The Zoologist— Septemueu, 18U9. IB^IS 



For confinnation of this, see Mr. Cordeaux's observations on the wigcon (S.S. mVo). 

 — J. II. Gurnet/, jun. ; Bank, DarlirigUm. 



Oraithological Notes from South Devon.-lu conliuualion of the oniilhological 

 notes from Soiiili Devon (S.S. 1720) in the June number of the Zoologist,' mnyj a.UI 

 a few of my oA-n made io the same locality during the mouths of March and Aprd: 

 as they add a few arrivals of summer mi-rants to the list there given, they may he of 

 interest to some of your readers. I did not notice any arrivals that struck me us 

 especially early, -not earlier, indeed, than I have dune here inland in S.m.erselshire. 

 My first note was April 7lh : saw a good many wheatears on the Den at Teignmuuih ; 

 these remained only for a few days, and then departed, I suppose, for the Dartmoor 

 Hills, for, on a ride to Hey Torr (one of those hills) on the 10th, I found wheatears 

 there in considerable numbers. I saw the first swallow on the 9lh of April neiir Top- 

 sham, on the Exe. On April the 10th I saw several mure at Teigumouth ; al^.. a 

 red.lart, a hen bird ; and heard the chiffchafiF lor the first time. The summer snipe or 

 comraoa sandpiper I did not see till the 14lh of April: soon afier this they became 

 pretty common, both on the coast and up the river ; first heard the cuckoo on the same 

 day. FirNl saw swifts on the 27lh of April, near a village called Buiiey Tracey, between 

 Teigninouih and the Dartmoor Hills. Up to the last day of April, when 1 left Teign- 

 mouth, great northern aud redthroated divers were still loleral)ly numerous— nearly as 

 much so as in the winter: one redthroated diver I shot on the 3rd of April was in a 

 state of chancre of plumage— the gray feathers on the sides of the face aud throat were 

 rapidly supplanting the while, as were the red feathers on the fore part of the throat; 

 this change appeared to be taking place partly by moult and partly by change of colour 

 in the feathers themselves. A cormorant, shot on the 23rd of March, had quite assumed 

 its summer plumage ; most of the others I saw about were apparently in a state of 

 change, the white spots on the thighs not being nearly so conspicuous. Common 

 scoters were numerous at sea till quite up to the time of my leaving Teignmouth, as I 

 saw several the <iay before I left. — Cecil Smith. 



Our Feathered Friends.— The usefulness of small birds as destroyers of insects is 

 thoroughly recognised by the Saxou Goveruineni, as is shown by a curious scene wit- 

 nessed last week on the markei-place at Dresden. A body of police suddenly made 

 their appearance, and, without any previous warning, seized all the cages coniaining 

 singing birds exposed for sale, and released their inmates. A decree has also been 

 issued, forbidding, under penalty of a fine, the killing or trapping of these useful 

 songsters, and containing especially severe regulations with regard to birdnesting. 



[This is a step in the right direction, but there should be sirinirent laws to protect 

 gardeners and farmers from their own suicidal persecution of these " feathered friends," 

 — E. Newman.^ 



Effect of Cold on Birds.— The chilling effects of the north-easterly winds on 

 Thursday and Friday last seem to have had a fatal influence on our Hirundine', for 

 many, both martins and chimney swallows, were found dying and dead on those days: 

 this did not appear to have been caused by hunger, for some of them were in goo<l 

 condition : previously to this we had few of either species. I could not detect any para- 

 sitical vermin on any of them. Another singular event occurred on those days: 

 luy poultry yard suffered much from the depredations of rooks (not carrion crows nor 

 jackdaws), many of which were delected in carrying off young chickens soon alter they 

 were hatched. I thought bjlh these uircuiustauccs were worthy of notice, aud I shall 



