NOTES AND QUERIES. 27 



uuusual number of Jays, Garrulus glandarius, appeared in our woods early 

 iu October. A Water Rail, Rallus aquations, was seen at the Aviary Pond, 

 Lilford, Oct. 31st. Hawfinches, Coccothraustes vulgaris, appeared in large 

 numbers about the lawn at Lilford, October 24th, on which day we were 

 visited by furious sudden squalls of wind from N.W., with heavy snow at 

 times, and some thunder and lightning. Bramblings, Fringilla monti- 

 fringilla, were in force about the lawn at Lilford, Oct. 25th. I have no 

 exact record of the date of the first appearance of Woodcock, Scolopax 

 rusticola, in our neighbourhood this autumn, but it was during the week 

 beginning October 22nd. The Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris, was first seen on 

 October 30th. — Lilfoud. 



Ornithological Notes from the Isle of Wight. — In a former 

 note the late appearance of Swallows was remarked on, none having been 

 seen till the 14th April. But the Martin was still more behind time, 

 none, so far as I am aware, having been observed till May. Few of either 

 species remained here throughout the summer, and none to breed. It is 

 noteworthy that of late years neither species has abounded, except at the 

 autumnal migration ; the reason I am at a loss to conjecture. The scarcity 

 of our common birds is readily accounted for, seeing that thousands perished 

 the winter before last, frozen or starved to death even in this sheltered 

 locality ; but how to account for the paucity of the summer migrants I know 

 not, unless many perished duriug that severe weather in the South of 

 Europe. A small party of Ring Ouzels was seen among the gorse at the 

 foot of the Downs towards the latter end of October; none breed here, but 

 are generally to be met with at the autumnal migration. A Rook of a 

 greyish white colour was lately seen in Appuldurcombe Park. Both 

 Swallows and Martins were observed in considerable numbers ou the 31st 

 October, in a sheltered part of the town ; they are generally to be met with 

 till the middle of November, or later. I am informed by a neighbour who 

 has a fair knowledge of birds that he observed, on the 14th October, a very 

 large dark-pluinaged bird — an Eagle, he says — pass over the town in a 

 westerly direction. From the description given I believe it was an Osprey. 

 Mr. Henry Rogers, of Freshwater, has sent me a list of the birds seen or 

 heard of during the past summer and autumn, also of those that have bred 

 in the cliffs. On May 1 1 th a pair of Hoopoes were brought to him. On the 

 following day two Pied Flycatchers were seen, a species that has been 

 several times observed at Freshwater, and I have known of two being shot — 

 one at Sea View and another near Ryde. On September 19th a Little Owl, 

 a male, in fine plumage, was procured. I am not aware that Stria- 

 passerina was ever met with before in the island. A Whimbrel was shot 

 the same day. On the 2nd October Ring Ouzels were observed on the 

 Downs, also large flocks of Golden Plover. On the 12th several Fieldfares 

 and Redwings were seen — the earliest date Mr. Rogers remembers. Ou 



