The Zoologist— May, 18G7. 735 



In my last year's notes these cliffs were referred to as the roosting 

 resort of both swallow and martin during the autumn, when trees no 

 longer afford sufficient shelter or cover : I also remarked on the Under- 

 cliff being the general rendezvous of both species, and what has been 

 lately observed confirms me in the opinion, — the young birds 

 congregating, if not migrating, early in September ; the adults 

 towards the latter end of the month and beginning of October, when 

 they take their final departure, always excepting late broods, some of 

 which remain with us, as already recorded, till November, and 

 occasionally till the first week in December. 10th. Scarcely a swallow 

 or martin is to be seen, where such numbers were observed on the 6lh. 

 That the main body has now migrated there can be no doubt. Though 

 the wind is east and the nights are cold the thermometer, on the 7th 

 at 3 p.m., was 65°, but on the following day had fallen 10°. 31st. 

 There are still some young swallows about, but I have seen no 

 martins for a day or two. 



Wild Fowl. — Wild ducks have been occasionally observed off the 

 coast, the first flock seen the end of September, which, being unusually 

 early, is thought to foretell a severe winter. Widgeon were also 

 noticed about the same period, in the Brading Marshes. 



Peregrine Falcon. — In the May notes I expressed a doubt as to the 

 peregrine's breeding in the Culver Cliff's of late, but have since ascer- 

 tained that a pair bred there this season ; the nest, being placed beneath 

 a bold jutting point, was inaccessible. Till within the last ten years a 

 pair of peregrines bred in the cliffs near Niton, but they were cruelly 

 shot. 



Gray Phalarope. — Having heard, early in the month, that some 

 strange birds like sandpipers had been shot in our Bay and forwarded 

 to Newport for preservation, I wrote to inquire what they might be, 

 but receiving no answer concluded they were some common Tringa, 

 till undeceived by Police-Sergeant Rossiter, an intelligent observer, 

 to whom I have more than once been indebted for information : he 

 had seen specimens both here and in Newport, and that they were the 

 gray phalarope there could be no longer a doubt. I have since heard 

 from Mr. Smith that he has received nineteen phalaropes during Sep- 

 tember and the early part of October, but none were observed in this 

 neighbourhood till the beginning of this month, and then but a small 

 flock or two. Their appearance caused quite a sensation among the 

 beach-men and boys, and two were stoned by the latter, so tame and 

 fearless were they at first, and a few have been shot on the sands 



