262 The Zoologist— June, 1866. 



hedges, and give no certain indication of their presence till the first 

 bright morniug tempts them into song. House martins seem very 

 scarce this season, and the marked diminution in their numbers of late 

 years is more easily perceived than accounted for. The extreme 

 dryness of the last few summers has rendered the building process more 

 than usually difficult, and here, from the lack of other moisture, the 

 birds avail themselves of the passage to and fro of the water-carts near 

 the city to collect mud from tlie freslilj"^ sprinkled roads. The extreme 

 heat also and the absence of rain have rendered the nests extremely 

 brittle, and many a luckless brood has fallen with the debris of their 

 little nurseries. It is probable, however, that the chief cause of their 

 scarcity may be attributed to the diniinulion of insect food, through the 

 extensive drainage which, on all sides, has altered, and is still altering, 

 the whole face of the country. As yet (May 8lh) the martins have not 

 commenced their parental duties, — indeed have scarcely visited their 

 old haunts, — but in sportive flights and feasting have spent their days 

 upon the various streams and the rich meadow lands adjacent. Both 

 swallows and martins have, however, suffered much from the unusual 

 severity of the weather, Ind a friend whose garden joins the river, but 

 within the city boundaries, informs me that on one occasion he 

 observed numbers of them settled on the grass in an extremely weak 

 state, others clinging to the bark of the trees, and in every action 

 showing the effect which so inclement a season has upon these delicate 

 creatures. Blackcap and garden warblers are rather more common 

 than usual in this neighbourhood, and the willow wren, always 

 abundant, is particularly plentiful. One which frequents a lofty willow 

 near my garden sings incessantly the day through, and year after year 

 the same tree attracts this species, and not improbably the same bird. 

 I have heard and seen the nightjar once or twice, but have not yet 

 noticed any swifts. Nightingales abound in all llieir usual haunts, and 

 in spite of the cold biting winds have been heard constantly by night and 

 day. Of rare occurrenees the following are most worthy of note: — 



Common Linnet. — On the lOlh of April a curious variety was 

 brought me alive by a bird-catcher, having nnich wliite about the head, 

 a perfect saddle of pure white across the back, and the breast prettily 

 mottled with white and red. 



Hoopoe. — But one of these ill-fated wanderers has been slaughtered 

 here this spring, which was killed about the 19th of April. When 

 will people learn to know that, however strange in plumage, this is not 

 a rctra avis. 



