172 



REPORTS. 



of these interesting birds at Moulin Huet, but I did not see any until 

 May 9th, when I watched three sporting themselves over the Fort Road. 

 On Whit-Monday, May 16th, the birds showed decided indications of 

 becoming more plentiful. On Thursday evening, August 11th, my 

 brother-in-law and myself witnessed a great assembly of Swifts over the 

 cliffs at LesFontenelles, Forest. We had been spending a lazy afternoon 

 amongst the gorse, smoking and reading, when about 6 o'clock the birds 

 began to attract our attention. At first the party was comparatively 

 small in number, perhaps fifty, then grew steadily until we estimated 

 the number at over 200. The birds were circling about at all elevations — 

 many so low that the peculiar click of the wings and the rush of the 

 birds through the air were distinctly heard. Once the whole flock 

 without exception rose suddenly to such a great height that had we not 

 known they were Swifts, it would have been impossible to identify them. 

 When we left the spot at 7 o'clock, the birds had again descended to 

 lower levels and were flying about in all directions in as large numbers as 

 ever. We noticed, too, that the birds were perfectly silent, never once 

 uttering the harsh scream for which Swifts are noted when chasing one 

 another on warm summer days as, for instance, the little Town Church 

 band may often be heard doing during the height of the season. It was 

 certainly a most interesting sight, unlike anything we had ever seen 

 before. Swifts are the last ( f the Hirimdines to reach our shores as 

 they are the first to leave, departing in bulk towards the end of August. 

 Stragglers, however, may still be seen in the early days of September. 

 During the week ending September 2nd this year, I saw a few almost 

 daily and on the morning of the 4th a couple were flying high over 

 St. Martin's church. On the 9th I noted the last, a solitary one, at 

 the Courtes Fallaises, St. Martin's. 



April 24th in 1909.— Mr. E. D. Marquand.] 

 September 26th in 1907.— Mr. E. D. Marquand.] 

 Corncrake.— This interesting Summer migrant, the scarcity of which in 

 recent years has been commented upon by Mr. Marquand on several 

 occasions, appears to have been rather more abundant this season, 

 although the whole of the observations recorded in connection with it 

 are embraced within the small compass of eleven days. The bird was 

 first heard by my brother-in-law (Mr. Alles) and myself on Whit- 

 Monday afternoon, May 16th, at Les Jaonnets, St. Saviour's. On the 

 evening of the same day my friend, Mr. E. Rammell, heard Corncrakes 

 at three different spots near St. George, Catel. On Saturday evening, 

 Ma} T 21st, whilst observing Halley's Comet from Les Bemonts, St. 

 Andrew's, in company with Mr. Rammell, the pleasant if somewhat 

 unmusical sound floated up to us from the lowlands in the distance. 

 This was my last date for hearing the bird, but the Rev. R. H. Tourtel 

 reports that it was heard again at St. George on the 26th. Mr. J. S. 

 Hocart did not once hear the bird this summer. 

 [May 5th in 1907.] 

 [No records for being last heard.] 



Nightjar. — Mr. E. Rammell reports seeing one of these birds on the evening 

 of May 25th near Les Bemonts, St. Andrew's. The Nightjar although, 

 I believe, a regular summer visitant, is not by any means a familiar or 

 well known bird here, possibly owing to its nocturnal habits. 



Jay. — In last year's Ornithological Report, Mr. Marquand was able to put 

 on record that in the Autumn of 1899 or 1900, Mr. G. E. Kinnersly had 

 seen a couple of Jays in the shrubbery at Le Vallon, St. Martin's. This 

 year Mr. Kinnersly reports seeing two of these pretty birds on 

 November 21st at Le Moulin de Haut, Catel. 



Blackstart. — On October 23rd, between Moulin Huet and Petit Port, I 

 chanced upon one of these, when on the wing, remarkably pretty birds. 

 The red patch at the base of the back was strikingly brilliant. On 



