460 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



NOTES FROM MID-HANTS: 



Spring and Summer, 1897. 



By G. W. Smith. 



Since sending my notes for the winter of 1896 I have learnt 

 from Mr. Chalkley that a Gannet was shot at East Tisted 

 on December 12th, and a Peregrine Falcon at Whitchurch on 

 the 5th of that month. 



January. 



In water-meads (Winchester) this month shows very little 

 change in bird-life from the last. The Common Gulls still 

 remain with us, but L. argentatus has not paid a visit during the 

 whole month. Mr. Kelsall, writing to me of sea-birds in the New 

 Forest, says: — " There is a large pond in my parish about four 

 miles from the sea which the Gulls visit every day in summer — 

 Herring Gulls, I think. The forest people say that the Cor- 

 morants fly daily to Salisbury ! They often pass over us. Our 

 Gulls are not seen here in winter ; perhaps they go further afield 

 when they have no eggs or young. I find notes in my diary as 

 follows: — March 13th, 1895; Gulls begin to pass over about this 

 date; and March 15th, 1896, Gulls passing over.'* 



On the 6th a Bittern, B. stellaris, was shot at Avington, and 

 sent to Mr. Chalkley to be preserved. By the 29th Pied Wagtails 

 were as numerous as ever in water-meads, but the Grey Wag- 

 tails were reduced to a few pairs. Reed Buntings were still com- 

 mon quite close to the town. On the 30th I saw two Dabchicks, 

 P. fluviatilis, on the Itchen close to the town, for the first time 

 during the winter. They were extremely wary, and dived down, to 

 appear several yards off in an inconspicuous position by the 

 bank, at the slightest disturbance. 



The frost gave way on this date. 



