3834 The Zoologist — January, 1874. 



letter from my friend Mr. Montague Knight, of Charston House, about four 

 miles from hence, in which he says, " T saw some swallows here on the 

 12th instant, and yesterday (November 21st) was much surprised to see 

 some six or seven house martins wheeling round the house. On both 

 occasions the weather was bright and sunny. Gilbert White would have 

 said they were attracted by the sun from their winter hiding-places." It is 

 remarkable that White has no record of their stay later than the 5th of 

 November. — Thomas Bell; The Wakes, Selborne, Alton, Hants, Nov. 27, 

 1873. 



Hartins and Swallows : is tbcir late Stay dependent on the Wind ? — 

 Our local Hirundiua3 left at the usual time for their migration ; but on 

 Sunday, the 9th of November, I saw a flight of about a dozen martins 

 {Hirundo urbica), and noticed them daily from that time to the 21st. All 

 this time the wind had been in the east, with the exception of a few houra 

 at mid-day on the 13th, when it was due south. Every day a cold wind 

 was blowing, the poor birds having apparently a hard time of it. On the 

 21st the wind changed to W.N.W., and became milder. On the 22nd, wind 

 N.W., I saw but four martins and one swallow ; 23rd, wind N.W., four 

 martins only ; 24th, wind W., all appear to have left; to-day (25th), wind 

 S. and very mild, with fogs, I have walked for hours looking for swallows, 

 but have not seen one, so conclude they have all left. On the 21st, whilst 

 talking with a person who takes an interest in such matters, he told me 

 that for a week or ten days he had observed the martins about, and the 

 day before he had seen two swallows also. I was doubtful about the 

 swallows ; but whilst we were talking four martins and a swallow passed by, 

 and I had full opportunity of recognizing it. The same person told mo 

 that he had heard that swallows would not start on their migration whilst 

 the wind was at all from an easterly direction : the above facts would appear 

 iu some measure to corroborate the idea. — Stephen Clogg. 



IndifTcrcncc of Small Birds to the Kestrel. — I have been much struck 

 by the indiilereuce with which small birds seem to treat the kestrel. To-day 

 (November 25th) I saw five linnets pass within a foot or two under a kestrel, 

 whilst it was hovering in the air, without either noticing the other. — 

 Id. 



Partridge Mith white " Horseshoe."— Is it not very uncommon for the 

 " horseshoe" on a partridge's breast to be quite white? I had one the other 

 day with the " horseshoe " entirely white, with the exception of one little 

 brown feather. It was an old bird. — Henry Arrousmith. [Partridges, like 

 many other birds, are subject to frequent variety. We have seen many 

 more singular than this in appearance. — Editor of ' Field,' Dec. 6, 1873.] 



Partridge perching in a Tree. — I was shown the other day a partridge 

 which had just been shot while flying from a tree, in the top of which it had 

 been perching. The gentleman who shot it told me that he had several 



