9436 Birds. 



at a time. It usually dives when threatened with danger ; therefore 

 it was not a little to my surprise that when one was fired at last 

 winter, by a lad who was lying concealed among ihe roclcs, it merely 

 swam away from the spot, not diving until it had proceeded for about 

 sixty yards. I was also concealed at the time, and observed, by means 

 of a telescope, that the bird did nothing more than start slightly and 

 quicken its pace as the shot fell around it. 



Redwing, — Small flocks of redwings appeared at intervals during 

 the month of October, entirely stripping every mountain ash of its 

 berries, and then betaking themselves to the meadows. 



Mealy Redpole. — A small flock of mealy redpoles arrived early in 

 October, and a few more about the end of the month. In fine weather 

 they may be observed upon the cliffs and upon exposed hill-sides, 

 but rain and high winds soon drive them to the shelter of enclosed 

 grounds. 



Jack Snipe usually appear in October, but in no great numbers. 

 This season the first one was seen on the 7th, and on being disturbed 

 it alighted upon the beach about a hundred yards distant, and imme- 

 diately commenced searching among the drifted weed. 'I'his species 

 does not breed here. It frequents the same grounds which are pre- 

 ferred by the common snipe, but lies closer, and will frequently alight 

 very close to the spot from which it has been disturbed. 



Longlailed Duck. — The first longlailed ducks were both seen and 

 heard on the 8th of October (wind N.E.), but their number is 

 increasing very slowly. In rough weather they nearly always leave 

 the sheltered voes and fly seaward, for what reason it is difficult to 

 imagine ; at such times, instead of diving for food, they merely sit 

 facing the gale, paddling with their feet in order to keep themselves 

 from drifting to leeward, or, when such means are not sufficient, 

 making up their lost way by short flights, keeping so close to the sur- 

 face as to strike the water with their wings. 



Ring Dove. — The ring dove is very rare here, only appearing after 

 high winds from S.W. or S.E. I saw one on the 16th of October, and 

 another on the 29lh. The latter is a young bird, and is still in this 

 neighbourhood : unlike the old ones, it does not seek solitude, and 

 appears to be very desirous of associating with the tame pigeons, but 

 this they will not permit, and the instant it appears among them they 

 dash wildly to their home, manoeuvring and dodging as if a hawk were 

 in pursuit. Occasionally it alights upon the roof of the house, but the 

 greater portion of its time is passed in the stubble fields. 



Goldeneye : Escape of Birds by Diving. — Goldeneyes are now 



