THE ZooLtocist—May, 1872. 3063 
before the beginning of April, or later than the first week in December ; 
consequently during three months in the year none have been observed. 
That the starling is sometimes, not to say frequently, mistaken for the 
swallow, I am fully convinced, though closet-naturalists may smile at it, or 
be shocked at the idea, and refer me to some well-known popular work 
showing the disparity in size and dissimilarity in shape; nevertheless, I 
must adhere to my recorded opinion, strengthened and confirmed of late 
years by more than one writer and observer ; and it will be found on referring 
to Morris's ‘ History of British Birds,’ that he too has mistaken them ; for 
instance, at p. 96 of vol. ii., he remarks :—‘ Near Sittingbourne, Kent, I 
noticed, in the course of a walk, a white bird on the wing, which I at first 
took to be a starling, but which proved to be a young swallow.” ‘That a 
closet-naturalist (even a Buffon ora Yarrell), with the stuffed specimens 
before him, would pronounce them most unlike, there can be no doubt; 
not so the experienced and observing field-naturalist who sees the starling 
in rapid flight on a cloudy and windy day. 
Nightingale—I am informed by a gardener, well acquainted with the 
nightingale, that one was heard at St. Lawrence on the 8th of March: the 
weather unseasonably warm, thermometer up to 53° at 9 a.m. No more 
nightingales were heard till the 9th of April. 
Chiffchaf—Not observed till the 31st of March, when one was seen at 
Bonchurch, flitting about the trees skirting the little lake,—a favourite 
resort on their arrival. 
Willow Wren.—First seen on the 13th of April. 
Whitethroat.—April 13. A whitethroat seen in the garden. 
Starling.—Heard of a young starling being seen towards the end of 
March. 
-Rook.—When rooks commence building it is at all times difficult to judge, 
as they may be seen about their nests in mid-winter, if the weather be mild, 
as was the case this season ; however, they now (15th of April) have young, 
well nigh full grown, that may be seen perched on the sides of the nests, 
and clamorous to be fed. 
Wheatear.—I am informed that the wheatear was observed towards the 
end of March.— Henry Hadfield ; Ventnor, Isle of Wight, April 16, 1872. 
Arrival of the Blackeap.—I heard the full song of the blackcap on the 
8th instant, and again this morning—Edward Hearle Rodd; Penzance, 
April 12, 1872. 
Early Arrival of the Chiffchaff—In the ‘ Zoologist’ for this month I 
observe several notices of the first appearance this spring of the chiffchaff, 
and can supply an earlier date than any there recorded. I heard the chiff- 
chaff in Girdleigh Park, South Devon, on the 9th of March, or about eleven 
days earlier than I remember to have heard it before—Murray A. Mathew ; 
Bishop's Lydeard Vicarage, Taunton, April 4, 1872. 
