Ornithological Notes, by Mr. T. H. Gibb. 213 



tail the complete depopulation of wide tracts of country, 

 which is certainly not the case, for the flocks are scattered 

 about in all directions and not far separated the one from 

 the other. I have more than once seen large numbers during 

 a north-east gale arrive on our coast from over the sea. I 

 regret having again to record a scarcity of landrails and 

 cuckoos. Formerly these birds were comparatively numer- 

 ous ; but I have observed during the last few years sure 

 but gradual falling off in their numbers. Last season, it was 

 rare to hear the call of the crake in the meadow, or the 

 song of the cuckoo in the thicket. 



T. H. Gibb. 



Alnwick, January, 1875. 



On the value of the Horse-Chestnut (iEsculus Hippocastanum) 

 as a Timber-Tree in Plantations. By Ralph Carr- 

 Ellison, Esq. 



Mr. Selby's carefully considered account of this tree in his 

 " British Forest-Trees" is chiefly occupied with its character 

 when planted singly in parks and pleasure grounds, or in 

 avenues. There occurs, however, one short passage which 

 applies to it in another character ; and as that passage was 

 written subsequently to a question which he asked me in 

 conversation — " Whether I had any experience of this tree 

 used as a secondary in plantations of oak ? " I feel in no 

 small degree responsible for his unfavourable estimate of it 

 in this point of view. I well remember, too, that he inclined 

 to think more highly of it, until I unfortunately remarked 

 that to find a use for a light, and, as I then thought, brittle 

 timber would be difficult in our purely agricultural region 

 of North Northumberland. He observed, " I fear it would 

 take up too much room, too, from its spreading side- 

 branches." But he was too able an arboriculturist to 

 attribute much weight to this last consideration, since no 

 tree is more easily regulated by side-pruning, of which it is 

 very patient. His real misgiving as to a larger cultivation 

 of the Horse-Chesnut in plantations for timber, was certainly 



