9680 Birds. 



a tree where a bauk had fallen away ; the eggs were hatched on the 

 13th of June. 



Gray Waytail. — Gray wagtails have been very scarce this season, 

 very few pairs having been observed. This species, known only as a 

 winter visitor to your more southern correspondents, is here a summer 

 migrant, leaving late in autumn and returning about the sowing time, 

 whence probably its local name of " seed-bird." I can fully confirm 

 Captain Hadfield's observation (Zool. 9500) that the gray wagtail is 

 the most arboreal of its tribe, and also Mr. .Jeffery's note (Zool. 9601) 

 that it is the most aquatic. 



Great Titmouse. — A nest of this bird was found in a hole in a tree 

 only one foot from the ground. It was composed of sheep's wool 

 mixed with a little moss and a i^w feathers, and contained seven young 

 ones (besides an addled egg) ; these had not left the nest on the 16th, 

 and were probably a second brood. Young cole titmice were abroad 

 by the beginning of the month. In its nestling plumage the great 

 titmouse has the cheeks pale yellow, and the black parts dull and 

 clouded. 



Hedge Warbler. — A pair of this species have built among some ivy 

 on a wall close to a road. Whenever anyone is within sight the old 

 birds are observed not to betray the situation of the nest by flying 

 directly to it, but first alight on the ground, creep under the ivy, and 

 then climb up behind the leaves to the nest. The young, a second 

 brood, were nearly fledged on the 20lh of June. 



Wild Duck. — The late Mr. Waterton (as quoted by Yarrell) says of 

 the mallard, " By the 23rd of June scarcely a single green feather is to 

 be seen on the head and neck of the bird." On the 20th of June 

 1 had an opportunity of observing a large number of wild ducks at 

 Doui'las Castle, and not one of the drakes had lost its nu])lial beauty 

 of plumage in the slightest degree. Further observations on the exact 

 period of this wonderful change, at different places and in different 

 years, would be interesting. The large ponds at Douglas are frequented 

 in the breeding-season by numbers of mallards, teal, coots and moor- 

 hens • these birds, being unmolested, are almost as tame as domestic 

 fowls but if they leave their sanctuary they instantly regain their usual 



shyness. 



Peewit or Laptcing. — Peewits seem to be moulting just now; all 

 that I have observed lately have lost the occipital plume. 



Cuckoo. — A cuckoo has so far overcome his natural shyness as to 

 visit the garden daily, for the purpose of feeding on the caterpillars 



