33 
20th, 1750, a very early year, the latest, May 3rd, 1772 ; but in 
thirteen instances out of the nineteen recorded, it was first heard 
between the 15th of March and the 15th of April. It is quite 
possible that the earliest breeding note of this species may not 
always have been recorded, as it docs not seem to have been made 
a special subject of observation. The average, over a period of 
seventy years for the nightingale’s first song at Stratton, is the 28th 
of April, and at Kippon, for twenty-three years, April 27th. This 
is certainly later than the average of its appearing in Norwich, 
which I should think would be about the middle of the month ; 
sometimes it returns with singular regularity. On the 11th of 
April, 1754, Mr. Marsham remarks, “Nightingale answered mo 
one note in Stratton, although I did not hear them sing till 26th 
of themselves.” The male nightingale usually arrives about a 
fortnight before the female. 
With regard to the powers of the jay as a mimic, the following 
occurs April 7th, 1773, “ I heard a wind jay in Stratton mimic an 
owl and kite so well that I thought these birds were singing till I 
saw the jay.” A remark on the 16th of June, 1781, has reference 
to the curious prolonged note of the nightjar ; he says, “ I told 
1150 whilst a dawhawk sung, and I am confident that + fifty might 
have been counted before I begun to tell.” The singing of the 
thrush is always noted, and the average given for sixty six years is 
January 18th. Thrushes and snowdrops do not seem to be influ- 
enced by the weather ; should a gleam of sunshine appear, the 
former will sing, let the weather be ever so wretched, and the 
latter will bloom, if even under the snow. The months of January 
and February do not appear to have much effect upon the months 
which follow, (see 1751 and 1745,) for should March and April be 
genial, the various phenomena will be early, or in due course, not- 
withstanding the severity of the preceding months. Dry and 
cold winds seem to retard vegetation most, and the weather, I am 
inclined to think, does not effect the movements of the spring 
emigrants so much as is generally supposed ; spring time and 
autumn repeat themselves in their due course, however adverse the 
meteorological circumstances may be. The year 1785 is thus 
described : — “ January a wretched month,” with “stinking fogs,” 
and yet on the 24th thrushes were singing, and snowdrops bloom- 
ing. On April 6th, the snow which commenced to fall on the 7th 
D 
