2848 Birds. 



are a diminutive race when compared to the whites, not indeed half 

 the size of their stately opponents ; yet what was wanting to them in 

 individual prowess, was more than made up by overwhelming num- 

 bers, for they certainly out-numbered the exiles by ten to one; a great 

 odds in any way. But notwithstanding this, such were the indomita- 

 ble courage and obstinacy of our fishermen, and such the effective use 

 they made of that formidable weapon of theirs, the pike, that they 

 kept possession of their new domain, against every effort of the 

 blacks to expel them. We will only mention, that the latter renewed 

 the contest in the following spring, and another campaign was fought, 

 but we need hardly add, with the same result as before, our dear 

 piscatory friends coming off finally victorious. We suppose a lasting 

 peace was eventually concluded, for since that day to this the former 

 belligerent parties have lived in amicable neighbourhood. May such 



be the end of all wars ! 



W. Pearson. 



Border Side, near Bowness, 

 December 17, 1849. 



Note on the occurrence of rare Birds near Bridgwater. — I am late in my'notice of 

 the wax wing in Somerset: many of these interesting - birds visited the neighbourhood 

 of Bridgwater last winter, and some were shot and preserved for museums. Cirl bun- 

 lings have spent the winter here ; during unpleasant weather, in early spring, they often 

 assembled in pretty large flocks on the tops of elm-trees and united their sober notes. 

 A few of these birds spent the summer often, and probably built here, but I have not 

 met with their nests. Wheatears came under my notice on the 31st of March, and I 

 heard the chiff-chaff on the 2nd of April : these two birds I have known here at least 

 a week earlier. On the 3rd of April the wryneck was heard : a few swallows and 

 martins, and the yellow wagtail were seen. On the 8th, the nightingale, grasshopper 

 warbler and willow wren, were in full song. On the 15th, the common whitethroat, 

 blackcap warbler and redstart sang. On the 17th, the cuckoo proclaimed its arrival. 

 April 25th, I procured Richard's pipit, tree pipit, and gray-headed wagtail. May 

 5th, swifts appeared : (5th, swifts were plentiful. To-day I saw hundreds of swallows, 

 martins, and sand martins skimming the Tone, near the bridge, at Taunton, regard- 

 less of interruption ; and hundreds were huddled together on the upper cornices of 

 houses near the bridge, where they obtained shelter from the rough wind and cold 

 rain. 10th, to-day I hear of dozens of swallows and martins found dead on the 

 ground and in farm bartons, and that flocks of these interesting visitors are so weak, 

 and eager in pursuit of food over water and meadows, that they are readily struck 

 down with sticks and stones. We have had much rough cold weather, and many 

 frostj nights since the Hirundines appeared. To-day the air is from the south and 

 the sun has shone bright, and these birds are brisk and animated. A small flock of 



