94 
NATURE NOTES 
keeping with the important event on hand.” Skylarks, Mr. Clarke has proved 
(that is, as far as it is possible to estimate), migrate at the rate of “ about twenty- 
eight miles an hour, but certainly not more,” and as regards the starling, “ thirty- 
five to forty miles an hour.” 
In my humble opinion the rate of flight of birds on migration and the altitudes 
they reach have been much exaggerated. Mr. Eagle Clarke’s most valuable 
observations conclusively prove this statement. 
St. Albans, Herts, W. Percival Westell, F.R.H.S., M.B.O.U. 
April 12 , 1904. 
103 . Bird Movements in Spring.— With reference to Mr. A. R. 
Horwood’s notes hereon (No. 171, vol. .\v., pp. 46, 50), I should like to make 
the following comments. 
Tree pipit: Mr. Horwood states that the tree pipit is “a bird not often 
seen.” I can only add that in this part of well-wooded Hertfordshire this 
species can he seen and heard on any country ramble from the middle of April 
onwards. When one gets into the country purposely to look and listen for wild 
life it is wonderful what can be seen and heard. My contention, therefore, is 
that this species may frequently be seen when looked or listened for. Mr. 
Horwood gives April i as the date of its appearance ; I am of the opinion that 
April 10 to 15 is nearer the mark. 
Sedge Warbler: I can hardly agree that this bird can be observed “along 
most of otir roads,” “ and in fact almost everywhere.” It is, in my experience, a 
species which is rarely found far away from the neighbourhood of water, and loves 
aquatic herbage and osier beds. The remark, too, anent the nest of the sedge 
warbler being “ the most beautifully constructed of all those built by our summer 
migrants” is, I think, a matter of opinion. 
Nightingale: Mr. Horwood states that this species may be heard “in the 
.south in the first week in May.” It is rare, indeed, that I do not chronicle its 
arrival here by April 15, at latest, every year ! 
Turtle dove : Although this bird may not be recorded in the Midlands before 
May 20, the first week in May always sees the species hereabouts. 
I hope Mr. Horwood will receive these notes in the spirit in which they are 
written. The explanation as to variation in dates of arrival may, of course, be 
that, whereas he is writing of the Midlands district, my observations are conducted 
in Hertfordshire.' 
W. Percival Westell, F.R.H.S., M.B.O.U. 
104 . Birds Singing on the Ground. — With further reference to the 
notes hereon (Notes, Nos. 87, 93 and 94), I may say that I have very frequently 
' During the spring of 1901 1 received some hundreds of letters giving me the dates of 
arrival of summer migrants throughout the country, and these records liave been duly published 
in extcnso in The Field Naturalist!: (Quarterly (see vol. i., No. 3, pp. 189 to 196), but the 
following list shows the earliest dates of arrival of summer migrants during the year 1901, as 
recorded by my corresponclent.s, and may perhaps inteiest your readers * 
I’lackcap. April 10. Somerset, Clevedon. 
Chiff Chaff. March 30. Stiff >lk, Elveden. 
Corncrake. April 21. Staffs, Sioke-on*Trent. 
Cuckoo. April 7. Chimberland, Kirkoswald. 
Cuckoo. April 7. Kssc-v, Colchester. 
Cuckoo. April 7. Kent, liidborough. 
Stone Curlew. April 9. Suffolk, Klveden. 
Turtle Dove. April 19. Worcs, Kedditch. 
Spotted I'lycalcher. April 25. Staffs, l.ongion. 
Mouse Martin. April 14. Kent, Canterbury. 
Sami Marlin. March 31. Herks, Reading. 
Nightingale. April 5. Ksse.x, Stanford le- 
Hope. 
Nightingale. April 5. Kent, D.irtford. 
Nightjar. April 23. Somerset, Wrington. 
Ring Ou/el. March x?* Sussex, Lewes. 
'I'ree Pipit. April 9. Surrey, Upper 'Footing. 
Redstart. April 9. Surrey, Ujiper Tooting. 
CAimnion Samlpiper. April is. Norlhants, 
Northampton. 
C'ommon Sandpiper. April 15. Shrops. 1 .udlow. 
Red-hacked Shrike. May8. Wort s, Redditch. 
Swallow. Marcli 31. Hants, Fordingbridge. 
Swift. April 19. Worcs, Kedditch. 
Yellow \Vagtad. March 20, Midlothian, 
Pentland Hills. 
( lardcn Warbler. March 23. Norlhants, North- 
amjiton. 
(larden Warliler. March 23. Sussex, lUirwash. 
( Irasshopper Warbler. April 19. Somerset, 
C'levedon. 
Reed Warbler. May 2. Susse.v, Lewes. 
Sedge Warbler. May 9 Oxon, liiccster. 
Willow Warbler. March 6. Berks, Crowthornc. 
Wood Warbler. April 14. Herts, St. Albans. 
Whealcar. March 17. Sussex, I.ewes 
Whinthal. April 20. Surrey, Upper Tooling, 
(ireater Whileihroat. April 8. Sussex, St. 
Leonards. 
Lesser Whileihroat. April 10. Somerset, 
Clevedon. 
W'ryncck. .April 1. Essex, Dedham 
W’ryneck. April 1. Herts, St. Albans. 
