9694 Birds. 



Nesting of Starlings and Ring Doves. — During the two last weelts 

 of March the eccentric but pleasing ditties of the starling, breathing of 

 spring, and sunshine, and flowers, might be often heard down many a 

 chimney and from many a roof, as the light of early morning revealed 

 Ills mate, and reminded him of brighter days now near at hand, dedi- 

 cated to the busy duties of domestic life. Many of these birds have 

 paired, and evidently selected their future nesting-places ; but flocks 

 of starlings may still be seen whirling in their circling flight, or intent 

 and active in their search for insect food, on the fields of grass but 

 recently dressed as future meadow land. The sweet and plaintive 

 voice of the ring dove may also be heard by the early riser, almost 

 daily, as at break of day he serenades his mate on the lofty elms or 

 amid the shades of the larch plantations, which have aS'orded him a 

 fitting home and nesting-place in former years. 



Stock Dove. — This British dove but rarely visits the neighbourhood 

 of Beverley, preferring the more densely wooded counties or localities, 

 more suitable to its habits and requirements than our richly cultivated 

 agricultural district, which, generally speaking, is but sparingly 

 wooded. During the past winter a flock of these birds has been 

 observed frequenting the low-lying country about Anam, a village 

 close to the River Hull, and about four miles from Beverley. On the 

 15th of March Mr. Holuics, jun., farmer, of Arram, shot a beautiful 

 old uiale of thi.^ species, and kindly brought it to me for my collection ; 

 he told me that when he shot the bird it was in company with another, 

 probably the female, but the flock he had so often seen during the 

 winter months had gone. 



Wild Geese. — On the 16lh of March, about twelve o'clock at noon, 

 a flock of about sixty wild geese passed over my garden situated in 

 the heart of the town of Beverley-. They were flying in a north- 

 westerly direction, and at no great altitude, for I was readily able to 

 estimate their numbers by counting. These are the only wild geese 

 I have seen or heai'd of since my report of the pink-footed geese, in 

 my last communication. 



Ringed or Bridled Guillemot. — On the 18th of March Mr. T. Jones, 

 of Bridlington Quay, sent me a fipe specimen of this guillemot in the 

 winter plumage. It was shot on the coast near Bridlington two days 

 previously. Mr. Jones had unfortunately skinned the bird, so that 

 I could not determine the sex. This is the onlv instance I have met 

 with of the ringed guillemot in winter plumage. 



Pintail Duck. — This elegant duck is rarely shot on the River Hull. 

 A fine mature female was shot on that river by Mr. Holmes, jun., of 



