9608 Birds. 



that most of our summer visitants arrive from the south-east, when 

 Berabridge would be the first point made, Duunose the next. 



Sand Martin. — April 14. Two or three birds of this species have 

 been observed lo-day. 



Greater Wluteiliroat. — First seen on the 14th of April. 



Nicjhliiiyale. — April 15. First heard to-day, between 3 and 4 p.m., 

 near St. Lawrence. Tlierniometer 42° at 9 A. M. 



Cuckoo. — April 15. The cuckoo was heard for the first time to-day. 



Green Woodpecker. — A bird of this species has occasionally been 

 observed of late near Luccombe. [Is Captain Iladfield sure of this ? 

 I thought woodpeckers were unknown in the Isle of Wight. — E. N.^ 



Blackbird. — Though 1 have again had favourable opportunities for 

 observing its manner of building, I have never once seen the male 

 assisting, the female carrying all the material, and the rapidity with 

 which it is collected is truly as>tonishing ; but a short pause is invariably 

 made before she disap|)ears among the ivy, where the nest is placed, 

 only a foot or two from the ground; last year it was built in the ivy 

 on the house, some seventeen or eighteen feet high. The ingress and 

 egress is frequently varied, and the male, ever watchful, sits concealed 

 among the foliage, though not invisible to his mate, who works fear- 

 lessly so long as he is stationary or does not sound the alarm note ; 

 but this habit is not peculiar to the male, nor have I found " the female 

 less clamorous" when surprised. The work ceases between 8 and 9 

 A.M. Macgillivray says the blackbird's principal food in winter is the 

 sr.ail : it may be so in Scotland, but not in the Soutli of England, and 

 he is decidedly wrong in staling that the blackbird " never swallows 

 an entire worm, unless it happens to be extremely small ;" and again, 

 "not swallowing at any lime more than a small fragment" even of a 

 "moderate-sized worm." I believe the contrary to be the rule, and 

 the "cutting up" the exception, though the large worms are well 

 pecked and bruised before being gulped down. 



Hedgesparrow and Magpie. — April 15. There being little foliage as 

 yet, the hedges])arrow has resorted to the ivy, and I observe that a pair 

 of magpies are building in a leafless hawthorn. 



Galls. — Within the last \'^w days gulls have disappeared from this 

 neighbourhood, excepting a kittiwake or two. Wi.'iJiing to ascertain 

 whether they might be nesting in the Culver Cliffs, I walked over there 

 on the 20lh of April : none were observed by the way, though for the 

 most part the coast-line was followed; nor did I find any in or near 

 the cliffs, though two hours were spent in looking for them, and 

 showers of loosened flints poured down, but no birds came forth but 



