9604 " Birds. 



cliffs, but I took a shot or two at a gull on the beach without its being 

 disturbed by the report. 



Sparrowhnwk. — Observed on the 4th of March another of these 

 hawks in pursuit of a small bird. As to the idea of the young of this 

 species being removed from the nest by tlie parent bird (Zool. 9166), 

 I think it more likely that tlje male, enraged at the loss of his mate 

 and some of the young, should have thrown out or destroyed the rest; 

 but it is still more probable, the uest having been twice invaded, once 

 robbed, and the old bird shot, that some man or boy was attracted by 

 it, and then what more likely than the carrying off of the rest of 

 the progeny? Besides, to what "place of safety" could such tender 

 nestlings be removed ? 



Longtailed Titmouse. — On the 8th of March a flock, numbering 

 some eighteen or twenty of these diminutive birds, was observed. 

 Their flight is peculiar, for unlike most other species they rise one by 

 one, proceeding in single file, so the first may be out of sight before the 

 last is on the wing. How they manage to follow the same course is 

 surprising, though they usually alight on any tree, hedge or bush in 

 their line of flight, creeping through and among the branches with 

 wonderful facility. 



GieeiiJincJt. — March 11. This species first observed to be paired: 

 Montagu says, " It is rather a late breeder." The chaffinch is still 

 gregarious, but the house sparrow is paired, also the missel thrush. 



Sky Lnrk. — March 13. Still gregarious. A neigliboui's lark, one of 

 the finest songsters I ever heard, has lately died at the advanced age 

 of twenty years, having been in lier possession for nineteen years, and 

 it was a year old when procured: though very infirm, and its legs 

 much swollen, its song was continued almost to the last ; but what is 

 most remarkable is the great length to which the claws had grown, 

 that of the back toe exceeding two inches and one-eighth, and of the 

 middle toe seven-eighths of an inch ; the rest in proportion, though 

 some are more or less injured. 



JVild Duck. — A flock was seen on the wing on the 19th of March. 



Golden Eagle. — An eagle of this species passed over Shanklin in a 



north-easterly direction about the middle of the month, and was seen 



by several of the inhabitants. My informants say that it was not 



above thirty or forty yards overhead. 



Chiffihaff. — On the 27lh of March one was observed, and another 

 on the 28th among the branches of a lofty elm near the Bonchurch 

 Pond, and two more were seen on the 30th close to the village : on the 

 28lh, at 9 A.M., the thermometer was at 38'', wind S.E., and there had 



