The Zoologist — November, 18G7. 985 



Ornithological Notes from the Isle of Wight. 

 By Captain Hadfield. 



(Continued from Zool. S. S. 910.) 



August, 1867. 



Martin. — The scarcity of martins this season has been remarked on, 

 and had my observations been confined to this neighbourhood 

 I should have been inclined to say the same, as they are decidedly 

 less numerous than usual, but at Shanklin they are most abundant, 

 and in July were swarming about the sea-cliffs: there were young 

 on the wing by the end of the month, and so numerous that they were 

 knocked down with stones. 



Spoiled Flycatcher. — Numbers seen of late in Appuldurcombe Park, 

 where there are still some good-sized trees. This species is far more 

 abundant in the wooded uplands north of the downs than in the 

 Undercliff, where the foliage is comparatively dense. Shrike-like 

 they frequent the bare or solitary trees, though not so often seen on 

 the topmost branches. 



Swallow. — Though few breed in the Undercliff, many pairs nest 

 in the neighbouring inland villages. 



Partridge. — Towards the end of August I saw an unusually large 

 covey of partridges at Niton : having taken the shooting on a neigh- 

 bouring farm, I am told that it contains twenty-nine birds. That a 

 partridge could cover that number of eggs seems impossible ; but I am 

 assured that the birds have kept together for weeks, so if originally 

 two coveys they must have united early in the summer, which I never 

 knew them do, though they will gather together in the autumn. 



September. 



Whimbrel. — This species has reappeared, one having been shot on 

 our rocky shore on the 12th. Being here rather uncommon, it was 

 taken for the curlew. 



Wheatear. — Numbers observed of late about the newly-ploughed 

 lands, but they are mostly birds of the season or females. 



Night Hawk. — Has been met with occasionally on the Downs, and 

 is doubtless about to migrate. 



Turtle Dove. — More numerous than I ever remember to have seen 

 them, though mostly frequenting the uplands, and, unlike the wood- 

 pigeon, far from villages and dwellings. 



second series — vol. ii. 3 N 



