Birds. 3047 



crests ; seeing it appeared a nondescript it was shot immediately, and 

 nothing more observed as to its habits. 



Bee-eater. Very scarce. I picked up a specimen, on some high 

 land near the sea-coast, which had not been long dead : I succeeded 

 in skinning and setting it up, and I think- it is in the collection of J. 

 Stokes, Esq., of Cuffern. 



Kingfisher. Common. 



Swallow, Martin, Sand Martin and Swift. Common. 



Nightjar. Common. 



Wood-pigeon. Common. 



Rock Dove. A few pairs breed in our cliffs on the sea-coast. 



Turtle Dove. Scarce. 



Pheasant. Common. 



Common Partridge. As its name implies, very common. 



Redlegged Partridges were attempted to be introduced by the Earl 

 of Cawdor, on his estate at Stackpole Court, but I do not think the 

 attempt proved successful, as I have not heard of their being noticed 

 since that time. 



Common Quail. I receive a specimen or two almost every autumn, 

 or during the winter. 



Golden Plover. Common. 



The Ringed Plover. Common. A pair of these birds nested on a 

 rabbit-warren, on a high exposed piece of ground. I took the eggs 

 from the nest ; and in a week the female had laid her four eggs again 

 within a few yards of the former ones: these I again took; and in 

 thirteen days, four more eggs were laid, very near the last nest; but 

 these were decidedly much smaller than the former ones. On visit- 

 ing the place, about three weeks afterwards, I again found a nest con- 

 taining four eggs ; but these were a great deal smaller, and had almost 

 lost their character, as they were nearly round, and not pointed at the 

 end, like the true type of the plovers' eggs. One, which I suspect to 

 have been the last laid, was not larger than a robin's egg, and quite 

 round ; clearly showing she had completely exhausted herself in her 

 efforts to "increase and multiply." I have no doubt of their being 

 the same pair, as there were no others seen near the place. 



Gray Plover. These birds may be said to be scarce, for only in 

 severe weather are they seen on our sea-shores ; and then they are 

 very easily obtained, as they are by no means shy. 



The Peewit, or Lapwing. Common throughout the year. 



The Turnstone. Scarce. Only an occasional one taken in the 

 autumn, and mostly the young of the year. 



