CHAPTER OF VARIETIES. 



and gulls; the former appear to be very sociable at this time of the year, 

 but the latter often have desperate battles with them, the rooks generally 

 coming off victorious. About an hour or two before dark the rooks 

 assemble together, mount in the air, and wing their way to their 

 respective homes. 



I may also state that, when the weather is fine, they may be seen in 

 the morning, flying at a great height over the town (from east to west). 

 If it happens to be blowing strong, they fly very low; and I have 

 frequently observed them, when they have not been able to get forward, 

 to remain in the fields near the town. When this is the case, they 

 return earlier than usual. E. P. 



Penzance, Cornwall. 



Observations* on the willow wren (S. trochilus), and other 

 birds. — This bird is a regular summer visitant in this part, but some 

 of them remain with us all the year. A few days since I saw one 

 climbing the branch of an elm, seeking for food in the interstices of the 

 bark. I was also shown one, about the middle of last month, by a 

 gardener, which was caught the evening before by his son : and one 

 evening in January, 1833,. whilst out catching birds for specimens, I 

 observed two willow wrens comfortably perched, side by side, on a 

 small twig in the thickest part of a strawberry tree, one of which I 

 captured ; it lived several days, and ate freely of boiled egg, chopped 

 fine. This bird is seldom seen in the summer, on account of its 

 shyness. 



The loon and dunlin visit us regularly in the autumn, and 

 remain till spring; also the crested shag, northern diver, and golden 

 plover, when the winter is severe. E. P. 



Penzance, Feb. 5. 



The starling. — On the morning of the 25th of February (1834), 

 I observed several starlings flitting amongst the trees in Lincoln's 

 Inn Gardens, amidst the smoke and din of London. 



The gardener informed me that there had been a nest of these birds 

 in the gardens. Is it, or not, an unusual place for this species of bird ? 

 Probably they were the progeny of some tame birds which had escaped 

 from confinement. 



* Omitted in my last communication of migratory birds in this neighbourhood ; 

 a list of which see p. 109 of this volume. E. P. 



