The Zoologist— December, 1866. 615 



of the latter month they became tolerably plentiful, but were never very 

 numerous. I cannot pretend to say if these are all birds of the year, 

 but they have not nearly so much yellow about them as we observe in 

 specimens just before they leave us at the end of March, when the 

 dark patch on the throat appears. Immediately below this patch at 

 this season (March) is a semi-circular belt of bright yellow. In a skin 

 which I have (dated March 22nd, 1866) it is clearly seen that this 

 yellow belt is attained by a moult, the newest feathers looking like so 

 many bright yellow (Yarrell termed it king's yellow) paint-brushes. 

 The birds which visit us now have the chin and throat buff-coloured. 



Tree and Meadow Pipit. — Tree pipits first noticed passing over ou 

 the 12th of August, and heard as late as the second week in 

 September. Meadow pipits became more numerous about the third 

 week in September. 



Linnets in flock and missel thrushes congregate early in September. 

 Ring ouzel returns September 19th. 



Crossbill. — A solitary example of the crossbill was shot at Chidhara 

 on the 24th of July. The general plumage red, with a shade of 

 yellow on the rump. 



Sand Martin. — Observed to be very numerous about the 27th of 

 August. I have seen more of these little Hirundines this autumn than 

 usual: from the end of July until the end of September they have 

 been seen almost every day. Here the question presents itself, where 

 do they roost ? House martins probably resort to their nests at night, 

 while swallows repair each evening to some neighbouring willows or 

 alders overhanging water, but I have never been able to find sand 

 martins with them. If the latter return to their breeding-places every 

 night they must travel a distance of not less than ten miles to the 

 nearest sand-pit : I have frequently noticed that they retire earlier in 

 the evening than either swallows or house martins. 



Swift.— J\i\y 23rd. Saw a numerous party of swifts flying, in a 

 south-westerly direction, high in the air, and uttering incessantly their 

 usual squeaking cry. Last seen on the 17th of August. 



Nightjar. — Put up a nightjar in a field of mangold-wurtzell, while 

 partridge shooting, on the 3rd of September. Last seen on the 

 19th. 



Waders.— BunVms observed in flock by the end of July ; some may 

 have returned before this, but not being constantly in the neighbour- 

 hood of their haunts I have not been able to note down their return 

 with accuracy. The same remark will apply to all my notes on the 



