Birds. 7351 



hungry ; I picked up one drowned, also one male cbaffinch ; I could not observe any 

 wounds about them. Did they fail in reaching the shore while attempting to cross 

 the German Ocean ? I think Linneus and Gilbert White consider there is a migra- 

 tion of male chaffinches. Vast flocks of goldfinches and linnets are here. They ap- 

 pear to feed on the seeds of the thistles and other weeds which abound on the cliflfs. 

 One large flock, I believe of dunlins, I saw on the 21st. Once I observed, at a dis- 

 tance over the sea, some terns, as I apprehend from their slender proportions and the 

 acute angle of their wings. Starlings were very abundant, also titlarks. On or about 

 the 30tb I picked up a second male chaffinch on the shore, apparently drowned. On 

 the 3rd of November I noticed for the first time some fieldfares, on a hawthorn hedge 

 in front of our lodgings ; they were in company with a number of blackbirds, and 

 after a time were seen with them seeking their food in the grass in the pasture 

 adjoining. I have not seen them here since, and only a solitary one anywhere else. 

 On the 4th, while walking with my brother in a meadow near the sea-shore, where a 

 small rivulet runs by the side of a hedge, my attention was arrested by a rustling 

 noise among the overhanging brambles; and, turning my eye to the spot, I saw a 

 bird endeavouring to force its way through them. At first I thought it was a little 

 bantam hen, and waited till it made its exit, during which process I could easily have 

 taken it in my hand. My surprise was great on seeing it take wing — a woodcock. It 

 flew heavily about fifty yards, and again alighted in the little brook, allowing me to 

 approach within about five yards before it rose, when it crossed a small grove and 

 dropped on the other side. We did not pursue it further, nor did we see another, 

 which we rather expected, as this one had evidently just crossed the water and was 

 much fatigued. The wind had been blowing fresh from the north-east for two or three 

 days. In escaping through the brambles the bird had left some of its beautiful 

 feathers, which we took as a small compensation for the loss of the living specimen, 

 which might have been so easily secured. On the 5ih I saw some terns (the species 

 not known) flying over the water near Landguard Fort. It would appear that these 

 birds do not (all at least) leave this coast in the winter. I remember being the com- 

 panion of Henry Doubleday when he shot some near Walton-on-the-Naze, in De- 

 cember, many years ago. On the 6th of Novmber I saw a flock of ten or twelve 

 stock doves feeding in a stubble field near a wood. They were very shy, and did not 

 permit a near approach. I may here remark that the 27th, 28th, 29tli and 30th of 

 October were beautifully bright and calm, with the exception of occasional fog. On 

 the 28th it was very hot, yet on none of these days did a single swallow or martin, or 

 other summer bird, come under observation. I watched closely along the sheltered 

 clifi^s facing southward, which are thickly perforated with the holes of the sand martin, 

 ■without seeing a solitary individual of this or any other of our Hirundines. — Jonathan 

 Grub ; December, I860. 



The Red and Bine Maccaw (Ara Macao) of Honduraa. — This maccaw is plentiful 

 throughout the whole country, and generally to be seen in pairs, but sometimes in 

 companies of from six to twelve. I have seen as many as thirty together about 

 roosting time, fljing towards some lofty trees situated in the forest, which no doubt 

 they were in the habit of frequenting at night, having assembled for that purpose. 

 They are in the habit of feeding in the maize fields morning and evening, and are 

 not difficult of approach. If one is wounded its shrill screams attract others, and 

 they wheel overhead, giving opportunities for fresh shots. In this way I shot three 

 within five minutes, from the back of my mule, and without moving from one spot. 



