Birds, 13 



Ornithological Notices. The ring-ousel [Merula torquata), the 

 pied flycatcher [Muscicapa atricapilla), and the hobby [Falco suh- 

 buteo)^ occasionally visit us in the spring, but their appearance is very 

 uncertain. In the spring of 1840 several ring ousels remained a few 

 days in the neighbourhood. A single reed-warbler w^as shot at a pond 

 close by the town, in 1835, which is the only individual I have seen 

 here. In the spring of 1841 the redstart, nightingale, willow- wren, 

 lesser pettychaps and garden warbler, were very numerous ; while the 

 blackcap, whinchat, lesser whitethroat, red-backed shrike and spotted 

 flycatcher were far less common than usual. — Id. 



Appearance of Migratory Birds near Sheffield. The absurd no- 

 tions entertained by some of the naturalists of the last century, with 

 respect to "birds creeping down reeds &c." have been exploded long 

 ago by the scientific world ; but still, even now you do find some of 

 the country people talking of a change of plumage towards winter : 

 such as Crex pratensis being shot in a diff'erent dress, and which, from 

 description, must be Rallus aquaticus. I have offered these people 

 large rewards to bring me a " corn creak," but of course never could 

 get one at that season. The following observations, given under the 

 hope that they may possibly be useful, have been made on the spot 

 that twenty-one years ago gave me life ; where, undisturbed, many of 

 the summer birds delight us with their lovely forms and rich vocal 

 powers. 



The earliest arrival (excepting the wheatear, whose migrations are 

 on a small scale) is the lesser pettychaps [Phyllopneuste rufa) : on the 

 1st of April, 1838, I obtained a specimen ; this was very early, for in 

 1841 they appeared on the 24th of April; in 1842 the time of arrival 

 was April 22nd5 on the 25th they were quite abundant. Redstarts 

 [Ruticilla Phoenicura) arrived April 7th, 1841 ; they did not make 

 their appearance until April 24th this year. In this locality the 24th 

 of April is the average time of amval with the blackcap warbler 

 {Curruca atricapilla), garden warbler (C hortensis), greater and lesser 

 whitethroat {S. cinerea and curruca)^ the wood and willow wrens 

 {phyllopneuste sibilatrix and Trochilus). Cuckoos, reed and grass- 

 hopper warblers are not abundant in our immediate vicinity, so that T 

 am not able to give dates to a day, but the cuckoo is generally on our 

 moors in the latter part of April, and sedge-birds arrive about the same 

 time. Nightingales are quite rare with us ; there are a few about Co- 

 nisborough Castle and Doncaster, but I cannot give the time of their 

 arrival. On the 28th of April I saw the swallow (Hiru7ido rustica). 

 The swallows are sadly persecuted by strolling gunners from the town. 



