396 TEE ZOOLOGIST. 



being the only species to be seen on the wing. It came early — I saw 

 the first April 26th — and it stayed later than usual — I saw three 

 Aug. 16th, and one Aug. 19th — rather a late date, as far as my 

 experience goes. The Nightingale, judging from the frequency of its 

 song from mid-April onwards, was far from rare ; but some of its con- 

 geners, as the Blackcap, Eeed- Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Grass- 

 hopper-Warbler, &c, cannot be named in the same catalogue; whilst 

 the scolding " chiddy, chit, chit" of the Sedge- Warbler — so suggestive 

 of warm days and pleasant summer evening rambles — was more 

 infrequent than the Nightingale's song. The Cuckoo, Wryneck, and 

 Nightjar were seen and heard in fair numbers. For the past two or 

 three years the Land-Rail has most certainly decreased, but not to be 

 compared with the decrease of the beautiful little Yellow Wagtail 

 (Motacilla rail), which seem to have almost deserted us. A few years 

 ago it nested freely in the meadows where the marsh-marigold spread 

 its yellow mantle, and the elegant dancing flight of the bird as it rose, 

 with its short but merry note, from feeding close to the browsing cattle, 

 was one of the most pleasant sights and sounds to the eye and ear of 

 any one who was not entirely dead to the beauties of nature. It was 

 not so last summer. A few years ago the birds were so common that 

 the fish-poachers knew the exact whereabouts of the old river-keeper, 

 up or down stream, by watching the movements of the " Yellow 

 Mollies," as they are locally called. In a day spent upon various 

 parts of the river I saw but one bird, where in previous summers I 

 have seen scores in a three-miles row, and a friend of mine, who 

 many times searched narrowly for the nest (in anticipation of finding 

 eggs as commonly as formerly), was quite unsuccessful, and did not see 

 a bird. I hope, however, another season the record will be brighter. 

 As if in part compensation for the loss of this elegant little species, it 

 may be remarked that a number of Redshanks have in recent years 

 nested in the meadows by the river, and their unmistakable note and 

 presence have become comparatively familiar to those who a few years 

 ago were ignorant of the existence of such a bird. Some eggs taken, 

 sold, and eaten as those of the Lapwing undoubtedly belonged to the 

 Redshank, as I was shown several to which these remarks apply. I 

 did not hear of either Harriers or Honey-Buzzard, except that a " large 

 brown Hawk" (possibly a Common Buzzard) frequented a wood and 

 heathy piece of land for some time about the end of May, but it 

 escaped both trap and gun, as far as I could learn. Several Hobbies 

 were seen, but not as nesting birds. I saw one about the middle of 

 June, and another later in the season. A few evenings ago I saw a 



