282 REPORTS. 



country, did not once hear the familiar call. One bird, however, haunted 

 St. Martin's from May 10th to June 8th. It was first reported to me by 

 Mr. G. F. Alles and for several nights it was heard in a field along the 

 Saints road. It then moved nearer to Sausmarez Manor and was last 

 heard there. In addition to this Mr. C. G. de la Mare heard the note on 

 May 17th in the neighbourhood of Les Naftiaux, and on October 10th 

 one bird was seen by Mr. G. J. Browning, of St. Martin's, not far from 

 Les Rouvets at St. Saviour's. The strange movements of the Corncrake 

 are still attracting the attention of naturalists who " from evidence from 

 many sources " say that " it is clear that this species is liable to abandon 

 certain once favoured haunts for no apparent reason, and after a lapse of 

 time, to re-visit them again" (Yorkshire Weekly Post, Jan. 2§th, 1916). 

 As regards Guernsey we have undoubtedly been getting far fewer of this 

 migrant than was the case some years ago, and in some seasons recently 

 the bird has hardly been heard at all. 



Cornish Chough. — The most interesting record of the year is that of Jurat 

 G. E. Kinnersly, who on August 18th came into possession of a Cornish 

 Chough which had met with a misfortune at Calais, St. Martin's. The 

 Chough used to be a common resident here, but for years past has been 

 quite unknown. On this subject I have heard the late Mr. G. T. Derrick 

 speak of seeing Choughs on the cliffs of the South coast in the early 

 years of his residence in Guernsey (about 1860), and Cecil Smith, in his 

 "Birds of Guernsey," published in 1879, says: "The Chough is a 

 common resident in Guernsey, breeding amongst the high rocks on the 

 south and east part of the island, and in the autumn and winter spreading 

 over the cultivated parts of the island, sometimes in considerable flocks, 

 like rooks." 



Norfolk Plover. — Another interesting record is the capture of a Norfolk 

 Plover or Stone Curlew. One of these birds was ;< winged " at Icart on 

 October 30th by a Mr. Le Cras, who took it alive to Jurat Kinnersly for 

 identification. Mr. Kinnersly reports that he had never before seen a 

 Norfolk Plover in Guernsey. There is no mention of this Plover by 

 Cecil Smith, nor, I believe, is there any reference to the species in the 

 Society's Transactions. 



Ring" Ouzel. — A pair of Ring Ouzels were seen at Jerbourg on May 2nd by 

 Jurat Kinnersly. The Ring Ouzel does not stay with us ; it is merely 

 seen at the time of the spring or autumn migration and it seems to like 

 the neighbourhood of Jerbourg, for Mr. Kinnersly has reported it from 

 this district in previous years. Cecil Smith was of opinion that the bird 

 was most frequently seen at the autumn migration and seldom in the 

 spring of the year, an opinion also held by Mr. E. D. Marquand. 



Miscellaneous.— Jurat Kinnersly has reported seeing two Nightjars at 

 Calais, one on May 4th and the other on September 17th, possibly the 

 same bird. 



The pretty little Kingfisher, too, though a resident, is worth noting 

 when seen, for it is not exactly abundant. On October 9th I saw one 

 flying across Perelle bay, the gorgeous green feathers of the back looking 

 resplendent in the bright sunlight prevailing. 



Another feathered resident sufficiently scarce to bring us to a halt 

 when it chances to cross our path is the Bullfinch, with its brilliant red 

 breast. Several times this year I have been so fortunate, and for the 

 poor bird's sake one can only regret the bad reputation held for it by 

 nurserymen and fruit growers. 



Puffins, as reported to me by Mr. R. P. Spencer, arrived early 1his 

 spring. One was seen off the north of Herrn on March 23rd by Mr. 

 James Falla, the fisherman. 



In previous reports I have spoken of the bird-rests fixed 

 on Les Casquets and other lighthouses for the use of birds on 



