Birds. 4593 



Sand Martiu, Hirundo riparia, April 15. Beckenham. 



Swallow, Hirundo domestica, April 15. Sydenham. 



Nightingale, Philomela luscinia, April 16. Love Lane, Lee, and Abbey Wood. 



Sedge Warbler, Salicaria phragmitis, April 16. Near Burnt- Ash Farm. 



Martin, Hirundo urbica, April 17. Kidbroke. 



Grasshopper Lark, Salicaria locuslella, April 17. Shooter's Hill. 



Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, April 30. Dartford Heath. 



Wood Warbler, Sylvia sylvicola, May 3. Greenwich Park. 



Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra, May 4. Farm Lane, Lee. 



Lesser Whitethroat, Curruca sylviella, May 5. In my own garden. 



Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa grisola, May 6. Greenwich Park. 



Swift, Cypselus apus, May 18. Wimbledon. 



It appears to me that some at least of these birds commenced singing on the day 

 of, or the day after, their arrival: such was especially the case with the willow warbler 

 and the redstart. On the day I first heard them my attention was only arrested by 

 two or three weak notes, which was all I heard, and that from only a single individual 

 of each species ; and yet there could be no mistake, for, singular to say, on the fol- 

 lowing morning every grove was resonant with their voices. I was particularly struck 

 with these two cases, and only less so in the case of other birds. It seemed as though 

 they arrived in song, but the fatigue of the journey rendered it necessary for them to 

 rest a few hours before giving utterance to their buoyant feelings. 



It is to be remarked, in reference to the foregoing list, that the weather in the first 

 half of the month of April was bright and warm, but towards the 19th or 20th it 

 changed to dull and cold, and every one must recollect the very severe night of the 

 23rd. This checked the influx of our summer visitors for a time, and, although up to 

 that period fresh arrivals were taking place every day, a fortnight elapsed, during 

 which Nature retrograded and the remaining birds wisely kept aloof. 



I was unfortunately not in a position to note the cessation of the summer song 

 with any accuracy ; but I observed that the following birds recommenced their song 

 later in the season : — 



Blackbird, Turdus merula, Aug. 4. Swallow, Hirundo domestica, Sept. 1. 



Robin, Erythaca rubecula, Aug. 5. Goldcrest, Regulus auricapillus, Sept. 12. 



Willow Wren, Sylvia trochilus, Aug. 23. Chaffinch, Fringilla ccelebs, Oct. 15. 



Blackcap, Curruca alricapilla, Aug. 30. Lark, Alauda arvensis, Oct. 18. 



Chiff-chaff, Sylvia hippolais, Aug. 31. Thrush, Turdus musicus, Oct. 19. 



Wren, Troglodytes Europceus, Aug. 31. Hedgesparrow, Accentor modularis, Oc- 

 Starling, Sturnus vulgaris, Sept. 1. tober 19. 



I am much inclined to believe that, at least in the majority of instances, the birds 

 which first begin by favouring us with their long-lost voices in the autumn are the 

 young birds of the year; in some cases I am sure of it, from having seen the young 

 birds themselves utter the note to which my attention has been directed owing to its 

 having been so long silent. I do not assert that they alone sing in the latter part of 

 the season, but I believe they are generally the first to break the autumnal silence. 

 The redbreast is by far the most indefatigable vocalist: throughout the whole year he 

 was silent only from July 17th to August 5th, and then the quiet was profound : for 

 weeks together his was the only voice heard, and nothing seems to impair his powers : 



