Birds. 9797 



meadow immediately in front of the house. The other I saw on the 

 loth of April, in this year, in a meadow near the brook. 



Sedge Warbler. — Common in the thick alder-bushes on the brook. 

 Their first appearance seems generally to be between the 19th and 

 22nd of April, 



Nightingale. — Rather uncommon and irregular in their appearance. 

 The earliest note I have of their being heard in this neighbourhood is 

 on the 21st of April. 



Blackcap. — Tolerably common. The 20th of April is the earliest 

 note I have of its appearance. 



Whitethroat. — More common than the last. Considered by 

 the gardeners to be one of their greatest enemies. The 19th of 

 April is the first notice I have of the appearance of the whitethroat. 

 I have always noticed the first appearance of this bird on the same 

 day, and at the same place, as the sedge warbler, namely, among the 

 alders on the banks of the brook. 



Lesser Whitethroat. — I have one of these birds in my collection, 

 which I shot in the meadows near the house early in the spring: it is 

 the only one I have ever seen in the parish ; had they been at all 

 common I should certainly have noticed them oflener. 



Willow Warbler. — Not very common : the one I have in my col- 

 lection was picked up dead in the green-house. I have not been able 

 to make any notes as to the arrival or departure of tliese birds, as they 

 are not very common, and, arriving late after the leases are out, easily 

 escape observation for some time. 



Chiff chaff. — Ver}' common, but rather variable in the time of its 

 arrival ; in the last three years I have noted its arrival on the 15th of 

 April, the 23rd of March and the 5lh of April. 



Gnldencrested Wren. — Rather common. 



Wren. — Very common. 



Great Tit. — Pretty common in most of the orchards and gardens, 

 but not so muc^ so as some of the other tits ; indeed, I am inclined 

 to think it less numerous than either the cole or marsh tit. 



Blue Tit. — By far the most common of all the tits. 



Cole Tit. — Very common in most of the orchards and plantations. 



Marsh Tit. — About as common, and in the same localities, as the 

 last. 



Longtailed Tit. — Rather more common, and as they flock more, they 

 are more generally noticed than the last. 



Pied Wagtail. — Very common all through the year. Locally known 

 as the " dish-washer." 



