2860 The Zoologist — December, 1871. 



distributed throughout North Lincohishire in September. The 

 gizzard of one killed from some swedes tc-day contained exclusively 

 insect remains, and amongst these the destructive larva of Agrotis 

 Segetum. 



WIteatear. — Although numerous in our marshes in the spring, 

 few, comparatively, remain to breed, and they, as a rule, keep near 

 the coast. In the autumn there are always again considerable 

 arrivals on their passage southward, but ver}' few old males. It is 

 a mistake to suppose the wheatear rarely perches on trees : I have 

 very frequenilii seen them do this both on trees and hedges; and 

 recently, in walking down a field of turnips, no less than three 

 within a {qw minutes flew up, which perched on the adjacent 

 hedgerow. 



Chimney Swallow. — September 19lh. The wind was north-east 

 this morning, and the marshes dismally cold, bleak and dreary. 

 As I rode along, saw the chimney swallows by hundreds hawking 

 over the stubbles, dipping now and then, tern-like, and taking 

 insects from the ground. They were beating slowly and wearily, 

 in a half-benumbed manner, on from field to field, but ever forward 

 towards the sunny south and the eternal summer, and none turned 

 again ; and I knew, as I lifted my cap to the fluttering throng and 

 whispered God speed, that it was bidding them farewell. The 

 main body left us at this time from the lOth to the 2 1st, some 

 young birds lingering to the 14lh of October, when I last noted 

 them. 



Wigeon. — September 29lh. We almost invariably find a brood 

 or two of wigeon on the beck or marsh drains in September. I got 

 three out of nine to-day, all young birds and very fat. 



Golden Plover. — September 30th. The first flock seen, numbering 

 thirteen birds. 



Shoveller. — September 30th. A young male shot on the flats 

 this morning. 



Jack Snipe. — September 30th. We had heavy rains, with much 

 wind from the S. and S.E., on Saturday night and Sunday, the 

 30th of September and 1st of October. On Monday, the 2nd, shot 

 the first jack snipe, and found them in " wisps," both in the marsh 

 and on the higher middle marsh lands. With the jacks were a few 

 full snipe. Like the common species, I believe, the jack snipe 

 comes across in Jlocks. On their first appearance we almost always 

 find many together. 



