats, and at the same time keep rapidly 

 thrusting their long bills into the ooze, as if feeling for some con- 

 cealed creature. It is easy to see when any are successful, as 

 instantly every motion displays extreme energy, the bird's head 

 itself being half buried in its eagerness to grasp and hold its wrig- 

 gling prey. Often when the bill is withdrawn I have seen a huge 

 lob-worm, held crossways, dangling from it. This requires some 

 little manipulation before it can be swallowed ; the Godwit's head 

 is thrown backwards, and the mandibles are rapidly worked till the 

 worm becomes properly adjusted, when down it goes, the neck per- 

 ceptibly swelling and thickening in the descent ; then there is a 

 satisfied smack of the mandibles, and the search recommences." 

 (Page 119.) 



The Ruff (Machetes pvujnax) and Reeve (female) are still associated 

 in the popular mind Tvith the fens of Lincolnshire; and, judging 

 from the numbers occasionally exposed in the London markets, the 

 species is yet numerous ; but most, if not aU, of these birds are 

 supphed from Holland. Mr. Cordeaux says : — 



"The Ruff and Reeve, formerly so abundant in Lincolnshire, 

 where its capture and feeding for the London market was a regular 

 trade, is now only known as a bird of passage, lingering for a few 

 weeks or days in small numbers in the neighbourhood of its old 

 haunts during the period of the spring and autumn migrations. It 

 is almost a regular autumn, but only an occasional spring, visitant 

 to this district." (Page 120.) 



That apparently fragile little creature, the Golden-crested Wren 

 {Reyulus cristatus), unlike so many comparatively robust insectivorous 

 birds, remains with us the whole year ; but, avoiding equally the 

 extremes of heat and cold, vast numbers arrive on the east coast of 

 Lincolnshire and Yorkshire at the period of the autumnal migration, 

 when they " cross the wild North Sea, arriving on our eastern shores 

 in October. The migration of the Goldcrosts is now a fact as well 

 established as is that of the Woodcocks. They appear about the 

 second or third week in October, preceding the Woodcocks by a few 



