915.] 



REPORTS. 199 



reason to suspect that one or more of our Guernsey 

 "sportsmen" may be responsible for this. A pair of 

 Greater Blackbacked Gulls that used to live in Cobo bay 

 are not to be seen now. Never this year have I heard the 

 Landrail [Corncrake]. There always used to be a pair in 

 the field behind the Cobo Mission Hall." 



I fear Dr. C res well's surmise as to the fate of the 

 Kingfishers may be only too true. Infrequent visitors 

 with conspicuous plumage have small chance of their life 

 here. As regards the poor Kingfisher its rich dress is its 

 death warrant. I myself know of an instance where a 

 specimen was wantonly shot at St. Martin's, the only excuse 

 given for its shooting being that it was " a pretty bird." 



I shall now read you a few notes about some of our 

 better known summer visitors, with date of their arrival, 

 departure, &c. 



Chiff-Chaff. — Just at the time when this early spring visitor was due to 

 arrive a well-marked spell of wintry weather burst upon us. From 

 March 25 to 29 a strong biting east wind prevailed and on the 30th 

 snow fell all the morning and most of the afternoon. This day with a 

 mean temperature at Les Blanches of 35 7 deg. was no less than 10*2 deg. 

 colder than the normal. During the prevalence of this pronounced and 

 late cold snap (it ended on April 1st) the birds fell very silent, and 

 whether or not to it was due the lateness of date on which the Chiff-Chafl. 

 announced itself I cannot say. But however this may be, it was not 

 until April 1st that I first heard the note and also saw the bird — in the 

 Bon Air grounds at St. Martin's This is our latest date since 1907 

 for first hearing the bird. The Chiff-Chaff makes a lengthy stay and 

 all through September and on genial days in the early part of October 

 may still be beard. This year I heard one in the Vardes as late as 

 October 19th. In 1908 Mr. E. D. Marquand heard the note in the 

 Talbots Valley on October 22nd. 



WheateaF. — Mr. J. S. Hocart, of Les Mielles, writes me that the Wheatear 

 was very scarce on l'Ancresse Common this summer, and from his 

 observations at the Vale and my own at St. Martin's I conclude that the 

 bird was late to arrive and early to depart. Certainly in the nine years' 

 record we have, April 6th (Mr. Hocart' s date for first seeing this migrant) 

 is our latest date by three days. At St. Martin's I did not see any until 

 the 13th. One or two may generally be seen on the Petit Port cliffs 

 throughout the season and this year I saw them there up to October 11th. 

 At l'Ancresse Mr. Hocart saw none after the 10th. With the exception 

 of last year, when none were noted after October 1st, the Wheatear 

 disappeared apparently from one to two weeks earlier than usual. 



Wryneck. — The Wryneck was certainly late in arriving for no information 

 has come to me of its bracing note having been heard before April 11th, 

 on which day, as reported by the Rev. R. H. Tourtel, of Torteval, it was 

 noted at Le G-ree in that parish by Mr. Langlois. On this date also, 

 by the way, it seems to have been first heard at Sark. (In some years 

 the Wryneck announces itself before the end of March.) At St. Martin's 

 I did not hear the welcome song until the 18th, and for the Vale Mr. Hocart 

 has given me April 26th. From Mr. Hocart's yearly notes I gather 

 that the Cuckoo's mate is not particularly fond of the neighbourhood 

 of l'Ancresse and this year's observations resulted in this comment : 

 ''it sang for a few days, then disappeared, and I did not hear it again 



