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238 Cordeaux: Bird-Notes from the Humber District. 
Turdus pilaris Linn. Fieldfare. 25th April. Saw a con- 
siderable number on one of the commons at Woodhall. 
This is, however, by no means an unusually late occurrence. 
I have seen them late in May. 
Numenius phzopus (Linn.). Whimbrel. May, first week. 
The ‘May-birds’ have arrived, and we daily hear their 
familiar notes in the Humber marshes and along the coast. 
Machetes pugnax (Linn.). Ruff. 5th May. I saw a small 
flight in the marshes in Great Cotes to-day. 
Saxicola cenanthe (Linn.). Wheatear. 16th May. I noticed 
some of the large race of tree-perching Wheatears at this 
date. They appear very regularly each year on passage 
along the eastern side of these islands, and are probably on 
their way to Greenland and the extreme north. 
Turdus viscivorus Linn. Mistletoe Thrush. 16th May. 
There were ten on the lawn this evening, old and young. 
On 5th June I heard a most violent outcry from a pair who 
had a nest of young in a Scotch fir. The birds were flying 
to and fro in a very excited manner, and evidently in great 
trouble. On going to the tree I found a Squirrel close to 
the nest. At the least this was suspicious, but I do not 
think Squirrels can be charged with destroying young 
birds, although, unquestionably, they will sometimes take 
the eggs. Mr. Roebuck tells me that when Mr. O. Grabham 
and he were at Wiganthorpe Park last June the keeper 
told them that he had observed a Squirrel attacking and 
killing a young Woodpecker. 
Chelidon urbica (Linn.). House-Martin. zoth May. First 
seen at Great Cotes. 
Cypselus apus (Linn.). Swift. zoth May. First occurrence ; 
both are much behind the average date. 
Carduelis elegans Steph. Goldfinch and 
Pyrrhula europea Viecillot. Bullfinch. Both have nested in 
the garden at Brackenborough Hall, near Louth, this year. 
_ Loxia curvirostra Linn. Crossbill. End of May and early 
} 
une. About a score of Crossbills come each day to some 
Scotch firs in the garden at Brackenborough. They arrive 
in one flock, coming from the direction of the Elkington 
woods on the opposite side of the valley. Their flight is 
jerky and undulating, and their eghinte cee call- 
note on the wing is heard before the birds are seen. 
I found the ground beneath nats trees most ss i 
* 
