Field Notes, 



319 



of an area it was bv reason of some unjustifiable deliberate 

 ' enthusiasm ' to an end. Luckily we know how Calla palustris 

 came to its pond in Surrey : we don't know how Ledum palustre 

 came to X. Britain. But their names are here in this eye- 

 opening Oxford List, and many and diverse will be the discus- 

 sions it will provoke. Yet it is to be honestly welcomed. 



(To be contiimed), 

 



FIELD NOTES. 



BIRDS. 



Early Migrants in an exceptionally late year. — It 



may be interesting to note, particularly considering the lateness 

 of the season, that on March 31st, a Sand-Martin was seen on 

 the Aire between Saltaire and Bingley. It was picking up 

 something off the river, hovering like a Wagtail to secure the 

 floating food. I could not make out what it was feeding on,, 

 although many times within a yard or two \\-hilst it was thus 

 engaged. There was no fly on the wing. Wagtails — pied, were 

 in swarms, and certainly the largest flocks I have seen. 



iVpril 5th — Chiff-chaff observed. This species does not 

 breed in the district, but nearly every year is noted in passing. 



April 7th and 8th. — In the same district, and scarcely a 

 feather to be seen. — W. H. Parkin, Shipley. 



Pied Rook at Huddersfield. — During the past few days, 

 a rook having a broad bar of white feathers across each wing 

 was flying with its companions in a field near this house. The 

 effect when the bird was on the wing was very striking, remind- 

 ing one of a magpie, though the under white parts and the long 

 tail of that bird were wanting. — Geo. T. Porritt, Dalton^ 

 Huddersfield, July 6th, igo8. 



Great Spotted Woodpecker at Gainsborough. — In Mr. 



Max Peacock's ' Birds of North West Lindsey,' in the July 

 issue of ' The Naturalist,' allusion is made to the Lesser Spotted 

 Woodpecker recorded by me as being met with about Gains- 

 borough, but he omits my record of the Great Spotted Wood- 

 pecker which, on several occasions, has visited the bones and 

 food put out for the birds in my garden in winter — see ' The 

 Naturalist,' 1902, p. 233. — F. M. Burton, Highfield, Gains- 

 borough, July 1908 



1908 August I. 



