346 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



On May 15th a Golden Oriole (female) was shot in an orchard 

 close to High Halden. A few weeks later (June 9th) a male was 

 observed near Sissinghurst (about eight miles from the former 

 place). On the day after its arrival rain fell heavily, and the bird 

 was lost sight of, taking refuge no doubt in the thick fir portions 

 of the Hemsted Woods. Prior to the above records another 

 male bird appeared during May, 1893, in the same wood. The 

 "Loriot" call, whence in France this bird derives its name, 

 attracted the keeper's attention, and thinking his boy, engaged 

 in arranging Pheasant-coops in a wood below his cottage, was 

 whistling for help, he started out in the direction of the sound. 

 This eventually led to the discovery of the bird, and also to its 

 destruction. 



The severe drought has at length abated; while it lasted 

 things looked distressed. The dark foliage of copse and hedge- 

 row stood out in bold relief against the brown of the parched-up 

 pasture-lands, cropped close — and in places to the very roots — 

 by grazing sheep and cattle. The conies even suffered. Of this 

 many of the tender stems of the ash " tots " in the woods bear 

 witness, for they are ribbed and marred by their teeth. The 

 familiar sight of numbers of Rabbits feeding in broad daylight 

 throughout the summer became eventually a rare one. Only 

 scattered individuals were to be seen. The majority kept to 

 their holes till dusk, realising that greater precaution was neces- 

 sary, since they had to go further afield before food could be 

 obtained. In bird-life the scarcity of food became also felt. It 

 was quite a painful sight to witness Thrushes and Blackbirds on 

 the parched-up fields, engaged in their spasmodic ramblings after 

 worms which they could not get. 



Premature migrations became general with Missel and Song 

 Thrushes, and also with Blackbirds, when the currants and rasp- 

 berries in our gardens no longer afforded them subsistence. 

 These fruit-bushes were also attacked at times by Mocks of Star- 

 lings, an uncommon trait in the good character of this species. 



Compared with former years, the Nuthatches bred this 

 season very sparingly. On the other hand, in the Tunbridge 

 Wells district, a wonderful increase took place in their numbers. 

 After the autumn moult the plumage of the male Nuthatch is 

 remarkably handsome, the breast being a most delicate apricot, 

 while the slate-blue of the upper parts is very intense in colouring. 



