Birds. 9537 



the very forehead in the mud, reminding me very much, in its mode of 

 feeding, of a whimbrel. The water rail is a common bird in this 

 neighbourhood. 



Ktiot. — Although we have experienced an unusually severe season, 

 and consequently might expect an increase in our winter visitants, yet 

 I have known the knot visit us in much greater numbers than they 

 have done this winter. They may generally, however, be seen from 

 the beginning of November to March, in flocks numbering many 

 hundreds of birds, on the dreary mud plains left by the receding lide. 

 Invariably half an hour before dark they are on the wing, moving off 

 to some favourite feeding-ground; flock after flock pass, all going in 

 one direction. As they fly along close to the water's edge, rising and 

 falling in their flight, and stretched out into a long straggling line, they 

 look, in the deepening gloom, like the long trail of smoke left by a 

 steamboat. 



Fieldfare. — Fieldfares have suffered greatly from the late severe 

 weather, and great numbers have perished. I frequently put them up 

 on the open streams, squatted close down near the water, under the 

 hollow bank : they would suflTer a very close approach, flying for a few- 

 yards with a weak struggling flight, their feathers puff'ed out, and all 

 the appearance of starvation. The other day I saw a hooded crow 

 seize by the neck and fly off" with a fieldfare, which was feeding by the 

 side of an open drain : it carried it about two hundred yards, and then 

 alarmed by my appearance, dropped the bird : on going up to the spot 

 I found it dead and bleeding from a wound in the neck : it was in 

 miserably poor condition. From the many scattered feathers I have 

 lately found on our drain-banks and the foot-marks of crows imprinted 

 on the snow, I have reason to think that this is by no means a solitary 

 instance, but that many thus fall victims to the " hoodie." 



Common WUd Duck. — I have observed that the mallards, which 

 during severe weather frequent the small streams in this parish, prefer 

 the tender leaves of the small water crowfoot {Ranunculus pantothrix) 

 and spring-water starwort {Callitriche verna) to all other plants 

 also the roots and stems of the common hornwort [Ceratophyllum suh- 

 mersum) ; quantities of the latter plant are pulled up by the ducks 

 when feeding, and may be found floating on the water. I have seen 

 the trailing stems of the crowfoot and starwort in our streams com- 

 pletely stripped of their leaves by ducks. 



Wild Swan. — Several wild swans have been shot in this neio-hbour- 

 hood during the winter. One was killed on the 14th of February in a 

 small stream in this parish: T did not see the bird myself, so am 

 VOL. XXIII. X 



