Birds. 15 



with meat instead of fish. I had it killed, as it had completely lost 

 its sight and appeared to be suffering greatly. — Id. 



Note on Woodcocks and Snipes. Two woodcocks [Scolopax rus- 

 ilcola) were killed last June, on the moors of James Runnington, 

 Esq., and a full-grown young bird, which I purchased and skinned, on 

 the 8th of June: they breed most years in this district. Snipes' nests 

 are common on the Thorne moors, where I have repeatedly seen 

 them : they, with woodcocks, are often killed the beginning of grouse- 

 shooting, (12th of August). — Id. 



Additional Note on Migratory Birds. During September Buta- 

 lis grisola resorted to the roofs of houses, the warmth of the slates 

 supplying food and a more suitable temperature- All the warblers 

 and flycatchers disappeared about the 24th of the month. On the 

 4th, 5th and 6th of September large companies, chiefly martins, were 

 flying about the town ; these all disappeared about the 20th, while 

 about our house, from the beginning until the end of the month, there 

 were more swallows than I have seen for many years, but only one or 

 two solitary martins. On the 29th of September, while travelling on 

 the York and North Midland Railway, I saw many thousand swal- 

 lows, their chief rendezvous was near the Sherburn station. On the 

 4th of October one swallow was flying about the barracks; on the 6th 

 about twenty swallows were on a house at Crookes, making their usu- 

 al migratory sallies; the night had been very frosty. October 11th, 

 two swallows, young birds, were flying about the same place ; since 

 that time, although I have been very particular in observing the birds, 

 I have not seen, either there or anywhere else, anything like a swal- 

 low, they all, no doubt, having reached a more genial climate. — Id. 

 November 9, 1842. 



Note on the occurrence of Birds on hoard sJiip. So little is or can 

 be known with regard to the fate of the companions of our summer 

 months, after they have once left us on their long and distant flight, 

 that however trivial the following remarks, I shall not hesitate to 

 send them. 



Whilst passing down channel on my way to Madeira, in the month 

 of October, several birds paid us a short visit. After we had cleared 

 the Lizard Point, and were at a distance from any land, a short-eared 

 owl, apparently on a trip of pleasure, if we might judge from the lei- 

 surely way in wdiich it seemed to go about it, after tarrying with us 

 some time, making its beautiful hawk-like circles near above us, di- 

 rected its flight right out to sea. 



Each evening, towards sunset, we had several small birds to roost 



