4030 The Zoologist — June, 1874. 



these marshes were literally what their name implies, the peewit 

 was probably induced to fix upon the most elevated spot as a wise 

 precaution against floods and damp ; the necessity for this has 

 long since passed away, yet hereditary instinct continues to assert 

 itself, and the old habit is persisted in notwithstanding modern 

 improvements and husbandry. 



Tree Pipit. — April 6. First heard ; a solitary instance, for the 

 main body certainly did not arrive till the end of the month. 



Dunlin. — April 8. There are some immense flocks on the coast, 

 the individuals comprising which have, in a great degree, put on 

 their breeding-dress. Early on the morning of the 20th, I rode 

 within a few yards of many hundreds of dunlin, resting near the 

 centre of a freshly-sown field, not one of which showed any signs 

 of seasonal change. I am therefore inclined to think they were a 

 flock of young birds of the previous summer, which this year never 

 fully obtain their breeding, or rather summer, plumage, and remain 

 in flocks on the coast throughout the season, not breeding till the 

 succeeding season. That some of our waders do not breed till the 

 third summer, or when they are two years old, I am convinced, or 

 why those half-pluniagcd flocks which we find at Spurn and on the 

 coast throughout May, June and July ? 



Gray Plover. — April 8. First observed on the flats; some are 

 already in summer dress. 



Sparrowhatvk. — I fancy the sparrowhawk is becoming, at least 

 in this district, more common than it was a few years since. It is 

 a useful bird to the farmer in one respect, as they feed largely on 

 that agricultural pest, the wood pigeon. They also eat starlings ; 

 I recently surprised a female sparrowhawk just commencing a meal 

 on a freshly-slain starling; the wood pigeon is, however, their 

 favourite prey. 



Snow Bunting. — April 10. Last noticed; an old bird in beautiful 

 plumage — a most unusually late appearance. 



Sand Martin. — April JO. First seen, several. This is the first 

 occasion in this parish that I have found the sand martin arrive 

 before the chimney swallow. 



Willow Wren. — April 11. First heard. 



Hooded Crow. — Large flocks (one hundred to one hundred and 

 fifty together) near the coast on the 11th. They had entirely left 

 before the morning of the ISth. I have not seen even a single 

 example since this date. 



