4450 THE ZooLocist—May, 1875. 
other with loud croaks; but, strange to say, none of these had yet 
attained the black neck. 
15th. Observed the first wheatear; also some cormorants in 
perfect breeding dress. 
16th. Fieldfares still plentiful. 
18th. Visited Kingsbridge, and called on Mr. Nicholls, jun., the 
bird-preserver, who showed me a fine shag killed six weeks pre- 
viously, but in full breeding plumage. I was much interested in 
having the opportunity of seeing Knowle House, once the residence, 
and I believe the birthplace, of Colonel Montagu. It is still very 
like the vignette given in Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds,’ although I was 
informed that it had been greatly altered. I afterwards drove to 
Thurlstone, on the coast, about five miles from Kingsbridge, the 
Rector of which place, on my mentioning Knowle House, told me 
that he possessed a fine oil painting of the beautiful spaniels, repre- 
sentatives of a magnificent breed introduced by Colonel Montagu: 
he also pointed out a village by the sea, in which the great painter 
Turner used to lodge, for the purpose of studying and painting his 
waves. In the fields I observed a great many herring gulls in full 
breeding dress. Lesser blackbacked gulls are now also in summer 
plumage. 
20th. Several siskins were seen and some obtained near Ply- 
mouth. A few redshanks in our market, which must have wintered 
with us. 
22nd. Visited the cliffs of the river Yealm near Plymouth, and 
found many herring gulls assembled at their nesting-place; but 
I do not think they had yet commenced operations. 
23rd. Heard a wheatear singing very prettily, although the 
weather was very cold in the shade. Observed another redthroated 
diver and a flock of twenty-four ducks, which I think were scoters, 
on the sea near the Mewstone, at the entrance of the river Yealm. 
26th. Remarked some chiffchaffs on the coast, apparently only 
just arrived ; the following day there was a very strong north wind. 
Longtailed tits are now to be seen in pairs. 
29th. Visited the annual breeding-place of a pair of ravens near 
Bovisand, and found the female sitting: she seemed very reluctant 
to leave the nest, and when she did so went off in a fluttering 
manner, at the same time uttering a curious cry until joined by the 
male, when they both flew round and round, rising and falling in a 
menacing way until we quitted the place. Iwas rather surprised 
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