Birds. 1249 



NATURALISTS' CALENDAR FOR MARCH. 



Birds. — At this period of the year there is a general movement of birds towards the 

 poles. Most of the ducks take their departure from our shores during this month, and 

 pass the breeding season in high northern latitudes. The scaup duck (Fuligula Mari- 

 la), and the tufted duck (Fuligula cristata) mostly leave at the early part of the month, 

 as does the golden eye (Clangula Glauciori), the wigeon (Mareca Penelope), gadwall 

 (Chaulilasmus Streperus), and the garganey (Cyanopterus Circia) which breed in more 

 temperate climates than the former species, remain longer with us, and seldom quit 

 our shores till the end of the month, or the beginning of April. The waders begin to 

 assume the breeding plumage. The sanderling (Calidris arenaria) is exchanging its 

 delicate light-grey winter livery for the more variegated dress which it wears during 

 the breeding season. The same may be said of the godwits (Limosa rufa and mela- 

 nura) ; by the end of the month many of the males have acquired the full summer plu- 

 mage ; the females of all the waders retain the winter plumage longer than the males, 

 and many may be met with throughout the month of May which have only partially 

 assumed the nuptial dress. The warblers begin to arrive, and the lesser pettychaps 

 (Phyllopneuste rufa) is always heard in the course of the month ; the 24th may be con- 

 sidered about the average time of its arrival, but it occasionally visits us several days 

 earlier. The wheatear (Vitiflora CEnanthe) arrives about the same time, and the black- 

 cap (Curruca atricapilla) and the redstart (Ruticilla Phoenicura) sometimes appear at 

 the latter end of the month. 



Insects. — Many species of Lepidoptera may now be met with. The first warm, 

 sunny days the beautiful orange underwing moths (Brepha Notha and B. Parthenias) 

 are to be seen in woods flying in the day time, and occasionally alighting on wet spots 

 in the open parts. Ceropacha flavicornis also ilies by day, but is frequently to be found 

 at rest upon the trunks of birch-trees. The brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx Rhamni), 

 the peacock, elm, and common tortoiseshell butterflies (Vanessa Io, Polychloros and 

 Urticce) which have passed the winter in a torpid state, are aroused by the first warm 

 days, and a few specimens of the small white butterfly (Pontia Rapce) emerge from the 

 chrysalis. — Henry Doubleday, in Naturalist's Almanack for 1845. 



Occurrence of S teller's Western Duck at Filby in Yorkshire. — August 15th, 1845, 

 was shot at Filby, Yorkshire, by Mr. G. Curzon of Weston Lodge, Derbyshire, a male, 

 assuming its winter plumage, of Steller's Western Duck (Fuligula dispar). This bird 

 has been submitted to the inspection of Mr. Yarrell ; it is now in Mr. Curzon's col- 

 lection. — Robert J. Bell ; Mickleover House, near Derby. 



Remarks on the Trachea of Wild Geese. — Although Mr. Yarrell in his • History of 

 British Birds ' has described the tracheae of the different species of ducks, I believe 

 there is no account of those of our four grey geese, and as the distinctions between 

 them derived from plumage and other external marks are very slight, perhaps such of 

 your correspondents as may happen to possess the tracheas of the Anseres segetum, 

 ferus, and albifrons, will be good enough to make known the difference between them. 

 In the mean time, as I have lately prepared a specimen of the Anser Phcenicopus, per- 



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