40 Birds of Forhvilliam Park. 



observed that although the bird can fly from its nest almost as 

 quietly as an owl, it rises with great noise of wing from the tree 

 near its feeding ground when disturbed. Does the wood-pigeon 

 use its wings as danger-signals ? He had once observed the 

 pheasant, when under the point of a dog, hide its head among 

 the withered leaves, as the ostrich is fabled to do in the sand. 



The corncrake, a summer migrant as regular in its arrival and 

 departure as the swallow, winters in immense numbers in 

 Palestine and in that great bird paradise Asia Minor, and most 

 probably from those countries Great Britain and Ireland are so 

 plentifully supplied. Though seldom seen on the wing, the 

 corncrake possesses great powers of flight. They have been 

 seen 200 miles out at sea, and one is recorded as having been 

 found in the Bermudas, 500 miles from the nearest coast. 

 About the end of September they collect in large numbers near 

 the sea-coast in the south of England, and quietly take their 

 departure for their winter quarters. The woodcock breeds 

 in small numbers throughout the British Islands ; but its great 

 nesting home is Norway and Sweden, and its chief winter 

 quarters the basin of the Mediterranean. It passes through the 

 British isles on its way south during October and November, 

 and many birds remain with us daring the winter, leaving us 

 again in March. The woodcock has great powers of flight, and 

 has been estimated to travel at the rate of 150 miles an hour. 



Mr. Dickson referred in detail to the habits of the various 

 other birds frequenting and visiting the Park, preserved speci- 

 mens of which from the Museum were exhibited. He hoped 

 that many finished pictures of bird -life in other districts would 

 follow these rough sketches of the birds of Fortwilliam Park. 



