Birds. 9843 



Green Woodpecker. — I find (Zool. 9720) that Mr. Newman is still 

 sceptical as*to the woodpecker having been seen in the island, thongh 

 1 can have no doubt of it, after the circumstantial statements I received 

 at the time as to size, colour, manner, &c., but I will endeavour to 

 get further information. Nor do I see why its crossing the sea should 

 be thought so improbable, considering that the Solent, at its narrowest 

 part, is less than two miles across, a distance some of us islanders 

 could readily swim. 



^ September. 



Swallow. — September 2. At 6 p. M. saw a flock of swallows at 

 Luccombe ; they were mostly young and immature birds, only two or 

 three being observed with forked tails. They were taking their 

 evening's repast from off the flies collected about a clump of trees at 

 the top of the Chine, in which they were doubtless about to roost, 

 as their habit is at this season. It is worthy of remark that this 

 assembling of young swallows has taken place at the same period, 

 within three or four days, as last season. 17th. On going into the 

 garden at 8.30. A. M. found innumerable swallows in rapid flight to the 

 eastward, against a head wind, accompanied by comparatively few 

 martins, though the youug short-tailed swallows might, by the casual 

 observer, be readily taken for them ; their flight, too, being less rapid 

 aud buoyant than that of the adult, and not unlike the wavering course 

 of the martin. So hurried was the flight that little time was allowed 

 for hawking ; but, strangely enough, a feather floating in mid-air was 

 caught up, in mere sport I think, by three or four birds in succession, 

 and no sooner released by one than it was snapped up by another. 

 This migratory stream was but two or three hundred yards in width, 

 and following the coast-line. The flight of the swallows is so low, that 

 in passing over the ridges of the broken and undulating surface they 

 would skim the ground. Together with swallows and martins occa- 

 sional flocks of small birds would appear, though quickly distanced by 

 them ; but the flight of some was very rapid, perhaps none more so 

 than that of the willow wren. The white wagtail was of the number; 

 the wheatear, too, I believe, and other birds ; but it was difficull to 

 identify any, on account of the confused and rapid flight under a bright 

 simshine. Towards 11 o'clock I noticed, near Bonchurch, a number of 

 swallows alighting on the elms, the upper leafless boughs being pre- 

 ferred: they were mostly birds of the season, and apparently fatigued, 

 having probably been on the wing from an early hour. That it is not 

 cold that causes the general move, or migration, I have only to state 



