306 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



family, all keeping inland, and seemingly not so shy as in England, 

 feeding out in the open fields, or at the side of the road. 



Carrion-Crow (Corvus corone). — Perhaps as common as the Magpie. 

 Saw several every day, generally in the locality of the sea, The Crows 

 and Sea-birds are sworn enemies, and a fearful uproar ensued one day 

 as one of these black rascals alighted on one of Les Autelets (com- 

 prising four isolated rocks), the inaccessible home of Guillemots, 

 Gulls, &c. On another occasion saw hostilities between a Crow and 

 an Oystercatcher, and at all times, when near the Gulls' nesting 

 haunts, found many broken eggs lying about, the work of the Carrion- 

 Crow, no doubt. 



Kook (0. frugilegus). — I have nothing in my notes about this bird, 

 but do not remember seeing one, and certainly there is no rookery. 

 Perhaps it is not altogether surprising, as there is only about one place 

 on the whole island suitable for their nursery. 



Eaven (C. corax). — Two specimens only came under my notice. 



Sky-Lark (Alauda arvensis). — Common. Keeping preferably to the 

 more cultivated parts. 



Swift (Cypsehis apus). — Nearly as frequently met with as the 

 Swallow. They, in common with the Swallows, seemed more abun- 

 dant on the western coast, and this was probably due to the fact that 

 during the greater part of our stay there was a north-easter blowing, 

 and the western side was more protected and warmer. This bird pro- 

 bably breeds in suitable crannies in the cliff-face. 



Cuckoo (Guculus canorus). — I have never seen more in one par- 

 ticular area. At the northern part of the island they were more com- 

 monly met with than anywhere, excepting perhaps Little Sark. They 

 delighted in perching on the rocks strewn about above Les Boutiques 

 caves, and sung the familiar song therefrom. On two or three occa- 

 sions I heard the song rendered "cuckoo, cuckoo," and ending abruptly 

 with "cue," and also the other variation of "cuc-cuckoo." It is 

 matter of some surprise that with so many Cuckoos in the dis- 

 trict, and the amount of nests found, that not one contained a 

 Cuckoo's egg. 



Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). — The only representative of the 

 Eaptorial birds, seen hovering over a field of young corn just before 

 sundown on the evening of May 24th. 



Stone Curlew (QHdicnemus scolopax). — Met with none of them, but 

 was told by the fishermen that they were acquainted with it, and that 

 it sometimes bred on the island. 



Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis). — None in Sark in May, 



