450 TEE ZOOLOGIST. 



Stone Curlew (CEdicnemus crepitans). — A favourite of mine. 

 I like to hear his shrill nocturnal whistles. A common summer 

 visitor around here, and in an evening ramble their shrill cry 

 may often be heard. They keep to the large upland fields 

 during the day, and in the evening come down to the water 

 meadows and fallows to feed. I have been told by old farm 

 labourers that when going to the fields in the early morning they 

 have seen them sitting on the gates as if roosting [a most 

 remarkable fact] . It flies in flocks, and when on the wing is 

 very vociferous, doubtless to keep the stragglers together. It 

 comes in the beginning of April, and leaves in August or 

 September. I have had eggs taken on May 23rd, 1860, near the 

 Round House at Fawley [Bucks] , in a large stony field, and 

 since then I have had them more than once. They are very 

 difficult to find. Breeds in the large stony fields about Bix. 

 [They still breed on the stony fields on the Chilterns.] 



Golden Plover (Charadrius pluvialis) . — A great many in 

 some seasons, mostly in winter. I have occasionally seen very 

 young ones. 



Dotterel (Endromias morinellus). — Has been shot two or 

 three times, but of late years become very rare. 



Heron (Ardea cinerea).— Some few remain occasionally to 

 breed in one or the other of our woods, but not in sufficient 

 numbers to be called a heronry. I have known nests at Ship- 

 lake, Bolny, Harpsden Moor, and in Oaken Grove. The nearest 

 heronry is at Harleyford, below New Lock [Bucks]. It is on 

 the increase and strictly preserved. In 1866 there were over 

 forty nests. 



Purple Heron (A. purpurea). — One shot many years ago 

 near Reading. Harbor stuffed it. [I cannot trace this speci- 

 men.] 



Night Heron (Nycticorax griseus). — In 1849 as many as 

 three were obtained in the neighbourhood of Oxford. [I cannot 

 find out anything more about these examples.] 



Redshank (Totanus calidris). — Has been shot on a few 

 occasions, e.g. in large ditches at Bolny and Shiplake. 



Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus candidus). — One shot 

 many years ago at Shiplake ; was preserved by Hewer. It 

 passed into the hands of Mr. Sotham, and from him went to 



