574 The Migration of Birds. By Dr Chas. Stuart. 



April and May, I observed the Willow Wren on Apr. 27 ; and on Apr. 

 28, great flocks of Sand Martins and House Swallows by the river. Sand- 

 pipers have also arrived on the Whitadder ; on Apr. 30, saw Flycatchers 

 at Blanerne bridge, hawking after insects from the boughs of thp trees 

 below the bridge, coming right up to the parapets. May 4, Land-rail 

 heard at Harelaw by my son and the shepherd there. May 12, plenty of 

 Swallows at Foulden New Mains, the afternoon being warm, although 

 windy. May 15. a flock of 30 Swifts have arrived at their summer quarters 

 below the inn at the lower part of the village, where they breed in the 

 roof of a deserted old house. The weather being warm, they are flying 

 about screaming in their flight, and evidently in great spirits. May 15, Mr 

 Henry Craw heard the Cuckoo in the strips of wood above West Mains of 

 Foulden near Edington hill. Weather delightful. May 17, saw Kedstart 

 on road leading to Blanerne. 



June and July. June 27, flushed young Sandpipers in the com at 

 Huttoa and side of Bluestone ford. My spaniel set them up. Well able 

 to take care of themselves, they flew for shelter to the river banks. July 

 4, at Broomhouse in Edrom parish, while walking in the garden with Mr 

 Clapham, he pointed out to me in a bed of sweet-scented violets, a nest 

 of the Grey Wagtail, containing many young ones. The violet is named 

 odoratissima, and its leaves are exceedingly large, and completely covered 

 the nest. The Whitadder is close at hand, and I saw the old birds on the 

 top of the wall in numbers. In a cold turf -frame, a little farther on, where 

 a crop of the same violets had been matured, another nest exactly the 

 same was known, the old birds flying off. Nothing could be more beautiful 

 than the situation of the nests, the fine broad leaves of the violet covering 

 them completely from observation, and we should have had a difficulty in 

 identifying the species of the bird had the parents not flown off in sight. 

 Flycatchers, and all summer visitors are plentiful, in this retired, well- 

 wooded place. The Redstart is very plentiful this season on the Huttoa 

 side of the Bluestone ford, and many young broods of the Wren are 

 flying about there also. July 6, saw large coveys of young Paitridgeg 

 strong on the wing, at Foulden Newtown and Clarabad. About 10 p.m. at 

 this season, I observe the Herons flying high in the air over my house, 

 coming from the river, and flying towards Blackburn and Billy Mire. 

 The plaintive cry of the Curlew is also heard late in the evening when 

 taking its evening flight from the bogs at Blackburn. While returning 

 from Billy Mains, where I have been on duty at 2 a.m. on July 6, I heard 

 the Blackbirds begin to sing almost in the dark at 2.15 ; immediately after 

 the Lark rose from the corn, in full song, and the cry of the Green Plover 

 was also heard. These I believe to be the earliest birds in the morning. 

 The first notes of the Blackbird sound wild, as if he had slept too long 

 and waked in a fright. The Thrush has been often heard to sing at mid- 

 night, when his mate is sitting in her nest near, and in consequence has 

 been mistaken for the Nightingale. July 8 and 9, the Blackbirds still in 

 full song. They have sung beautifully this summer, I suppose owing to 

 their increased numbers, since the inclement winters of 1879, 80, 81, 82. 



