IG THE BIRDS OF DEVOX. 



Several were heard at Topsbam in 1845 (Zool. p. 1191); one was shot at Tallaton, 

 near Honiton, 1846 (Ed. Murch, Zool. 1846, p. 13J3); one was trapped near Countess 

 Weir about 1854; beard near Exeter and Topshani, April 28th and May 27th, 1864, 

 and May 7tb, 1865. Heard at Stokewood May 11th and June 1st, 1879 (R. C), at 

 Rewe, near Exeter, Api-il 29th, 1881 ; at Stokewood June 5th, 1881, May I4th and 

 21st, 1883, May 13th, 1884, May 24th, 1886 (R. C). At the end of April and in 

 May 1SS2 Nightingales were beard singing at Torquay (' Field,' April 29th, 1882) ; 

 at Kenton; two at once at Stokewood, May 27tli and 28th (R. C.) ; at Chudleigb 

 (W. B.) ; near Horrabridge and at Torcross (E. A. S. E.). Two were shot at Thurle- 

 stone April 24th, 1888 (R. P. N.). One is said to have been heard at Fenny Bridges, 

 near Otteiy St. Mary, in May 1890 (' Exeter Gazette' for May 23rd. 1890). In South 

 Devon, besides the above localities, it is said to have been heard at Beer, Seaton, 

 Exniouth, Powderham, Dawlish, Teigumouth, Lindridge, Ringmore, South Bovey, 

 Brixham, and Kingsbridge (Polwliele, Hist, of Devon; Montngu, Orn. Diet., Suppl.; 

 BeUaniy, Nat. Hist. S. Devon ; Turton and Kingston ; and Yarrell's British Birds, 

 2nd ed. i. p. 303), to which may be added Ashburton, Shute Woods, and Giitisham 

 (Pidsley's ' B. of Devonsliire,' p. 15). At Kingsbridge it is so rare that Mr. R. P. 

 NichoUs, of that town, and his brother had but one specimen brought to them for 

 preservation in fifty years (E. A. S. E. in ' Exeter Gazette' for June 13th, 1883). It 

 is also rare in the extreme south-eastern corner of Devon. 



In Nortli Devon it is .said to have been heard at Barnstaple (' Naturalist,' 1866, 

 p. 358) ; and many years ago a Mr. Torr had a stuffed Niglatingale which was caught 

 near Barnstaple. Polwhele also says it has been heard in that part of the county 

 (Hist, of Devon). 



I\Ir. J. T. Underbill informed us that a pair were breeding on the Honiton Road 

 just beyond tlie Exeter and Exmouth railway arch, near Exeter, June 6th, 1872 ; and 

 Mr. II. E. Riwson ibund several pairs breeding in a coppice near Ashburton in 1888 

 and 1889 (Pidsley's ' Birds of Devonshire,' p. 15). 



Tliough tlie range of this species seems extending westward, it has not yet been re- 

 corded from any jjlace west of the Tamar. Mr. Rodd says it is unknown in Cornwall 

 (' Birds of Cornwall,' p. 39). It is common on the eastern side of Dorset, but rarer on 

 the western (Mansel-Pleydell, ' Birds of Dorset,' p. 23). It is tolerably numerous near 

 Taunton, in Somersetshire (C. S., ' Birds of Somerset,' p. 102). 



We have never heard a Nightingale singing at large in 'N. Devon. Birds 

 brought from other parts of the kingdom and turned down at Barnstaple 

 did not remain in the district, and were never heard to sing. "We our- 

 selves once took a number of Nightingales from Surrey into Devon. We 

 carried them down bj- the night mail in the guard's van, and in their 

 cages the birds sang throughout the journej'. Several of them lived for 

 three years at Barnstaple, and treated us to rich concerts. They would 

 begin to sing just at the early dawn of a summer's morning ; first one 

 would warble a few notes, and the others, in emulation, woi;ld tune up 

 as well, until we had the full choir. During the middle of the day they 

 were generally mute, nor did they sing much of evenings, with the ex- 

 ception of the winter time. Thej' were then brought into the dining- 

 room for the sake of the warmth of the fire, and when the lamps were 

 lighted they often commenced to sing, and would provide us with a concert 

 during dinner. Their favourite homie boxicJie was a fat cockroach, and 

 great was the excitement in all the cages of a morning when a pie-dish 

 full of writhing monsters from the kitchen regions was brought into the 

 room, and the birds were fed in turn by means of a quill-pen, with which 

 the loathsome orthoptcra were prodded and handed over to them, all 

 uttering the " tack, tack," with which they express pleasure. (M, A. M.) 



