THE ZooLocist— DECEMBER, 1875. 4713 
Though we had but few swallows and martins during the 
summer, both species have been abundant this autumn, particularly 
the former. On the 17th of October many swallows were to be 
seen hawking in the streets, regardless of the foot-passengers, 
skimming to and fro, wellnigh within reach; the day was mild and 
showery, and their insect-food seemingly abundant. On the 19th 
and 20th (the weather still wet and warm, thermometer 60°) numbers 
of swallows were observed wheeling round and about the town, 
flying low, as is their wont in rainy and windy weather. 
November 7th (thermometer 51°). About twenty swallows were 
seen hawking round the Cottage Hospital at St. Lawrence, mostly, 
if not all, birds of the season; tails but slightly forked. 
That swallows and martins remain with us later than they do 
on the opposite coast, I had pretty good proof when in Brittany in 
1873, not having observed one in November, though unusually 
mild. 
The willow wren and chiffchaff were observed till the beginning 
of October. Few visited us this season; some years the gardens 
swarm with them, more particularly at the autumnal migration. 
I have heard of a flock of redwings having been seen early in 
October. 
I am informed by Mr. Smith, the Newport taxidermist, that he 
had four gray phalaropes sent him during the second week in 
October. 
Henry HapFIELD. 
Ventnor, Isle of Wight, November 8, 1875. 
Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris) in Somersetshire. 
By Ceci SMITH, Esq., F.LS. 
A SHORT time ago, with my friend Mr. Howard Saunders, I was 
looking through a collection of local birds belonging to Dr. Wood- 
forde, which I had not previously seen, when, amongst other things, 
we saw two cases containing four supposed reed warblers (Acro- 
cephalus streperus), which Mr. Saunders thought might really be 
marsh warblers, though, for want of other skins for comparison, he 
could not be quite certain: he therefore promised to send me some 
skins of both birds—A. palustris and A. streperus. Armed with 
these and two eggs of A. palustris, I again went over to examine 
