918 Birds. 



wont to remain in other parts. Last year (1844) I observed several 

 swallows flying about at Luccombe on November 18th. Up to No- 

 vember 9th their numbers had not sensibly diminished ; but on that 

 day those that had apparently passed the summer with us disappeared. 

 A great increase in the number of swallows usually takes place early 

 in September. My note-book for 1842 records : " up to November 

 17th swallows seen in considerable numbers." " Four swallows seen 

 November 25th. November 29th, three swallows and one martin 

 seen at Luccombe ; and December 18th, two swallows seen, one at 

 Bonchurch, and the other at Ventnor." The appearance of the swal- 

 low in the spring is not correspondingly early. For the last two or 

 three years I have observed its appearance in other parts recorded 

 some days earlier than T have seen the bird here. 



The Martin breeds in considerable numbers along the cliffs, espe- 

 cially in the neighbourhood of Shanklin. But the numbers of mar- 

 tins, as of swallows, are greatly augmented in September. They 

 leave much about the same time as, and, I think, in company with, 

 the swallows, as I generally observe birds of both species flying about 

 in flocks just previously to their departure. 



The Sand Martin. A colony settles year after year in the cliffs 

 between Shanklin and Sandown ; but 1 do not think the bird is very 

 generally distributed over the island. 



Tlie Swift I see for a day or two on its arrival ; but it does not 

 breed in my immediate neighbourhood. I have been somewhat 

 puzzled the last two years by the reappearance of a flock of swifts 

 later in the season. June 15th, 1844, I counted thirty-seven flying 

 about over the sea-shore ; on the 19th and 20th they appeared again. 

 In 1843 I saw a considerable number, June 14th and 15th ; and, in 

 order to ascertain their sex, I shot three ; they proved to be a female 

 and two males. I am at a loss to account for their appearance at a 

 time when they ought to have been at home engaged in important 

 business. I do not think they breed within ten miles of Bonchurch. 



The Night Jar breeds with us. I found its eggs on St. Boniface 

 Down, among the heather, June 8th, 1843. It is, however, of much 

 more frequent occurrence in the autumn ; and the latest period of its 

 stay I have recorded is October 18th. 



The Ring Dove is abundant throughout the year ; but the number 

 is increased in winter by migratory parties. The residents are, how- 

 ever, said to be rapidly becoming more numerous. R. Loe, when 

 wood-pigeon shooting, in addition to the usual green frock and hut of 

 boughs, by way of concealment, uses as a decoy a stuffed skin, 



