9840 Birds. 



the seeds of the rank herbage which grows on the " saltings." They 

 nest here in great numbers, and build sometimes within half-a-dozeu 

 yards of the shore, in the brambles growing on the sea-walls. Their 

 nests may occasionally be found at a considerable height from the 

 ground. 



Vincent Legge. 



Soulh Shoebury, October 25, 1865. 



Ornithological Notes from the Isle ■of Wight. 

 By Capt. Henry Haufield. 



(Cuntinued from page 9726). 



August, 1865. 



Swift. — August 4. A pair of swifts seen about the lofty spire of our 

 new church, but whether nesting there I have not ascertained : I never 

 knew them breed in this neighboarliood. 



Martin. — August 5. The young must have flown either yesterday or 

 to-day, as three heads were seen peering out on the 3rd. Though 

 twenty pages are devoted by Macgillivray to the description of this 

 species, he says nothing of the number of days taken in laying and 

 incubating, but tells ns that the construction of the nest occupies 

 from six to ten days; however, that must bo under peculiarly favour- 

 able circumstances, my observations leading me to believe that about 

 double that time is spent. On this occasion the nests, though half- 

 finished when first observed on the 7th of June, were not completed 

 till the 14th, if then, for 1 was doubtful of their being lined. 



Gray Flycatcher. — August 5. Observed a number of these flycatchers 

 collected in a sheltered nook on the northern side of the down, chiefly 

 on the lower limbs of the ash. 



Tree Sparrow. — August 5. Observing several sparrows nests among 

 the malted branches of some lofty old fir-trees near Wroxall Farm, I 

 watched the birds, and feel pretty confident that a handsome old cock 

 bird seen was a tree sparrow, a species that I have never met with in 

 the under-clifT. 



Nightingale. — In my July notes (Zool. 9725), an instance of the 

 longevity of a caged nightingale was recorded; but I purposely 

 omitted to state that it had learned to talk, as too wonderful for 

 general belief, though I had faith in it, my informant being a highly 

 respectable and trustworthy person, a resident in the place, and one 

 who could have no object in deceiving me. I am now emboldened to 



I 



