THE ZooLtocist—F EBRUARY, 1872. 2917 
Ornithological Notes from Devonshire, &c. 
By Gervase F. Matuew, F.L.S. 
December 4th, 1869. A tolerably hard frost last night, followed 
in the morning by a fresh north-easterly breeze, which continued 
the greater part of the day. [ started by the ten o’clock train for 
Instow, returning to Barnstaple by the salt-marshes and oozes 
(that is, what remains of them) on the banks of the Taw, a distance 
of about eight miles. In the cricket field at Instow, hopping 
about in company with a male stonechat, I recognized an old 
friend, the black redstart. I first made the acquaintance of this 
species at Gibraltar, where it is very numerous, the locality being 
well suited to its habits ; and I afterwards observed it in profusion 
at Corfu during the winter months, especially on the island of 
Vido, where it was always to be seen among the ruins of our late 
forts. The present specimen, on my nearer approach, flew over 
the cricket-field wall and was lost to sight: fortunately the wall 
was not a high one, and on looking over I noticed it sitting on a 
stone on the rocky beach within a short distance of me. A charge 
of No. 8 speedily put an end to its existence, and on picking it 
up I found it to be a young male of the year in fair plumage. 
' This is the first, to my knowledge, that has been procured in the 
neighbourhood, although I am aware several have been seen. The 
oozes, which formerly at this time of the year were frequented by 
vast flocks of ringed plovers, dunlins, curlews, turnstones, &c., 
were to-day, comparatively speaking, deserted, and I do not think 
I saw more than a hundred altogether.. The large autumnal flocks 
of bartailed godwits, knots, curlew sandpipers, &c., have likewise, 
I am told, almost ceased to visit this once favoured river; and the 
various species of terns, which were plentiful, and by their beautiful 
appearance and butterfly-like flight so enhanced the charms of an 
autumnal landscape, have betaken themselves to regions where 
food is more abundant, or where they are less persecuted. The 
cause of this is easily explained: railways, embankments and 
drainage are the foes that have driven our birds away. Hundreds 
of acres of salt-marsh, such excellent feeding-ground for all the 
Tringz, have been reclaimed, and are under cultivation ; a railroad 
from Barnstaple to Bideford runs close to the river, and the 
passing trains frighten the birds away as soon as they arrive. I 
SECOND SERIES—VOL. VII. G 
