126 REPORTS. 



Petit Port cliffs. For a whole week afterwards I saw no more, but on- 

 wards from the 22nd one began seeing some almost daily and gradually 

 they increased in numbers, but at no time became abundant. The 

 scarcity of swallows remarked in recent years is undoubtedly still con- 

 tinuing, but Mr. Hocart considers that they were rather more numerous 

 this summer than last. At the Yale Mr. Hocart did not see any after 

 October 5th, but I was moie fortunate. All through October, on isolated 

 days, I saw a few here and there in different parts of the island, and 

 twice in November 1 was gladdened by the sight of some still with us. 

 On the 4th of that month I saw two at Les Hubits, and on the 17th one 

 was sporting about over the Moulin Huet cliffs, where I watched the 

 little fellow for several minutes. This is by three days our latest recorded 

 date for seeing Swallows. 

 House Martin. — Mr. Carey Curtis saw a House Martin at Le Neuf Chemin, 

 St. Saviour's, on April 5th — five days before the reported arrival of the 

 Swallow. Although early (as far as the Society's records go) this is not 

 our earliest date for the appearance of the bird here, as in 1905 Mr. E. 

 D. Marquand saw one on the 3rd of the month. Mr. Hocart has given 

 me no dates either as regards the arrival or the departure of this summer 

 migrant, but he wrote : " Martins were very plentiful in the latter part 

 of the season." In this I agree with him. On the morning of October 

 16th quite a number were flying about over the Jerbourg fields, and on 

 the 21st (the last day on which I saw any) the bit of St. Martin's between 

 Les Blanches and the church was literally swarming with them from, at 

 any rate, 7.30 to 10 a.m. I fancy this must have been a flock on migra- 

 tion halting here to feed by the way. It was a very pleasant morning 

 with light easterly breeze. 



Sand Martin.— For the second year in succession there is no record of the 

 Sand Martin having been seen here. This is no proof, however, in itself, 

 that the bird has not visited us. 



Swift. — The Swift is my favourite of the Swallow tribe, and I always regret 

 that whereas the House Martin and Swallow remain with us for seven 

 months or more of the year, the Swift's stay is limited to about five. He 

 comes last and goes first. But it cannot, I think, be said of the Swift as 

 of the two former migrants, that it is visiting us in smaller numbers, for 

 in recent years there has been a very noticeable increase in the number 

 seen here. I saw the first Swift this season on April 28th, flying high 

 over the Fermain Bay valley. Jurat Kinnersly saw one at Calais, St. 

 Martin's, on May 3rd, and the following day I noticed that two of the 

 little Town Church band had arrived and were disjDortmg themselves in 

 the neighbourhood. On June 9th I made a note to the effect that Swifts 

 appeared to be in greater abundance than Swallows— certainly than 

 House Martins. "Quite a number," I added, "were flying over the 

 Petit Port cliffs this afternoon, and it is not unusual to see some circling 

 about over the garden at Les Blanches." I kept a watch for the de- 

 parture of the Town Church band and saw none after August 13th. In 

 the country I saw the bird on three later dates, the last time being 

 August 30th, when I observed one at Les Blanches fraternising with a 

 party of swallows. 



Corncrake. — The Corncrake still comes to the island, but, apparently, not 

 in numbers as formerly. Once only did I hear the pleasant note this 

 summer — on the evening of June 9th at Les Huriaux, St. Martin's. The 

 bird must have haunted that neighbourhood for a few weeks however, for 

 it was heard there by Mr. S. M. Henry, of Mount Row, on June 25th and 

 other days. I much regret that the Corncrake appears to be forsaking 

 the island. 



Quail. — Mr. R. P. Spencer told me on March 18th that a Quail had been 

 recently shot here, but was not able to give me date or particulars. The 

 Quail is not by any means a regular visitor to Guernsey. Our Society's 



